Growing up my parents always emphasized the importance of linguistic education. They knew that being bilingual was an asset growing up in a big city, but also thought that speaking another language would give me an advantage on college applications, and later, job applications. Well, here I am years later, and I have to say, while I'm thrilled I have the ability to speak another language, I have never used it at work. The plus, however, is that it still seems to impress in job interviews, whether or not it's actually useful day-to-day at the office.
Apparently that's the common sentiment of employers looking to hire: "Even if your prospective employer may not have an immediate need for your multiple language capabilities, they are likely to see your fluency as an added benefit and asset in the hiring process." It's not only schools, hospitals, or government jobs that want a bilingual employee — financial institutions like banks and larger institutions marketing to a global audience see speaking more than one language as a huge plus for business. So, just in case you're not already marketing your bilingual, or perhaps, multilingual skills on your resume, do it. Even if the job doesn't call for it, the ability to speak more than one language is an attractive quality to employers and likely to give you a little edge over the competition. If you're job seeking, be sure to capitalize on your linguistic skills, and if you've ever had a job where speaking more than one language was a plus, I want to know about it. So, tell me, has being bilingual ever benefited you at work?
Parlez-vous francais? Hablas español? In an age where everything is global and an international phone call is as easy as using Skype, it makes sense that people are paying more attention to their language skills. In many countries, it is normal for children to speak a minimum of two languages. President Obama encourages 
