Careers with Languages - St. Patrick's College - DCU

Graduate Careers in Languages 

Careers areas 

Occupations 

Useful contacts 

Graduate profiles 

www.gradireland.com 

2004 

Brought to you by your Careers Service and published by AGCSI and Ireland

Brought to you by your Careers Service and published by AGCSI and Ireland 

➜ Contents 

Writer: Mary McCarthy, 

Careers Adviser, University College Cork 

2 Opportunities for language graduates 

Graduate Careers in Languages 

Careers areas 

Occupations 

Useful contacts 

Graduate profiles 

www.gradireland.com 

2004 

Design & production Maya Little 

Proofreader Naomi Holdstock 

Publishers Chris Phillips, Adrian Wood 

© August 2004 The Association of 

Graduate Careers Services in Ireland 

(AGCSI) and GTI Specialist Publishers Ltd 

(Ireland). All rights reserved. No part of 

this publication may be reproduced by 

any means including, but not limited to, 

photocopying or stored in a retrieval 

system in any form without prior 

written consent of AGCSI. This is subject 

to the single exception of photocopying 

by AGCSI-member institutions. All 

items so used should be fully 

acknowledged. The views expressed in 

articles are those of author and their 

publication does not necessarily imply 

that such views are shared by AGCSI 

and GTI. Whilst every care has been 

taken in the compilation of this 

publication, the author and publishers 

cannot accept responsibility for any 

inaccuracies, or for consequential loss 

arising from such inaccuracies, or for 

any other loss, direct or consequential, 

arising in connection with information 

in this publication. 

4 The jobs 

• Translator 

• Interpreter 

• Education 

• Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) 

• Software localisation 

• Bilingual/multilingual secretaries/personal 

assistants 

• Other sectors where languages are important 

17 Finding a job 

• Work experience 

• Interpreters and translators 

• Education 

• TEFL 


• Bi/multilingual secretary 

22 Applications and interviews 

• Translating 

• Interpreting 

• Education 


• Bi/multilingual secretary/personal assistant 

25 Further study and training 

28 Further information 

The gradireland Graduate Careers in 

Languages booklet is published by The 

Association of Graduate Careers Services in 

Ireland (AGCSI) and GTI Specialist 

Publishers Ltd (Ireland). 

Project managed by AGCSI Careers 

Information Committee 

Natasha Gallagher, NUI, Maynooth (Chair) 

Philip Clarke, Queen's University, Belfast 

Colette Aungier, Trinity College Dublin 

Cora Cregan, St Patrick's College, 

Drumcondra 

Mary Egan, Athlone Institute of Technology 

Seamus McConomy, University of Ulster 

Kendra Ryder, NUI, Galway 

The Association of Graduate Careers 

Services in Ireland (AGCSI) is the 

professional association for careers 

services in higher education in Ireland, 

north and south. It fosters co-operation 

among the individual careers services, 

producing a range of careers publications 

for students and graduates. 

Chair of AGCSI Loretta Jennings, National 

University of Ireland, Maynooth 

Ireland 

GTI Ireland is a division of GTI Specialist 

Publishers, one of the leading graduate 

careers publishers in Europe, publishing 

over 70 careers magazines and directories 

each year as well as the number 1 

graduate careers website for the UK 

doctorjob.com. 

➜ 

go to www.gradireland.com 1

➜ 

Opportunities for 

language graduates 

Career prospects with languages, explored and explained. 

Graduate careers in languages are 

expanding and changing, particularly 

in the fields of translation and 

interpreting. The continued development of 

career opportunities for language graduates 

with a variety of skills is set to be the trend 

for the future. 

The expansion of the European 

Community has brought with it a large 

increase in the amount of information 

passing between different member states; EU 

legislation in the area of protection and 

equality of all member state languages has 

further developed opportunities in the Irish 

translation sector. Ireland now has an 

international economy – with a huge 

number of multinational companies located 

here, the European Union is well established 

as our ‘home market’. High-quality 

linguistic expertise has an essential part to 

play in our continued economic 

development. 

Another key factor is Ireland’s position as 

the second-largest exporter of computer 

hardware and software in the world. Many 

translators now work in industries that 

combine technology and languages, with 

software localisation probably being the 

greatest growth area. 

Respect! 

The perception of the importance of 

languages and language expertise is 

changing in Ireland; students (second and 

third level), graduates, employers and the 

general public are developing a greater 

recognition of their value. This changing 

realisation is reflected in new developments 

in education; many second-level students 

take two foreign languages to Leaving 

Certificate level and primary schools often 

offer French or German as an extra subject. 

There has also been a rapid development in 

the area of new interdisciplinary degree 

courses on offer, combining languages with 

subjects such as computing, law, business 

and even science. 

The professions of translator and 

interpreter have changed enormously; in the 

past fluency in a language was enough to 

gain employment but high levels of 

professional qualification and accreditation 

are becoming prerequisites. The size of the 

language services sector is relatively small in 

Ireland – the Irish Translators’ and 

Interpreters’ Association has approximately 

300 members. These include Irish and 

foreign translators living both in Ireland and 

➜ 

2 gradireland Graduate Careers in Languages

overseas. Approximately 95 of these are full 

‘professional members’ meaning that they 

have proven standards of professional 

competence and expertise. The association is 

currently working towards standards of 

certification. 

Employment trends 

Current research into what language 

graduates do is rather vague. The majority 

of language graduates are conferred with a 

Bachelor of Arts. HEA and university 

research into graduate employment patterns 

does not differentiate between degree 

subjects, therefore many of the statistics 

available do not accurately reflect what 

language graduates are doing. The most 

useful figures come from individual thirdlevel 

institutions that offer degrees in applied 

languages: Dublin City University and the 

University of Limerick. 

Recent statistics (2002) from Dublin City 

University show that 78 per cent of 

graduates of applied languages were in 

employment with over 12 per cent going 

onto further study; 8.5 per cent were 

unavailable for employment. Over half were 

employed in Ireland and almost a third were 

in employment overseas. A wide spread of 

employers was represented, including the 

French Government Tourist Office, Citibank 

and MBNA in Spain and Mitsubishi Motors 

Europe. Occupations range from teaching, 

marketing and accounting to translating and 

customer services. 

Graduates of the Diploma/MA in 

Translation Studies were employed in a 

range of areas: 83 per cent found 

employment, with over 8 per cent pursuing 

further study. Employers included 

international banks, tour operators, 

multinational companies and translation 

agencies. 

University of Limerick statistics show 

that 33 per cent of graduates of applied 

languages and computing worked in Ireland, 

with 22 per cent working abroad and a 

further 22 per cent going on to postgraduate 

study. Occupations include software 

development for the localisation industry, 

international marketing of computer and 

technical products and e-learning 

development. 

A significant number of language 

graduates still pursue the traditional route of 

second-level teaching and while detailed 

accurate figures are unavailable, it is safe to 

say that this remains a popular and 

accessible option; 22 per cent of Bachelor of 

Arts graduates go into teaching in temporary 

and substitute capacities and 45 per cent 

pursue further study. Of those who complete 

the Higher Diploma in Education, almost 90 

per cent end up in teaching. 

