Effective and successful business practices in today’s world require business acumen as well as linguistic and intercultural competencies. Our students rise to this demand. Some of the skills present in successful international trade students are:
- Holding meetings in the target language
- Interviewing in their field of expertise
- Communicating effectively with precision
- Advocating with cultural sensitivity
- Localizing content for an abroad audience
- Promoting bilingual products, events and services
According to a recent study by ACTFL, nine out of 10 U.S. employers rely on employees with language skills other than English, and one in four employers lost business due to a lack of foreign language skills. 56% of U.S. employers say that their foreign language demand will increase in the next five years. The top five departments with the greatest foreign language need are: customer service, sales, marketing, management and IT. The most in-demand foreign language reported by U.S. employers is Spanish, followed by Chinese, French, Japanese and German.
International trade majors have the option of receiving a Seal of Biliteracy that gives them a credential for the level of proficiency achieved. Our graduates report that the abilities and experience they acquire as a result of their international trade degree correlate to greater confidence in entering today’s job market.