Considering the globalization of the Biotechnology industry what are the job skills that perfect candidates are expected to have? You might be surprised…
Job Skills | Speaking a Second Language
What traits do employers in the field of biotechnology look for when going over a resume? Of course technical ability, excellent verbal/written skills and the ability to collaborate well are among the top characteristics. But did you know that speaking a second language is currently one of the most desirable skills? It is understandable considering the globalization of the field.
CNNMoney recently reported that the Department of Labor expects a 42% increase in the field of interpreting from 2010, making it one of the nation’s fastest growing professions. Considering the exponential growth in immigrant populations residing in the United States this is not entirely unexpected. According to the 2011 U.S. Census Bureau, 58% of U.S. residents under five years of age speak a language other than English at home, i.e. Spanish (37.6 million), Chinese (2.9 million), Tagalog (1.6 million), Vietnamese (1.4 million), French (1.3 million), German (1.1 million) and Korean (1.1 million).
Are Bilingual Candidates Smarter?
Recent studies have shown that bilingualism has significant positive effects on the human brain: speaking a second language has been linked to delayed onset of dementia in old age and better cognitive skills. Various studies indicate that the ability to speak a second language enhances the area of the brain that directs planning, problem solving and other complex tasks – obviously an advantage for a research scientist and other biotech-related positions.
Job Skills | Mobility in a Global Job Market
Biotechnology is an increasingly global industry. With greater offshoring and outsourcing, as well as international collaboration, employers will need more bilingual employees, especially those who speak fluent English as well as languages such as Chinese, Spanish and Russian. An employer planning to expand their manufacturing facilities abroad, for example, may favor bilingual employees, as their language skills will be valuable when training and communicating with workers at the new location.
This is not only the case for bilingual speakers that are fluent in both English and another language. Foreign biotech employers are also interested in American professionals with exceptional English skills. The American Association for the Advancement of Science, for instance, recently reported that China’s government and universities are increasing incentives to attract foreign academics and researchers in the sciences.
Professional Translation & Interpretation
Of course a bilingual employee is not the equivalent of an experienced professional translation or interpreting services provider. Nor can they completely replace the growing need for these expert services, although they can certainly facilitate international communication. Companies that seek regulatory approval and patents abroad for biotech products, for instance, are required to employ translation professionals.
For over 15 years Language Connections has been offering interpretation and translation services to biotech companies, from start-up firms to large multinationals. We are familiar with the challenges and are well equipped to help companies effectively overcome linguistic and cultural barriers.
About Language Connections:
Language Connections is one of the top language service companies in the US. Over the last 30 years, we’ve focused on providing the best business translation services, interpreting services, as well as interpreter training and customized language training programs. In addition to top-tier corporate language training, we offer certified corporate interpreters and professional business translation services in 200+ languages. Our network includes linguists with backgrounds in all major industries. They’re ready to meet your needs, whether they’re for technical translation services, legal translation, government translation services, international development translation services, education translation services, life sciences translation, or something else. Reach out to us today for a free quote on our cost-efficient and timely translation services, interpreters, or other linguistic services.
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