➜ 


➜ 

The jobs 

Languages are central to the following range of occupations. 

Other key skills common to all of these jobs include cultural 

awareness, knowledge of other countries, editing, proofreading, 

report-writing, listening, verbal accuracy and mental agility. 

Translator 

Translators translate texts 

and documents from one 

language into another 

language for people who do 

not understand the language of origin. 

Translators always deal with the written 

word. Most translation is of a scientific, 

technical or commercial nature and texts are 

hugely varied, ranging from technical 

manuals to promotional literature to legal 

contracts. Subject areas are as diverse as 

engineering, insurance, banking, medicine, 

law, computers, pharmaceutical products 

and food. 

There are basically two types of 

translator – staff translator and freelance 

translator: 

• Staff translators are usually employed full 

time with large companies, government 

departments, international organisations 

and European Union departments 

(Directorate General) and their offices. 

The subject matter that staff translators 

deal with can have consistency and 

similarity, similar themes are often dealt 

with on a day-to-day basis in government 

departments and companies. Staff 

translators usually work from 9.00 am to 

5.00 pm. Salaries vary and can start at 

anything from €25,000 to €31,000. The 

benefits of being employed are that job 

security exists along with additional 

benefits such as health insurance, pension 

funds and holiday pay. 

• Freelance translators work for themselves 

and are generally registered with an 

agency. The agency arranges new 

contracts and negotiates a fee for the 

translator, which they will keep a 

percentage of. Prices for jobs are based on 

the number of words in a text; fees can 

range from approximately €85 to €160 

per 1,000 words, depending on the 

particular language and the difficulty of 

the text. A plus factor with freelance work 

is that the work can be very versatile and 

interesting, however work can be irregular 

and insecure – quiet periods mean no 

income. You will almost always work 

from home and alone. 

Irish language translation 

Job opportunities for staff translators 

working into the Irish language are limited. 

Most jobs exist within the civil service and 

➜ 


while there is a need for extra Irish 

translators, a government embargo on job 

creation is in place at the moment. There are 

two main employers of staff translators into 

Irish: Rannog an Astriuchan which 

translates all legislation passed by the 

Oireachtas and provides simultaneous 

interpreting in the House of the Oireachtas, 

and An Gum which is linked to the 

Department of Education that generally 

deals with translation of educational 

textbooks. Opportunities do exist for 

freelance translators. An Gum has a panel of 

freelance translators and local county 

councils and government bodies do need the 

services of Irish translators. Most graduates 

employed in the field of Irish translation 

agree that it is extremely challenging and 

that the standards required are very high. 

Native fluency and an exceptional range of 

academic knowledge of the language are 

essential in order to progress in the area. 

New developments 

There is increased competition for jobs in 

translation and it is advisable to have good 

knowledge of a third language these days. It 

is an advantage to be able to offer one of the 

lesser-used languages in the European Union 

such as Greek, Danish or Portuguese. In the 

future, demand for knowledge of Eastern 

European languages will increase. There are 

increased opportunities for freelance Irish 

translators. Legislation requires that all 

public bodies make information available in 

both languages and 600 public bodies in 

Ireland need the expertise of Irish translators 

to tackle this huge volume of information! 

Translator 

I graduated in the early 1980s with a 

‘ 

BA in French and Italian. After 

spending a few years in the UK and 

Europe, I was offered a place on the 

Diploma in Translating and Interpreting in 

Geneva. I completed the course in two years 

because I already had a languages degree 

(normally it takes four years). The course trains 

people to work for the European Commission 

and I received a strong foundation in law and 

economics. I then spent some years based in 

Belgium, applying my skills in the 

international peace movement. 

Before leaving Belgium, I had started to 

work full time as a translator; initially I got 

work through registering with agencies and 

gradually built up a base of private clients. I 

returned to Ireland 12 years ago and now work 

as a freelance translator. My work involves 

translating texts, documents and speeches for 

a variety of private clients with whom I’ve kept 

professional contact. I do a lot of legal work 

and translate for a specific sector to which I 

am committed – mainly NGOs and 

international overseas development 

organisations. 

To do this job it is vitally important to feel 

comfortable and fluent in your mother tongue 

– you need to feel you have mastery of it! 

Another thing is that you have to have 

confidence in your foreign language. If you are 

going to work freelance, register with the Irish 

Translators’ and Interpreters’ Association and 

list your interest areas as this makes the work 

so much more enjoyable.’ 

Veronica Kelly is a Translator 

➜ 


The ideal candidate 

It is not enough to be a good translator. You 

must have a knowledge of and/or interest in 

specialist areas such as computing, law, 

science, medicine, engineering and 

finance/banking. The range of qualifications 

needed vary depending on the type of work. 

A degree in science, law, business or 

engineering and fluency/proficiency in two 

other languages is sufficient. A qualification 

in technical writing could also be relevant. A 

degree in languages and a qualification in 

translating along with one or more specialist 

interests is the most frequently required 

background. In a small country like Ireland, 

it is important not to be too overspecialised. 

Other essentials include excellent wordprocessing 

skills, a good working knowledge 

of computers, well-developed written 

communication skills in your mother tongue 

(including a thorough knowledge of 

grammar and spelling) and a good sense of 

personal integrity. Material dealt with can 

often be of a sensitive and confidential 

nature, so the utmost discretion is called for. 

Self-reliance and self-discipline are very 

important qualities because translators work 

alone, often with difficult and challenging 

texts. Resourcefulness, problem-solving and 

the ability to work under pressure are also 

much-used skills as difficult tasks and 

narrow deadlines make their demands on 

translators. A natural curiosity and 

willingness to learn are vital qualities as you 

may be constantly required to explore new 

and different areas of knowledge. 

Starting out 

The majority of translators in Ireland are 

freelance. Those starting out will usually do 

a sample translation for an agency, which 

may be specialised, semi-specialised or of a 

general nature depending on their 

background and the type of work they are 

seeking. Smaller projects are usually 

undertaken initially and then, depending on 

progress and experience gained, more 

sizeable jobs are contracted. 

Interpreter 

Interpreting is a form of 

translation that uses the 

medium of the spoken word. 

Interpreters translate verbal 

statements from one language to another. 

The core responsibilities involve listening to, 

understanding and memorising what is said 

and accurately repeating it in a different 

language. Interpreting is usually from 

another language into the mother tongue; 

communication can either be one way or 

two way, depending on whether the 

situation involves a dialogue or speech. 

Interpreters are used in a wide range of 

settings, including conferences, government 

and international political meetings, business 

conferences, trade shows, Garda stations, 

hospitals, legal consultations and court 

cases. The clients that interpreters deal with 

can range from political figures to corporate 

managers to refugees and asylum seekers. 

There are different types of interpreting, the 

main two being conference interpreting and 

community or dialogue interpreting: 

• Conference interpreting can be conducted 

in two different ways: simultaneous or 

consecutive. Simultaneous interpreting 

involves sitting in a soundproof booth, 

listening to what is being said through 

headphones and simultaneously 

translating it. This is the most common 

type of interpreting at large international 

events such as European member-state 

meetings. In many cases more than one 

➜ 


language is being used. Consecutive 

interpreting, as the name suggests, 

involves waiting until the speaker has 

finished speaking before interpreting; 

note-taking is an essential part of this 

method. 

• Community/dialogue interpreting takes 

place in any number of community 

settings: doctor/patient consultations in 

hospitals, legal consultations and court 

events with non-nationals, business 

meetings, corporate and diplomatic 

dinners and social events, etc. The 

interpreter works both in and out of his/ 

her mother tongue in a face-to-face 

situation. 

Other types of interpreting include video 

conferencing – this is usually used by large 

multinational companies, remote 

interpreting (telephone interpreting) often 

employed by politicians, and media 

interpreting for TV and film. 

The working hours can be irregular and 

unsociable, depending on the nature of the 

Interpreter and translator 

I graduated in the early 1990s with a 

‘ 

communications degree. I worked in 

the media for a couple of years and 

then decided to pursue an MA in Irish 

Translation. I now work as a freelance 

translator, translating from English into Irish. 

The core activities of my work involve 

translation into standardised Irish grammar, 

proofreading and simultaneous interpreting. I 

hand over all translations I undertake to 

another proofreader before signing off and the 

work has to be of a very high standard. 

I got into this area initially by registering 

with an agency from whom I got contract 

work; over time I built up my own client base, 

which I am happy to say is now quite large 

and continues to grow. There is a huge 

shortage of good Irish translators in Ireland, so 

I’m worked off my feet. There are between 500 

and 600 public bodies in Ireland and all of 

them are legally obliged to translate all 

information into Irish. Clients could include 

health boards, county councils and public 

bodies such as the pensions board. 

knowledge of new vocabulary. My degree has 

been hugely relevant and beneficial, most 

particularly the discipline of approaching, 

assimilating and interpreting information. 

Obviously my postgraduate training has been 

an essential background that I draw from 

daily, along with my native foundation in Irish. 

To any graduates interested in this field, I 

would say that there is room for good 

translators and in addition to your academic 

knowledge you really need to have a good 

knowledge of contemporary Irish. There is 

plenty of work for freelancers; register with an 

agency and you’ll start out with small pieces 

of work, but if you build up a good reputation, 

you will get your own clients over time. 

Considering the demand for Irish translation, 

there are a very small number of specialised 

agencies in this field.’ 

Darina Ni Chinneide is an Irish language 

translator and simultaneous interpreter 

‘There is room for good translators’ 

An almost exhaustive command of the Irish 

language is essential as well as an up-to-date 

➜ 


work undertaken. Conference interpreting is 

probably most likely to have more 

conventional working hours, since 

businesses and political conferences will 

usually be held during the course of the 

normal working day. Many events requiring 

the services of an interpreter can happen at 

very unsociable times – hospital emergencies, 

legal situations in Garda stations and video 

conferences where some participants are on 

the other side of the world in different time 

zones. Opportunities to travel are plentiful – 

interpreters need to reach a high level of 

competence and professionalism which, in 

part, can only be gained by immersion in the 

native environment of the languages they 

have studied. The biggest users of 

interpreters are located abroad: the 

European Commission, the European 

Parliament, the World Health Organisation 

and so on. 

Salaries can be varied depending on 

whether you are freelance and selfemployed, 

working for a large multinational 

organisation, employed in a civil service 

position or employed within EU 

departments. 

The best-paid jobs are in Brussels, 

Strasbourg and Geneva. The work is intense 

in nature and can be exhausting, particularly 

for simultaneous interpreters. A lot of 

advance preparation is required, especially 

for specialist areas and interpreters often 

request papers, glossaries and agendas 

several days before an assignment. Core 

activities of the interpreter will include 

listening, analysing, understanding and 

memorising content in order to reproduce it 

in mother tongue quickly, accurately and 

confidently, researching specific terminology 

and vocabulary, preparing paperwork and 

making ‘on the spot’ decisions to convey 

meaning accurately. Organising your 

workload, dealing with current assignments 

whilst preparing for future ones and liaising 

with clients, employers, agencies and 

internal departments, are also key features of 

the job. 


The recent expansion of the European Union 

now means that we have 17 working 

languages in the community. For anyone 

planning on acquiring a second or third 

language, proficiency in an Eastern 

European language could open up a host of 

new potential career opportunities. 

A new development area in the field of 

interpreting is video conferencing. 

Multinational companies are increasingly 

using this as an efficient and economic way 

to manage conferences and meetings. 

Corporate meetings between different offices 

located all over the globe can now take place 

at the press of a button. This is sure to be a 

continued growth area for interpreting 

agencies and in a small number of cases will 

create jobs for interpreters within 

companies. With the development of medical 

video conferencing, doctors can hold 

consultations with international expert 

specialists and in some cases can be guided 

through surgical procedures from the other 

side of the globe! 

Interpreters also need to be increasingly 

IT skilled; software technology has been 

developed to extract specialist vocabulary 

and build up a database of vocabulary 

banks. 


The ideal candidate will need to have an 

excellent command of the English language 

and fluency in two other languages. 

Proficiency in a third language is desirable 

and advantageous. You should be well 

➜ 


educated in a general sense and possess a 

knowledge of current affairs, politics and 

other cultures, have well-developed powers 

of concentration and a good memory. 

Interpreters need the ability to process and 

analyse information quickly; they should be 

alert and intuitive with the ability to adapt 

instantly to situations, people and topics. 

They also need above-average physical and 

mental resilience and endurance, social ease 

and an outgoing nature. 

Acceptable entry requirements are varied; 

a combination of a degree in languages and 

a qualification in interpreting is the most 

mainstream and conventional route into this 

profession. A degree in another relevant 

discipline and postgraduate training in 

interpreting is also highly acceptable and, in 

some cases, could be a requirement. 


Interpreting is a highly skilled profession 

and requires extremely high standards. It 

can take several years to become thoroughly 

qualified in the field. Spending significant 

periods of time abroad improving fluency is 

an essential part of training. Most 

interpreters work freelance and getting 

started is a challenge – the majority register 

with an agency and are given small, 

relatively easy assignments to begin with. 

Depending on success, larger assignments 

are then taken on. It is very important to 

become a member of the Irish Association of 

Translators and Interpreters, as your name 

and profile are then listed. 

Education 

Secondary school teaching 

has traditionally been the 

most popular career path for 

language graduates. 

European integration and 

internationalisation has brought new 

opportunities that have permanently 

changed the perception of language teaching 

as the only ‘real’ option. Those who decide 

to pursue a teaching career need to be 

interested, enthusiastic and possess the 

necessary qualities and aptitudes. Teaching is 

a challenging and rewarding profession for 

the right candidate. It is demanding, diverse 

and offers opportunities for continual 

learning and development, both inside and 

outside the classroom. 

The secondary teacher normally deals 

with all levels of subject knowledge, from 

raw beginners in their first year to higher 

level Leaving Certificate students. While the 

curriculum content for languages and its 

objectives remain largely unchanged from 

year to year, the creative scope for how it is 

delivered can be broad and exciting. The 

secondary teacher works a maximum of 22 

class-contact hours a week. In addition, a lot 

of hours are spent in lesson planning, 

correcting and, at times, extracurricular 

activities. 

Some schools close for a half-day on 

Wednesday and the holidays are excellent: 

two weeks at Christmas and Easter, three 

months for the summer break and a week’s 

mid-term in autumn and spring. The starting 

salary is about €26,000 and is incremental 

for permanent staff, with bonuses for each 

additional academic qualification. However 

the nature of the work is intense – a lot of 

teachers claim they expend a lot of nervous 

energy, particularly on disciplinary issues. It 

cannot be emphasised enough that the 

teacher’s job is challenging; the task of the 

teacher is to instil a love and enthusiasm for 

the subject by employing a creative and 

versatile approach in a system that is rigidly 

exam focused. In addition to this, the job of 

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earning the respect of the students whilst 

maintaining discipline demands a rich range 

of resources on the part of the teacher. 


In recent years, the number of permanent 

teaching jobs available has reduced 

considerably. There are some subject 

shortages, in the science subjects, for 

example, however in the area of languages, 

supply exceeds demand. Very few newly 

qualified teachers get permanent jobs. Most 

will end up in part-time and temporary posts 

for several years before they are fortunate 

enough to get a full-time, permanent post. In 

order to increase employability, teachers 

need to have many ‘strings to their bow’, 

such as a useful range of teaching subjects. 

Graduates can teach their first-year 

degree subjects to Junior Certificate level, so 

theoretically, a graduate could have three or 

even four subjects to offer a school. In 

addition to this, teachers are increasingly 

undertaking further part-time study or 

training in order to strengthen their chances 

of permanency. Many are returning to 

university by night to study another subject 

to degree level. The Diplomas in Remedial 

Education, Catechetics and Civic, Social and 

Political Education are also popular choices. 

Training in speech and drama and sports 

coaching greatly enhances employability 

prospects. There is a shortage of teachers in 

the UK – many schools and specialist 

recruitment agencies now visit Irish 

universities every year in order to recruit 

newly qualified teachers. The salaries on 

offer can be very attractive, depending on 

the school and location. 


The ‘ideal’ teacher needs to be in possession 

of a rich range of resources, qualities and 

skills in order to enjoy the job and do it 

The best website for courses in Ireland – OFFICIAL 


➜ 


effectively. Two essential qualities for 

successful teaching are the ability to relate 

well to young people and to have 

enthusiasm and a love for your subjects. 

Energy, drive, self-motivation, adaptability, 

creativity and excellent communication skills 

are all highly desirable qualities and skills. 

Self-confidence and a genuine positive 

regard for teenagers are also vital attributes 

in the classroom, while good organisational 

and administrative abilities are very 

important for classroom preparation. 

Discipline is becoming an increasing 

problem in schools; the parameters for 

enforcing discipline in second-level 

institutions are narrowing and classroom 

teachers are having to adopt respectful, 

humanistic, person-centred or behavioural 

models. Therefore it really is vital for the 

potential teacher to develop and sustain many 

of the attributes and qualities mentioned 

above. Teachers who fail to do this 

adequately can find themselves overstressed 

and burnt out after a number of years. 


As already mentioned, newly qualified 

teachers rarely get permanent positions. A 

typical graduate may start out covering 

maternity leave for four or five months. 

Most school principals do not give higher 

level Leaving Certificate classes to such 

inexperienced teachers and teachers usually 

find themselves concentrating mainly on 

junior cycle classes for their first jobs. 

Language teacher 

I graduated in the early nineties 

‘ 

with a degree in history and 

German and went straight in to the 

MA programme. I love language and 

anything to do with it. I teach in the Language 

Centre in UCC. I got the job by contacting the 

centre to enquire if there might be any 

positions and submitted a CV to the 

department. All of the students I teach are 

doing degrees in law with German or 

commerce with German. I enjoy teaching a 

language – you have to love your subject to be 

able to teach. I love the meticulous and precise 

nature of grammar and the richness of 

vocabulary and literature. I aim to get my 

students to feel enthusiastic about German – I 

hope I do. 

My job is very clear-cut; I know what I need 

to do and have an academic year to achieve it. 

My responsibility is to focus on grammar, 

vocabulary, translation and oral skills, and to 

raise the students’ level of conversational 

German. Other work includes setting and 

correcting assignments and exam questions 

and attending departmental meetings. My 

degree background is very relevant to what I’m 

doing. I am a native German speaker and my 

academic training has given me a theoretical 

framework and understanding from which to 

work. To graduates interested in teaching I 

would say try to build up as much class 

experience as possible by taking any kind of 

temping positions going; you become clearer 

about the type of students you want to teach 

and the more versatile your experience, the 

easier it will be to get your ideal job.’ 

Sabine Aman is a German Language Teacher 

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Teaching English as a 

foreign language 

(TEFL) 

TEFL teaching refers to the 

work of teaching English as a foreign 

language. ‘TEFLING’ can involve teaching 

all age ranges from very young children to 

mature business executives. TEFL teaching is 

a very popular choice for graduates of all 

backgrounds. Most will view it as a 

temporary occupation, before they apply 

themselves seriously to their ‘real’ career. A 

limited but growing number of full-time 

employment opportunities exist in Ireland 

but very few of these would be permanent. 

A lot of summer seasonal employment is 

available in temporary locations for students 

who attend four week intensive courses, the 

majority of whom are young Europeans 

from France, Spain, Italy and Germany. Allyear-round 

TEFL business is expanding at a 

fast pace in Ireland, particularly in Dublin. 

Huge influxes of Chinese students are now 

going there to study English along with the 

usual nationalities mentioned above. 

The demand for qualified TEFL teachers 

abroad continues to be high; the most 

popular destinations are France, Spain and 

Italy. Many graduates regard TEFL teaching 

as an opportunity to spend a year or two 

abroad while perfecting their fluency in a 

European language. It provides an ideal 

possibility for language graduates who wish 

to gain a high level of proficiency in order to 

use their linguistic skills professionally. The 

typical working day, both in Ireland and 

abroad, usually entails classes in the 

morning and evening. Salaries are worked 

out at an hourly rate and job security, in 

most cases, is difficult to find. A small 

number of graduates enjoy TEFL teaching so 

much that they decide to make a serious 

career of it. In these instances, prospects for 

promotion are good; many graduates who 

remain in reputable, well-run schools will be 

given positions such as director of studies 

and will be responsible for curriculum 

development, course design and 

examinations. After some years, many 

experienced teachers will end up managing a 

language school or in some cases will open 

up their own language school. 


TEFL jobs are set to increase considerably in 

Eastern Europe due to the recent expansion 

of the EU. Salaries are lower than elsewhere, 

however the cost of living is also low. 

