Skills
and Careers
Our Modern Languages courses at Essex set out to develop communicative skills, such as a high level of language competence and presentation skills. In addition, our courses place great emphasis on the development of transferable skills which involve analytical skills, team working, time management and cultural knowledge.
In particular, the year abroad allows you to develop an awareness of different cultures which is highly prized in an increasingly globalized environment of work and employment.
A recent review published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) shows that 36% of all companies recruit employees specifically for their language skills. The average salary of language graduates 3.5 years after graduation is £26,823, the 4th highest average salary of all subjects.
What Do Graduates Do?
A recent What Do Graduates Do? survey showed that Modern Language graduates at Essex chose the following career paths:
26.4% took up administrative work (e.g. as a personal assistant, travel consultant,
bilingual secretary, administrative officer etc.)
16.3% went into commercial, industrial or public sector management (e.g. as a conference organiser, leisure manager, recruitment consultant, retail manager, restaurant manager)
10.7% went into marketing, sales, PR and advertising (e.g. as an advertising accounts manager, export sales executive, marketing manager, public relations consultant)
9.6% went into business and finance (e.g. as a business analyst, investment banker, trainee chartered accountant)
7.5% went into retail work (e.g. as a sales manager)
7.1% went into media or publishing work (e.g. as a TV researcher, publishing assistant, internet journalist)
Other careers taken up by Modern Languages graduates included information technology, teaching, healthcare, police work, the armed forces?and so on. About a fifth of Modern Languages graduates went into further study or training (e.g. in Translation Studies, International Relations, Law, Film-Making, Journalism).
The University of Essex has an excellent Careers Advisory Service which will be pleased to advise you on your career prospects. Alternatively you can view the department's own careers advice page here.
Brochure & Enquiries
For more information and a brochure -
e-mail: laladms@essex.ac.uk or telephone: +44 (0)1206 872201.
See also:
