This guide covers how to boost your resume by learning Spanish, including sourcing job prospects and adding the skill to your resume.

1. Resume building. A necessary evil for all job seekers, made slightly less tedious by being
bilingual.
When we think about bringing different kinds of people together at work, language is one of the
biggest social challenges. Everything from basic communication to project management is made
tougher by language boundaries.
Hence, polyglots have a key role in building bridges between businesses and consumers as well
as between leaders and employees within the same organization.
This is true not only regarding work tasks. When you learn a new foreign language such as
Spanish you also acquire its cultural baggage, which works like a new pair of glasses that allows
you to see the world from their perspective.
MBA.com noted a study showing that employers value communication skills above many other
skillsets in the modern workplace -- and speaking Spanish is one of the strongest skills you can
bring to your resume.
Here's why.

2. The world needs polyglots to connect the dots
The world is changing at a rapid speed -- barriers are being crossed every single day by
technological advances and creative solutions.
Movements of human groups around the planet are being driven either by tragedy -- such as
natural disasters and warfare or by progress and jubilation derived from free trade agreements,
distance learning opportunities, and more inclusive international welfare policies, amongst
others.
As a result of these events, the workplace is also being reshaped. Diverse representation,
inclusive marketing, sustainable growth, gender equality, and sexual harassment prevention are
just some of the big topics on the professional agenda across trades.
Consequently, embracing multilingualism and cultural diversity helps companies to compete on
a global scale and, first and foremost, to create an inclusive environment for staff, shareholders,
clients, and whole communities.
Multiculturalism in the contemporary workplace

3. Some of the diversity and inclusion trends forecasted by Forbes Magazine highlight the
importance of the companies’ ability to show to the public that they truly care about a wide range
of people.
Enterprises that show their love for human diversity with specific actions have greater chances
not only to stand-out but to connect with a broader spectrum of flesh-and-bone individuals.
In this manner, that is what Rihanna did with Fenty Beauty by launching the biggest color shade
collection of make-up foundation to match all kinds of skin tones.
Today's professional environment involves interacting across these diverse backgrounds. For
businesses based in North America and Europe, the second language most desired is Spanish.
Why learning Spanish might land you a job
As previously discussed, languages are a launching platform to attain awareness, understanding,
respect, togetherness, and success. The workplace is desperate to accommodate individuals with
language skills.

4. Speaking two or more languages will increase your chances to overcome language and cultural
barriers in the workplace and achieve your dream job.
Spanish for instance, is the second most spoken language in the world and is spoken over 20
nations. Can you imagine how wide your window of opportunity will open once you speak
Spanish?
Resume Building: Where do You Write Language Skills on
Your Resume?
Each resume should be tailored to suit the job application. Ask yourself, is speaking a particular
language relevant to this position? Language skills should be given notoriety according to how
significant they are for the job.
Here are three different options to consider for optimized resume building:
1. List them under your general skills.
2. Add them to your education section to show you got a language studies qualification.
3. Create a separate section just for languages so you can include more detailed information
if you are a polyglot.
What does it mean to be Fluent in a Language?
Language skills can be broken down into four core abilities: listening, speaking, reading, and
writing. Sometimes a person can be more advanced in one area than another.
Language fluency is reached when a person has developed the above abilities to the level of
those who possess the language as a native tongue.
For example, a native English speaker who is fluent in Spanish is capable to speak, read, and
write as good as a Spaniard, a Mexican or a Chilean. This means that she is able to verbally
exchange complex ideas, read and follow instructions, keep-up with a fast-paced conversation,
compose all kinds of written documents, and conduct himself in an appropriate manner (without
offending locals) either in a professional or personal environment.
Some common terms used to classify language proficiency include ‘beginner’, ‘intermediate’,
‘conversational’, ‘professional’, ‘competent’, and ‘advanced’.
Although these expressions do provide a general idea of someone’s language skills, they are not
recognized as a certified measurement. Instead, there are accredited institutions and authorities
that test and evaluate language proficiency within an expert’s framework.
It is advisable to state your language skills using the official framework rather than the ordinary
scale to avoid ambiguity.

5. If an employer is looking for someone with particular language skills, you really want to make
sure that you are providing in your resume the information he wants to know at just one glance.
Make it prominent.
Resume building tips
There are several approved language proficiency rankings around the world. Make use of them
depending on your country of residence or the territory you are hoping to get a job.
Below are some of the most popular rankings that show a progressive mastery of the language
skills:
1. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) organizes
language proficiency in six levels.
CEFR Level
Names
A1 Beginner Basic User
A2 Elementary

6. B1 Intermediate Independent User
B2 Upper Intermediate
C1 Advanced Proficient User
C2 Proficient
• The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) provides
proficiency guidelines which are used worldwide by government agencies, private
organizations, and academic institutions.
ACTFL Level
Names
1 Novice
2 Intermediate
3 Advanced
4 Superior
5 Distinguished
• The Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) is an unfunded organization that groups
several agencies of the United States Federal Government.
ILR Level
Names
0 No proficiency
1 Elementary proficiency
2 Limited working proficiency
3 Professional working proficiency
4 Full professional proficiency
5 Native or bilingual proficiency
How to add a foreign language to a resume
To illustrate foreign languages such as Spanish on your resume, make sure you provide an
accurate level of language proficiency as well as an array of examples of how you´ve used this
language in various fields like your education or work experience.
In addition, optimized resume building includes highlighting relevant facts such as if you´ve
studied abroad, travel to or lived in a Spanish speaking territory.
Keep in mind that using the term ‘native speaker’ is only appropriate if Spanish is actually your
first language or you are fully bilingual.
1. Offer clear examples of language usage.

7. 2. Create a bilingual resume.
3. Compose a bilingual cover letter.
4. Be ready to answer a job interview in Spanish.
Learn Spanish for resume building
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