English remains the predominant language 

within the EU, even though only 16 per cent 

are native speakers, 31 per cent choose it as 

their second language. 


Department of Education regulations 

around TEFL qualifications have tightened 

up a lot in recent years. Courses are run 

throughout the country, both by private 

commercial institutions and universities. 

Courses must run for a minimum of 70 

hours and must be RELSA approved 

(Recognised English Language Schools 

Association). Summer employment is easy 

enough to get for those who have a 

qualification and no prior experience. 

Teachers need to have well-developed 

communication skills, be outgoing and 

sociable, enthusiastic, inventive, imaginative 

and energetic. They must be able to develop 

a rapport with people of all ages, open to 

bringing novel and creative approaches into 

the classroom and involve their students in 

their own learning as much as possible. 

➜ 



Most students get their initial experience in 

summer schools here in Ireland. Once they 

have a couple of months of teaching 

experience under their belt, they will find it 

much easier to get more long-term 

employment either here or abroad. 

Software localisation 

Software localisation refers 

to the whole area of 

adapting computer software 

to suit the needs of a 

particular country, language and culture. 

The bulk of development is occurring in the 

western world, however it must continue to 

match the needs of all customers. 

Over 100 million people access the 

internet in a language other than English. 

Localisation is the process of adapting 

products and services to the needs of global 

users – it enables non-English-speaking users 

around the world to benefit from 

technology. Language translation is only a 

small part of localisation – it also involves 

modifying products to consider cultural and 

political sensitivities, colours and sounds, 

date, time, currency formats and social 

factors to enable users to interact more 

effectively with the products. 

The entire process of localisation involves 

the expertise of a multidisciplinary team. 

Jobs include software localisation engineer, 

software localisation specialist, localisation 

programme manager, language co-ordinator, 

translator, language automation specialist, 

programme manager and quality assurance. 

The software localisation specialist translates 

software from English to native languages 

and adapts software to reflect cultural 

sensitivities. Large multinational companies 

such as Microsoft employ their own 

localisation team permanently. Many other 

organisations employ the services of 

specialist software localisation companies, 

where their services can be used on contract 

when they are needed. 

Language experts within a localisation 

team need to have specialist knowledge and 

be able to handle complex terminology. 

Translators need to be highly experienced and 

knowledgeable in specialist subjects and IT 

languages and able to work effectively as part 

of a technical team. Language staff can be 

required to translate all types of software, 

computer programs, technical manuals and 

documents for customer support. Core 

activities include translation from English to a 

target language, liaising with localisation 

team members and using computer-assisted 

translation technologies (CAT). 

Working hours are in line with normal 

industry schedules (generally 9.00 am – 

5.00 pm). Prospects for travel overseas are 

good, both in terms of relocating and in the 

form of trips abroad to deal with clients. 

Opportunities exist for promotion, depending 

on background and experience. Translators 

and language co-ordinators, for instance, can 

gain promotion to localisation project 

manager. Typical activities in this role would 

include management of all aspects of the 

localisation process, such as providing 

quotations for clients, ensuring specifications 

are adhered to within the budget and the 

delivery of projects on time. Salaries are 

competitive with larger organisations. 


While there has been a downturn in the IT 

industry and recovery is slow, localisation is 

a growth area. As hardware and software 

manufacturers continue to rationalise and 

economise, the need for localisation services 

and consultancies is increasing. This is 

➜ 


coupled with the inclusion of a host of new 

working languages in the EU. 


The ideal candidate needs to have a 

combination of qualifications, such as a 

languages degree with computer science or 

business or, alternatively, technical experience 

or a postgraduate conversion course in the IT 

area or technical writing and a translation 

qualification. Knowledge of software 

localisation tools such as MS Localisation 

Studio is useful, although training in 

localisation tools is often provided. Other 

skills sought include excellent written and 

verbal communication skills, well-developed 

organisational skills and the ability to work 

under pressure to strict deadlines. The ability 

to work effectively as part of a team, a 

willingness to learn, problem-solving skills 

and initiative are also important. 


The challenge of breaking into the 

localisation field is lack of experience. As 

with most IT positions, employers look for 

between one and three years experience. 

Armed with the relevant qualifications and 

training, graduates can find it helpful to 

register with a translation agency and focus 

on undertaking small assignments of a 

technical nature. As their ‘portfolio’ 

expands, they are in a position to 

successfully apply for localisation jobs. 

Bilingual/multilingual 

secretaries/personal 

assistants 

Bilingual or multilingual 

secretaries are proficient in one or more 

foreign languages – French, German and 

Spanish are the most sought after in this 

field of work. Bilingual secretaries basically 

carry out the spectrum of secretarial duties 

through the medium of one or more foreign 

languages. While a university degree is not a 

prerequisite for this position, an increasing 

number of language graduates take up 

administrative roles in large international 

companies in the form of personal assistant 

or senior secretary to corporate 

management. 

Core activities of the job include 

translating letters and documents, dealing 

with telephone queries and visitors, 

interpreting at meetings and conferences, 

dealing with suppliers across Europe and 

beyond and dealing with sister plants. In 

addition, secretaries undertake all of the 

usual administrative secretarial duties in 

English. Working hours are usually the 

normal office schedule, however some 

unsociable hours may need to be worked 

from time to time if foreign visitors are being 

entertained and an interpreter is required. 

Travel prospects are good with frequent 

opportunities to accompany employers on 

business trips. The average salary in Ireland 

starts at €23,000 and can rise to €31,000. 

Salaries abroad are higher. 

Graduates find that opportunities for 

promotion and increased responsibility are 

very accessible – graduates bring a range of 

skills with them that will give them an 

advantage over their colleagues. Depending 

on the sector they are working in, graduates 

can gain career advancement in a wide 

spectrum of areas: the tourism industry, 

conference or exhibition management, 

translating, interpreting, sales, marketing, 

customer relations and customer support. A 

bilingual secretarial qualification is an 

excellent foundation for anyone wishing to 

move into administrative management. 

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As mentioned in descriptions of other 

careers with languages, the need for 

linguistic proficiency is on the increase. 

Leading multinational companies realise that 

hiring multilingual staff means better access 

to European and global markets. This 

realisation is reflected in the development of 

bilingual secretarial courses in colleges of 

further education across the country. 


Bilingual secretaries must have extremely 

high proficiency in their chosen languages, 

both oral and written. Most employers will 

only consider a candidate if they have spent 

at least one year abroad. Skills required 

include shorthand, audio typing and text 

processing in foreign languages. Proficiency 

in Microsoft Office is a basic requirement, 

while some employers also seek 

understanding of the culture, politics and 

economics in the relevant country. The ideal 

candidate will have highly developed 

administrative and organisational skills, be 

flexible, adaptable and co-operative. They 

should have excellent social communication 

skills, initiative and be able to work well 

under pressure. 


Some graduates may start out in a trainee or 

junior position. Junior secretaries work 

mainly in English and, as experience is 

gained, further responsibility and promotion 

should be offered. In order to gain 

experience, some graduates start out by 

getting temporary positions through 

recruitment agencies or work in call centres 

to practice their languages. 

