When you first begin studying Japanese, you may be unaware of all the advantages of your new language skills. You can put your Japanese skills to practical use once you’ve reached a certain proficiency level, especially in the workplace.
Professionally, you can use your Japanese language skills in two ways: build better customer relationships and advance your corporate career.
If you are interested in learning Japanese for professional purposes, here are some advantages to doing so, as well as a few other things you need to know about learning this distinguished language!
1- Employment in Japan
Despite the flexibility offered by translation jobs, not everyone seeks supplemental income. You may already have a full-time job or be seeking employment. You may wish to consider working in Japan if this is the case. Although this is a significant decision and a lifestyle adjustment, it is a fantastic opportunity to advance your career in Japan. Moreover, landing a job in Japan is easier than you might think.
Robert Walters, an international staffing firm, reports that bilingual professionals are in short supply. According to their report, in 2014, there were 1.09 job offers for every candidate. Human resources, engineering, and sales jobs are in high demand for bilingual professionals, so if you speak Japanese and have technical skills, you can find work in Japan.
As the Japanese economy continues to recover, bilingual professionals’ salaries have been increasing by an average of 10 percent per year, making working in Japan economically advantageous.
2- Make connections
While learning Japanese can increase your professional opportunities, the true purpose of language is communication. Building solid relationships with your clients is key when learning Japanese. Jerry Weintraub, a legendary talent manager and film producer asserts that your relationships with others largely determine your life. Due to his networking skills, he was able to book concerts for Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra in their prime years. Even if most of us lack Mr. Weintraub’s interpersonal and negotiating skills, knowing Japanese can help you connect with new people. This may result in a new job, business opportunity, or even a wonderful friendship!
3- Challenge Yourself
Learning Japanese is challenging. Acquiring this complex language is one of the best ways to challenge yourself. Self-challenge in one area (even if unrelated to your job or other aspects of your personal life) will improve your tenacity, self-confidence, and skills in other areas.
4- Translation
This may come as no surprise, but if you’re fluent in Japanese, you’ll be able to use your language skills in the translation industry. This is especially helpful if you wish to supplement your income. Additionally, you will be in high demand in the United States if you speak Japanese. 2011 census data reveals 436,110 Japanese speakers in the United States. Compared to other languages such as Chinese (2,882,497) and Spanish, this number is modest (37,579,787).
5- Improve Your Status in the Workplace
If you want to improve your status at work, one of the most effective ways is to learn Japanese. Even if you only know a few basic greetings or business Japanese, learning the language is a great way to gain the respect of other clients and business partners, especially those from Japan. If you wish to take the learning leap, then have a look at ELAM’s language programs.
