Using your language skills : Science and IT

If you are studying science, engineering or technology, you may well have the option to study a modern language as well, or perhaps you already speak other languages. You may wonder about opportunities for using both your technical or science degree and your languages in your career.

Biotechnology companies, manufacturers, IT specialists or civil engineers are likely to be most interested in the technical content of your degree and your work experience, and whatever language skills you possess will be of secondary interest. But companies are increasingly involved in joint ventures or setting up projects and winning contracts overseas, so you could find yourself working in a multicultural team. Your language skills may also put you in the best position to get work abroad, if this appeals to you. Many companies operate globally and opportunities can arise all over the world allowing you to fully utilise your language skills.

Languages are useful if you are discussing very particular technical issues, where getting the fine detail of a design specification right, or understanding the contents of a scientific research paper, is important. Contact is always more immediate, and sometimes more accurate, if you don’t have to work with a translator as an intermediary. If you are working in any project leadership or training function, being able to speak to your staff in their own language has clear benefits. At a more down-to-earth level, it is simply good to be able to socialise and communicate well with all your colleagues - things usually run more smoothly that way.

There are many careers in these areas that might be of interest if you wish to combine languages and technical work. Consult types of jobs, particularly under the headings: animal and plant resources; engineering, manufacture and production; information technology; and scientific services.