Other sectors where languages 

are important 

There are a vast range of job sectors in 

which languages are seen as an asset. There 

are hundreds of international companies 

located in Ireland. Employers right across 

the spectrum are looking for graduates with 

a specific collection of skills, knowledge and 

qualities and proficiency in a foreign 

language is just one of those skills. The 

following are some of the main categories: 

• Marketing and sales – indigenous and 

international companies have overseas 

clients whose mother tongue is not 

English. Exciting career opportunities 

exist for graduates with a combined 

background in business/marketing and 

languages. Roles such as export sales 

assistant and export sales manager require 

dealings with overseas clients and 

potential clients. Fluency in their language 

along with cultural awareness means 

better business relationships and more 

clients. 

• Management consulting – top 

management consultancies are all 

international, with centres across the 

globe. Their work can span virtually every 

industry worldwide. Opportunities for 

involvement in overseas projects are 

emphasised and transfer to centres abroad 

is regarded as a valuable part of training. 

Language skills are a definite bonus. 

• Banking – large international banks and 

investment institutions recruit graduates 

annually. Backgrounds in finance, business 

and accounting are almost always 

required. Languages are not normally 

essential, however some opportunities do 

arise in the area of international fund 

investment, where fluency in a language 

would have high relevance. Recent 

➜ 


graduates would not normally be involved 

in such a highly skilled area, however 

opportunities do exist in international 

banks with locations throughout Europe 

in roles that involve customer care and 

service. 

• Tourism – the tourism industry includes 

tour operators, travel agents, airlines, 

incoming travel specialists and tourist 

boards. Bord Failte has offices in several 

of the main European cities, with the aim 

of developing incoming tourism in 

Ireland. Irish graduates with languages are 

recruited for this role. Tour operators 

have seasonal employment opportunities 

for client representatives in all of their 

holiday destinations. Knowledge of the 

local language is a must. These jobs can 

provide exciting opportunities for 

graduates to spend time abroad perfecting 

their language skills. Airlines only employ 

air and ground stewards with a foreign 

language. All Irish airlines are 

rationalising at the moment and 

recruitment is at an all time low, however 

the same job opportunities exist with 

overseas airlines. 

• Customer support/customer relations – 

Ireland is regarded as one of the leading 

centres for information technology in 

Europe and it is now the second largest 

software provider in the world. Customer 

support positions play a crucial part in 

maintaining a good reputation. Graduates 

with technical and language skills are 

needed to fulfil these important roles. 

Customer support consultants receive calls 

from clients who are experiencing 

technical difficulties, their job is to find a 

solution as rapidly as possible. It is 

essential for consultants to possess a high 

standard of fluency in the client’s 

language. 

• Teleservices – Ireland is known as the ‘call 

centre capital of the world’. The demand 

for bilingual skills has exceeded supply. 

Employers do not look for a degree 

background for teleservices, except 

possibly for management positions but an 

extremely high level of proficiency in a 

language is essential. Most graduates do 

not consider a career in this area and 

would consider themselves overqualified 

for this line of work. Positions are usually 

temporary, giving graduates an 

opportunity to gain valuable experience of 

applying their language skills in a 

professional environment. 

Register at 

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➜ 


➜ 

Finding a job 

Where to look for work, whatever your area of interest. 

Work experience 

The ‘European Movement Ireland’ is an 

organisation that promotes the economic, 

social and political development of Europe 

and Ireland’s participation in it. It operates a 

system of stagiaires (internships) for 

students. A stagiaire student will be based in 

Dublin and commit to three months work, 

enabling them to gain valuable experience 

within a European organisation. 

The European Commission offers five 

month periods of in-service training (stages) 

to graduates with a thorough knowledge of 

one European Community language. The 

stages run from March to October and 

October to March each year. The work 

usually parallels with the duties of junior 

executive grade officials: compiling 

information and documentation, organising 

working groups, forums, public hearings 

and meetings, preparing reports and replying 

to queries. Traineeships can be located in 

any one of the EU departments. There are 

600 places each year and approximately 

7,000 applicants. The selection procedure is 

lengthy and the standard high. However 

graduates with a good honours degree and 

proficiency in a language have an equal 

chance of being successful. Generally 

graduates have a tendency to come from 

backgrounds in law, economics, politics and 

international relations, but recently the 

Commission has been eager to encourage 

applicants from computer science, natural 

and life sciences and engineering. The 

commission offers separate five month 

traineeships in their translating service. 

Graduates must be able to translate from 

two community languages into their mother 

tongue. 

Details of both stages can be found on 

the European Commission website. 

Interpreting and translating 

Where to look 

Most interpreters and translators in Ireland 

are freelance or work for agencies: 

• Make contact with several interpreting 

and translating agencies. Many are very 

small operations but some of the larger 

ones contract out assignments. Register 

your skills and abilities with them. 

• To advertise yourself as a freelance 

interpreter, register with the Irish 

Translators and Interpreters Association 

(ITIA); your details will be listed on their 

website. It is not advisable to work 

freelance unless you have built up a 

considerable range of experience and 

expertise. 

ITIA has a list of members (both 

individuals and agencies), specialisms and 

target languages. 

➜ 


National newspapers will advertise 

translation and interpreting posts. Irish 

newspapers will only advertise posts very 

occasionally. The best newspapers to consult 

are the major British ones, as well as the 

main daily newspapers in the languages you 

have studied. All are listed below: 

• The Irish Times 

• The Irish Independent 

• The Irish Examiner 

• The Independent 

• The Guardian 

• The Telegraph 

• The Times 

• Le Monde 

• El Pais 

• Die Welt 

• Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 

• La Repubblica 

• Le Journal de Geneve. 

Translation journals provide a good 

source of vacancies. Publications include: 

• Translation Ireland (published by Irish 

Translators and Interpreters Association) 

• ITI News Babel 

• Language International Aslib Technical 

Translation bulletin 

• Professional Translator and Interpreter 

• Electric Word (formerly Language and 

Technology. 

All of the above publications can be 

consulted at DCU and UL libraries or can be 

consulted on the web. It is also worth 

enquiring at other university libraries. 

The main recruiters 

The European Commission is the biggest 

employer of translators and interpreters, 

they are selected on the basis of very 

competitive examinations and interviews. 

The selection process or competition can 

take over a year. Selection involves an 

examination and interview and it is possible 

to get past exam papers to practice with. All 

EU translators and interpreters are employed 

in the Directorate General for Translation of 

the European Commission (DGT). Over 20 

per cent of all translation work is done by 

freelance translators and the DGT does not 

recruit individually but contracts out to 

translation agencies. Tenders for work are 

published on their website and on the 

official journal of the European 

communities. 

Other recruiters include: 

• The Court of Justice of the European 

Communities 

• The European Court of Auditors 

• The European Central Bank 

• The United Nations 

• The United Nations Educational Scientific 

and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) 

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) 

• The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 

(NATO) 

• International Atomic Energy Authority 

(IAEA). 

