On 30/1/06 2:13 pm, "Frank Pohlmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> I do not believe that the larger Western countries
> regard foreign languages as an asset. They pay lip
> service to it, but I would like to see a single
> English, American or German employee and was a) hired
> on the strength of a degree and competence in, say,
> Russian, Hindi, Chinese or Japanese, even if they were
> competent in bread and butter fields like CS,
> accountancy, economics and b) if hired, retained as
> valuable members of staff in a budget crunch.
>
Foreign languages are a definite asset in my London law firm, and, as far as
I know in most international services firms (accountants, consultants,
lawyers,etc) because it is so useful in international transactions,
translations, talking to clients, you name it. I recently (from the London
office) worked on a deal between Japanese and Germans and there are
frequently emails going around the office asking for translation help.
The application form for new employees (and this is true of all major London
firms) has a prominent section asking you to list all the languages you
know, and you are tested on your languages when you first join, and it is a
huge factor in getting foreign postings, and so on..not so much Asian
languages yet, but that's only a matter of time..
Badri
