Languages and culture

Graduates with language skills are in a strong position in the current labour market, as this is one of the areas where skills shortages are reported. In particular, a second European language is said to significantly increase your long-term job opportunities. Languages in combination with another skill, such as logistics or marketing/sales, will make you particularly employable.

With an increasingly global marketplace, small and medium sized organisations communicate with clients internationally so a competence in a second language is an asset in a number of fields. Many language graduates take up administrative roles in large international companies in the form of personal assistant or senior secretary to corporate management.

Other sectors where language skills are an advantage include tourism, conference or exhibition management, sales, marketing, and customer relations/customer support. Graduates with languages and IT skills may get work in software localisation.

Other careers using languages include translating, interpreting and teaching. Teaching English as a foreign language is increasingly popular, providing opportunities to travel. There are many TEFL companies targeting young Irish graduates as they have a proven willingness to travel and teach abroad.

Jobs in the culture sector include working in museums and art galleries, for example as curators or education officers, or in the public sector in roles such as arts development officer. In some of these careers, it is an advantage to be fluent in the Irish language.