A small number of very large 

multinational companies will employ their 

own interpreters and translators but most of 

their needs are met by agencies. Research the 

world’s top ten largest companies, then 

search the ‘careers’ section on their website 

and see what they have to offer to language 

graduates. Translating jobs are more 

plentiful, particularly in technology fields. 

Microsoft’s European Development Centre, 

the largest outside the US, employs a large 

number of translators for localisation 

processes. Apple’s European Operations 

Centre employs more than 1,000 staff and 

many of those working in teleservices and 

financial services are employed for their 

language skills. 

➜ 


Location 

Freelance translators work from home. 

Interpreters employed by agencies are home 

based also and then work in any number of 

different locations depending on the 

assignment. Translation and interpreting 

agencies are mostly located in the main 

cities, with the majority situated in Dublin. 

Most large multinationals are situated in the 

south and east of Ireland. 

Education 

Where to look 

Educational posts are advertised in all of the 

main newspapers mentioned above. Some 

educational agencies also exist; they are 

listed in all regional golden pages directories. 

A teachers’ website also exists at 

http://www.educationposts.ie. 

➜ 

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➜ 


Some private secondary schools do not 

advertise posts but fill their vacancies from 

an existing pool of temporary staff. It is 

therefore a good idea to send out speculative 

CVs so they can have your details on file. 

Vocational and community schools are 

legally obliged to advertise all posts, even 

though a temporary teacher may have been 

in the position for some time. 

Advertisements usually tend to appear in late 

April and May, and again in August. 

Vocational committees often advertise for a 

panel of various types of teachers and 

subject combinations on an annual basis. 

The list corresponds to the subject needs 

foreseen for the future academic year. 

Graduates can find themselves in an 

interview for a teaching position in which 

the location has not yet been identified. This 

type of interview can be quite challenging, as 

no prior research into a specific institution 

will be of value. Experienced employees in 

the vocational system suggest that it is a 

good idea to send speculative CVs to school 

principals nevertheless. 


The employer of secondary teachers in 

Ireland is the Department of Education. 

Schools are divided into three main 

categories: secondary, vocational and 

community. All three categories have a 

slightly different ethos and all schools 

prepare students for the Junior and Leaving 

Certificates. Secondary schools are privately 

owned but are subsidised almost entirely by 

the state and their main focus is solely 

academic. Vocational schools are totally 

state financed and run by local vocational 

committees. They provide all the usual 

academic courses but also cater for more 

vocational subjects such as woodwork and 

construction studies. Community schools are 

completely funded by the state and are run 

by the Board of Management; they offer the 

student a wide variety of subject options, 

both academic and vocational. In addition, 

they cater for the adult educational needs of 

the community through the running of 

evening courses. The emphasis is very much 

on making the facilities available to the local 

community. 

Location 

Schools are located in all rural towns in 

Ireland and can be of any one of the 

aforementioned categories. A wide range of 

schools are located in cities. Inner city schools 

often tend to be privately owned secondary 

schools, with community schools (as well as 

secondary) concentrated in the suburbs. 

TEFL 

Where to look 

Some employers can be difficult to track 

down as they only run a seasonal operation 

and concentrate on marketing their services 

abroad. Check the golden pages under 

‘languages’ and ‘language schools’. It is also 

a good idea to contact second-level schools 

for information. Providers of TEFL courses 

will generally have information on what is 

going on in their area regarding jobs. Some 

TEFL jobs are advertised in April and May 

for summer employment. 

It is advisable to send CVs on spec to 

language schools, rather than wait for an 

advertisement. Some jobs may be advertised 

through TEFL course providers but many 

people get jobs in this field through 

networking. Regarding jobs abroad, 

advertisements do occasionally appear in 

national newspapers; English newspapers 

such as The Guardian are the best source of 

information. It is also worth doing some 

➜ 


web research as a host of TEFL recruitment 

agencies are in existence. If you are 

considering a job abroad, make sure you 

thoroughly research the school. Many 

language schools are very badly run, with 

poor teaching resources and bad working 

conditions. 

Location 

English language schools comprise two 

varieties: permanent and temporary summer 

schools. Permanent schools are growing in 

number. They are located in the major cities, 

with the bulk of them in Dublin. A very 

small number are situated in rural areas such 

as the west of Ireland. Summer schools tend 

to operate in state run and private second 

level schools; the buildings are rented out to 

language business owners. 


Where to look 

Translation jobs in IT localisation are often 

advertised through specialist recruitment 

agencies and websites that either deal with 

language skills or IT or both. Translation 

websites and journals are also a good source 

of information. 


Large multinational software companies 

often employ their own teams of language 

specialists. Fortunately, the largest 

organisations are located here. More 

commonly, companies employ the services of 

specialised localisation and translation 

service providers. A sizeable number such as 

Moravia are located in Ireland. 

Location 

The bulk of software companies are situated 

in the south and east of Ireland. 

Bi/multilingual secretary 

Where to look 

Most jobs are advertised either through 

recruitment agencies specialising in language 

skills or in national newspapers. The 

European Commission recruits through the 

European Communities Personnel Selection 

Office (EPSO) – permanent civil service 

positions are posted on their website. 

Graduates are selected through 

competitions, which comprise a pre-selection 

stage of multiple-choice questions, written 

tests and an oral exam. The selection process 

takes a year. Temporary positions are 

advertised on individual department or 

directorate general websites, all of which are 

linked on the Commission website. There 

are 15 affiliated community agencies and 

examples include the European 

Environmental Agency (EEA), Translation 

Centre (Cdt) and the European Maritime 

Agency (EMSA). All of these agencies 

advertise temporary posts on their websites. 

Information on agencies can be found on the 

European Commission site. 


In addition to EU recruitment, generally 

speaking, the companies who employ 

multilingual secretaries are large and 

multinational along with some importexport 

companies. Other employment 

possibilities include the World Trade 

Organisation and the International 

Telecommunications Union. 

Location 

EU positions are located in Brussels, Geneva 

and Strasbourg. Multinational companies 

are located throughout the country but are 

more concentrated in urban areas. 

➜ 


➜ 

Applications and 

interviews 

Focus on relevant skills to increase your employment prospects. 

Graduates need to equip themselves 

with a wide variety of skills that they 

can immediately apply in their job. 

Top employers take certain things for 

granted such as a good honours degree and 

a sound knowledge of their 

subject/specialism. What they are really 

interested in finding out is: 

• can you do the job? (ability) 

• will you do the job? (motivation) 

• will you fit in? (do they like you and will 

you get on well together?) 

The clearer you are about the type of job 

you want, the closer you will be to your 

goal. Having an enthusiastic interest in your 

field of study and knowledge of the range of 

skills, qualities and experience needed for 

the particular job you are applying for puts 

you well ahead. Research and preparation 

are the keys to successful job hunting. The 

following are a list of the essential and 

desirable requirements for the main careers 

in the languages sector. 

Translating 

Essential: 

• an excellent level of fluency in written and 

oral English 

• fluency in at least two other languages 

• a very good memory 

• knowledge of a specialist area. 

