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Build a career in Languages
This career guide is designed to help University of Portsmouth students and recent graduates explore job options, key employers, and entry routes into the Languages sector
In this guide
Language graduates are employed by a variety of employers and sectors, including:
- Business services
- Charity work
- Engineering
- Media
- Museums and libraries
- Public administration
- Teaching
- Tourism
- Transport and logistics
Potential Job Roles
Prospects has a useful list of job profiles, each containing relevant information about key responsibilities, skill requirements, starting salaries, entry requirements, career prospects with links to major employers and current graduate vacancies. Some roles include:
Professional Qualifications
For Linguists Worldwide
CIOL Qualifications Level 7 Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) - Master's level working as a freelance translator or as a translator for companies and organisations worldwide.
CIOL Qualifications Level 6 Certificate in Translation (CertTrans) - a degree-level qualification that provides benchmark evidence of practical working-level translation skills and knowledge.
For UK Public Services
CIOL Qualifications Level 6 Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) - qualification for public service interpreting and is available fully online.
CIOL Qualifications Level 3 Certificate in Bilingual Skills – Police
Gaining Experience
Types of opportunities
Placements give you long-term experience at an organisation, help you to build contacts and valuable insight into the industry.
Contact the Placements team in the Careers and Employability Service for advice and support.
Learn more about taking a placement
Work for yourself during your placement year and receive support from the University's Student Startup Team. You will have access to funding opportunities, networking events and workshops.
The companies and organisations listed below, will give you an idea of the opportunities that may be available; you will need to do thorough research to find further opportunities:
- Go Overseas – A website where you can search for an internship, study, volunteer, or teaching position abroad as well as programmes with language schools and for gap years.
- GoinGlobal – Exclusive to Portsmouth students and graduates, this comprehensive website dedicated to working globally offers details of thousands of internships across the globe.
- Aktuel Translations – A technical translation company with bases in the UK, USA and Germany, working with over 400 language combinations.
- British Council – The UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
- THG Fluently – A translation company working with national and international clients across a variety of sectors.
- Rosetta Translation – A worldwide translation company specialising in legal, technical, medical and financial language translations.
- United Nations Language Careers – The UN is one of the largest employers of language professionals offering roles including interpreters, editors, verbatim reporters and terminologists.
- Wolfestone – A global language specialist offering translation, localisation and multimedia services to high profile clients such as NATO and Coca-Cola.
Whether you're uncertain about your career path or aiming for professional success, volunteering offers a chance to explore diverse roles.
You can get involved in relevant university projects through the different groups and societies via the Student Union, demonstrating your motivation and interest in this area of work.
In addition to the roles advertised through our own service, there are a range of volunteering translation roles available. Translation & Interpreting (Practice Your Skills) highlights some initial places where you can build this experience through their blog: ‘20 Best Websites for Volunteer Translators.’
Creating your own experience can be easier than you think, particularly using languages, some ideas to consider are as follows:
- The Students' Union has many cultural societies that could provide you with valuable language-related experience as well as other transferable skills.
- If you are an international student you can work for the International Office as an International Student Ambassador. You will help to support both current and potential international students by answering any questions they have about living and studying in Portsmouth.
- Exchanges and Study Abroad - These can provide opportunities to study or gain work experience in a different European country whilst completing a degree.
- Consider offering translation, content writing or tutoring services to local companies or individuals. See our Speculative Applications Guide for information on how to approach enquiring about possible opportunities.
- Find a language buddy or a penpal - FluentU have compiled this handy list of nine penpal websites to help you get started.
- Write a dual language blog exploring world cultures, documenting your travels, your experience of university or any other subject you can imagine.
- Go travelling, explore the country that is home to the language you are studying or broaden your horizons into different countries. You could pick up ad hoc work as you travel or organise work before departing.
- Keep current with what is happening within your desired sector to support your commercial awareness. Sign up for up-to-date information on key websites focused on your industry and follow blogs for employer’s of interest such as this Translator’s blog offered by translation company Tomedes.
Where to find work experience opportunities
Finding a Graduate Job
Sector Specific Job Boards
Specialist Recruitment Agencies
A specialist recruitment agency can expedite the job search process by using industry-specific expertise and an extensive network to match candidates with suitable job opportunities. Below are some examples of recruitment agencies that specialise in languages:
Are you looking for a role in Hampshire? Our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy can help!
If you're in the final year of your degree, you can register for support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy. They work with over 3,000 employers in the local area to place our students into fantastic graduate careers.
Working for yourself
Got an idea you'd like to turn into something bigger?
Whether you're planning a business, side hustle or freelance career, our Student StartUp team can help you build your confidence and develop your plans. Access expert guidance, funding opportunities, workshops and workspace designed to help you move your idea forward.
Keep up-to-date
Below are some key resources to help you research opportunities available. Researching organisations and the industry will help you to target applications and help when preparing for interviews.
- Prospects – Graduate Prospects guide to options with your subject suggests potential job options, typical employers, work experience opportunities and information on destinations for modern language graduates.
- Targetjobs – Provides a guide to careers and job roles where you can use your language skills.
- jobs.ac.uk – Provides information on the most common career paths for language graduates.
- ITI – The Institute of Translation and Interpreting is an independent professional association of practising translators and interpreters.
- Gala – The Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) is a global, non-profit trade association for the language industry. They are a membership organisation that offers information, professional development, expert resources, opportunities for collaboration, networking and increased visibility for their members.
Explore more from the Careers Service
CVs, portfolios and cover letters
Find out how to increase your chances of getting an interview by writing a strong CV and completing a successful application.
Building work experience
Get hands-on industry experience and showcase your knowledge before you graduate!
Graduate job search guide
Learn about the types of roles you will encounter, and how to search for roles.
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