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If you’re working on a resume, you may have noticed that most resume templates include a section for Languages. What should you put in this section? Should you even include it on your resume at all?
We’ll answer your burning questions, such as what are language skills? Are language skills useful? Are language and communication skills the same thing? And what about programming languages?
Check here for more on how to include language skills on your resume.
What Are Language Skills?
When discussed in the context of job searches and resumes, language skills are “your understanding of additional languages besides the just the one in which your resume is written.”
You don’t have to include the dominant language of the region on your resume. For example, if you live in the United States, it is not necessary to list English under your language skills. Your resume is written in English, and your employer will assume you speak and understand it. Having proper english fluency will help anyone to survive anywhere.
If the primary language where you live in English, the following languages would qualify as language skills:
- Spanish
- German
- Italian
- American Sign Language (ASL)
- French
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Korean
When you list your language skills on your resume, you may also want to include your level of fluency. Standard descriptions of language fluency may differ in terminology, but they often occupy a five-point scale. This scale may include:
- Elementary proficiency/Novice/Beginner – you know some words and phrases, and you can construct a basic sentence.
- Limited working proficiency/Intermediate – you can carry on limited conversations and understand workplace commands.
- Professional working proficiency/Advanced/Proficient – you can converse well, though you may speak with an accent. You still have to look up some words.
- Full professional proficiency/Superior/Fluent – you have a good grasp of the language. You can converse well, especially in a business setting. You make a few mistakes.
- Primary fluency/Native speaker/Bilingual proficiency/Distinguished – you are entirely fluent. You grew up speaking the language or have used it extensively.
Are Language Skills Useful?
In a word, yes! Language skills can be very useful. Some jobs, such as interpreting, translating, or positions in international companies, require that you be able to speak a language other than the dominant language in your area. Other jobs – such as public-facing jobs in diverse areas – give preference to candidates who can speak a second language. This is because the language speaker may attract new customers or assist with interactions with customers who speak that language.
Even if your language skills may not be directly useful to the position, having them on your resume could give you a leg up in highly competitive markets. After all, learning a new language takes a good work ethic, determination, and intelligence. Language skills may also denote valuable cultural sensitivity or culture-specific knowledge.
When should you include a Languages section on your resume? If you have at least an elementary understanding of a language other than English, you should consider including it on your resume. If it is required or preferred for the position you are applying to, definitely include it.
Remote work is also becoming increasingly popular. Working remotely may allow you to assist a company in an entirely different country. They may need translation services or content in your primary language. Or, they may require you to understand the primary language in the region they are located geographically. Either way, language skills can be important if you’re going to work as a remote worker.
However, if your language skills are irrelevant to the job and your resume is overly crowded, you may consider omitting language skills in favor of other, more relevant information.
Are Language and Communication Skills the Same Thing?
While related, language skills and communication skills are not the same thing on your resume. Language skills refer to additional languages you know – besides the dominant or official language where you live.
Communication skills refer to the primary language – in this case, English. Communication involves a subset of skills such as writing, public speaking, and active listening.
What About Programming Languages?
The Languages section on your resume does not refer to programming languages. It is limited to spoken rather than symbolic computer-based languages. Typically, you will include programming languages like python programming language in a Technical Skills section. However, if you are applying to a tech company whose culture includes a good sense of humor, Python and JavaScript might fit right in with French and Latin!
Key Takeaways
- Language skills include the ability to speak, read, and write in a language other than the one your resume is written in.
- Whether or not you will need the language skill at your new job, it can give you an advantage over the competition.
- Include your proficiency in each language so that your skills can be accurately matched to the company’s needs.
