It’s hard to believe there was a day when nonnative English-speaking parents disapproved of their children learning any language other than English. Today, many parents embrace foreign languages as a stepping stone to their children’s economic success. That’s because businesses often prosper from employing bilingual and multilingual staff.
The Vast Melting Pot
It’s hard to ignore the importance of language skills in our society. Have you ever taken count of how many languages are spoken in the waiting room of your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) at any given time? The DMV is a microcosm of a larger picture. According to CNN.com, 55.8 million people speak a language other than English in the United States. Those 55.8 million people are potential consumers of the services and products that you provide.
Businesses rely on staff who can effectively communicate with potential and existing customers. At the most basic level, knowledge of your customers’ language is a great way, if not the best way, to effectively communicate. Think about it: When you return from a non-English-speaking country, is it not a refreshing feeling to finally hear your native tongue all around you? Doesn’t the ability to fully interact with others make you happy? Your customers are looking for a positive business transaction. From a business perspective, hiring employees who can make that happen makes sense.
The Reality
Often there’s the perception that immigrants or children of immigrants don’t reside in the Midwest. When it comes to the Hispanic population, it’s true that Wisconsin doesn’t come close to states like New York, California, Texas, and Arizona. However, according to Ben Poston of the Journal Sentinel, since 2000, the Hispanic population in Wisconsin has increased by 48.2 percent.
Darryl Morin of the League of United Latin American Citizens of Wisconsin explains, “What [this number] does is confirm what a lot of us already know — Hispanics are integrating into Wisconsin and bringing economic and social benefits to the state.” Enrique Figueroa, director of the Roberto Hernandez Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, foresees a continuation of Hispanic population growth in the state over the next decade.
Finding Bilingual Employees
Every employer knows that finding the right employee is a difficult task. According to Julian Teixeira’s article “More Companies Recruit Bilingual Employees,” some recruiters are becoming more resourceful. Joining local organizations such as the National Society of Hispanic MBAs is just one example of that resourcefulness. Through membership, businesses are able to post job opportunities in the organization’s newsletter. Others are holding “open houses” for bilingual and multilingual candidates allowing the employers to target bilingual and multilingual candidates and introduce them to their company. Some businesses have even begun paying bilingual and multilingual employees a higher salary than other staff.
Testing Language Abilities
There are varying degrees of language proficiency. Just because a person can order food in another language at a restaurant doesn’t mean he can just as effortlessly conduct a real estate transaction in that language. Many recruiters test candidates’ language skills during the interview process. According to Teixeira, it’s important to implement oral and written components for the test. You also want to make sure that a candidate is proficient speaking and writing English because he will almost certainly need to conduct business in English.
Bottom Line
There’s no disadvantage to hiring bilingual and multilingual employees, but there may be a disadvantage to not hiring them. People look for fruitful business transactions on both ends. That’s more easily facilitated when both parties can communicate effectively. Language is a common bond, and the more bonds you create, the more business you’ll reap. That’s because your customers not only will feel comfortable working with you, but they also will appreciate the effort you put into creating that level of comfort.
Claudia N. Lombardo is an attorney at Axley Brynelson, LLP. Her practice includes personal injury law, bicycle accident injuries, medical malpractice defense, stockbroker malpractice, insurance litigation, and criminal defense. She can be reached at (608) 283-6744 or clombardo@axley.com.