Modern languages: Career areas

A 2012 HESA survey of 2011 graduates indicates that six months after graduation, almost 60% of modern languages graduates were in employment. Of these, 14% were business or financial professionals and 13% were in the marketing, sales and advertising industry. 11% were working in administrative and clerical roles while a further 11% were in commercial, industrial and public sector management. 

Many graduates choose careers not directly related to their subject but where there is the opportunity to use their language skills, for example working for companies who trade or offer services internationally or to non-English speaking customers and suppliers.

For example, significant numbers take professional or managerial roles in commerce, industry or the public sector, or work in advertising, marketing and sales. A considerable number also take clerical and secretarial positions in order to gain experience for careers in business, commerce or the public sector, or jobs in retail or catering to gain experience of dealing with the public.

Where are the jobs?

Language graduates work for a huge variety of employers and sectors, with media, tourism, PR, business, finance, commerce and the public sector all featuring in the destinations of graduates.

For an insight into possible employment areas, see:

• marketing, advertising and PR - marketing includes planning, promotion, media relations, product development, direct marketing, sponsorship and market research. Advertising and PR are concerned with promoting and selling products and services;
• public sector - local government is the collective term for local councils and local authorities. The Civil Service consists of government departments and their agencies whose role is to implement government policy and to advise ministers. Language opportunities exist with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) , Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and European Union (EU) institutions.
• accountancy, banking and finance - this sector can be divided into those firms that provide advice and accounting services to a range of clients in the public and private sector and those working in one particular organisation in industry, commerce or the public sector.

For further information on possibilities in other employment areas, see job sectors. 

Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?