Desirable: 

• ability to work on your own initiative 

• self-reliance and self-discipline 

• an ability to meet deadlines 

• a willingness to learn 

• a good awareness of current affairs, 

cultures and politics. 

Employers will search for evidence of 

these in your CV or application and use the 

interview to seek answers and look for 

examples of your skills, qualities and 

knowledge. Make sure your standard of 

English is impeccable in your written 

application. It should contain a record of 

any translations you have already done and 

grades you were awarded for translation 

assignments in college. Your curriculum 

vitae could include a skills profile with an 

emphasis on the relevant attributes. 

The selection process will almost 

definitely include a translation assignment – 

practise, revise and prepare. You will already 

know the subject areas that the employer 

deals with. The interview is your 

opportunity to shine. Having a knowledge 

of the job specification and person 

specification, your task is to show that you 

match both. Go into the interview armed 

➜ 


with a host of real-life examples of situations 

in which you developed and applied these. It 

can help to view the interviewer as a 

potential ‘client’. See this as an opportunity 

to let them know that you have the skills, 

the interest and knowledge needed to give 

them what they’re looking for. 

Interpreting 

All of the essential and desirable attributes 

of translators hold for interpreters as the 

jobs have huge similarities. Additional 

requirements for interpreters include: 

• a high level of physical and mental 

stamina 

• the ability to work under pressure 

• good concentration and accuracy 

• the ability to analyse information rapidly 

• the ability to be intuitive and make 

decisions 

• the ability to be flexible and adaptable. 

Your CV should contain a skills profile 

which highlights a selection of these 

attributes. Ideally, if you have some relevant 

work experience, your CV could be skills 

based in style – when outlining 

responsibilities of the job you should 

incorporate experiences and incidents in 

which you applied some of the above 

attributes, making a point of mentioning 

some of the relevant ‘buzz’ words. 

Applications for positions with international 

organisations/European institutions involve 

a rigorous and competitive selection process. 

Interviews will be very much competency 

based and situations may be contrived in the 

interview to find evidence of the required 

skills. It is vital to focus on remaining as 

relaxed and clear-headed as possible. You 

will probably be required to undertake a 

sample interpreting assignment. Research 

and preparation of any special terminology 

and vocabulary relating to the subject areas 

of the organisation is advisable. 

Education 

Graduates applying for teaching jobs need to 

outline their CV with an emphasis on four 

key areas: 

• the full range of subjects you have to offer, 

to include first-year degree subjects 

• if you have any experience of 

extracurricular involvement, such as 

sports coaching or training, music, speech 

and drama, debating, chess tournaments, 

choir singing, etc, make sure to include it 

in an ‘additional skills’ section. Schools 

are very eager to employ teachers who are 

willing to get involved in activities outside 

of the classroom which will enrich and 

benefit the school and students overall. 

• your classroom teaching experience 

• your qualities and attributes. 

➜ 


Private secondary schools usually accept 

a CV and covering letter. Vocational and 

community schools may have their own 

application forms. If the form does not have 

adequate space to elaborate on additional 

activities, include an extra sheet and attach 

it. Essential and desirable requirements for 

teachers are: 

• an enthusiasm for your teaching subjects 

• ability to develop a rapport with young 

people 

• excellent communication skills 

• energy, drive and self motivation. 

Interviews for positions in secondary 

schools are usually conducted by the 

principal, a member of the Board of 

Management and possibly one other senior 

member of the teaching staff (an assistant 

principal post holder). Vocational school 

interviews are conducted by a panel of up to 

five or six people. Essential preparation for 

interviews should entail thorough research 

of the school, its ethos, mission statement, 

student population, achievements, history 

and so on, and a detailed assessment of your 

strengths as a teacher, your teaching style 

and your approach to disciplinary issues. 

You need to think about your willingness to 

become involved in extracurricular activities 

and have an informed awareness of current 

issues in education, trends and any recent 

curriculum changes. 


Essential and desirable requirements: 

• excellent written and verbal 

communication skills 

• good organisational skills 

• a willingness to learn 

• an effective team player 

• technical computer skills. 

CVs and applications for jobs in this field 

need to give a clear and detailed account of 

your knowledge and experience of 

localisation software tools and convey an 

openness and ability to learn and apply new 

skills quickly. The focus of interviews will be 

on technological knowledge of software 

tools, linguistic expertise of subject area, 

competency in target language, cultural 

awareness of the target language country 

and team skills. Employers may be 

multinational companies or localisation 

service providers. Essential preparation 

should involve a thorough review of your 

knowledge and experience of software, 

revision of relevant terminology, evidence of 

your team skills and quick learning abilities. 

Lastly, of course, detailed research of the 

company. 

Bi/multilingual secretary/personal 

assistant 

Essential/desirable attributes: 

• fluency in foreign languages 

• administrative and IT skills 

• excellent communication skills 

• flexibility, adaptability and a positive cooperative 

approach 

• competence. 

You need to emphasise your linguistic 

proficiency and personal qualities in your 

CV. In this role, a positive attitude is vitally 

important. The job may involve a lot of 

multitasking and ‘changing hats’ from 

secretary to interpreter. Aside from 

examining your hard skills in the interview, 

the employer will really want to know if you 

will fit into their organisation and cope with 

the demands of the job. Research the 

company fully and examine all of the desired 

attributes; be ready with examples of using 

and developing them in previous work 

experience. 

➜ 


➜ 

Further study and 

training 

Undergraduate degree courses on 

offer in Ireland 

Dublin City University 

• BA Applied Languages. Language options: 

French/German, French/Spanish, 

German/Spanish and Japanese 

• Bachelor European Business with 

Languages 

• Bachelor International Business 

National University of Ireland, Galway 

• Bachelor Commerce International 

National University of Ireland, 

Maynooth 

• Bachelor European Studies 

• BA in Minority Languages 

Trinity College Dublin 

• Bachelor Business Studies with Languages 

• Bachelor Computer Science Linguistics 

and Language 

• BA Russian 

University College Cork 

• BA Language and Cultural Studies 

• Bachelor of Arts – language options 

include English, Irish, French, Spanish, 

German and Italian 


• Bachelor of Commerce (European) – 

language options include Irish, French, 

German, Spanish and Italian 

• BCL (Law and French) 

• BCL (Law and German) 

• BCL (Law and Irish) 

University College Dublin 

• BA Arabic – the course has a strong 

emphasis on translation 

• BA International – language options 

include one of French, German, Spanish 

and one arts subject 

• Bachelor Commerce International – 

language options include French, Spanish, 

Italian, Greek and Irish 

• Bachelor Law with French Law 

University of Limerick 

• BA Applied Languages – two languages 

from the following: French, German, 

Spanish, Irish and Japanese 

• Bachelor Applied Languages and 

Computing 

• Bachelor Business Studies with Modern 

Languages 

• Bachelor Computer Systems with French 


• Bachelor Law and European Studies 

• BSc Science International 

Relevant postgraduate courses 


• MA in Translation Studies. Students can 

take one or two languages from: French, 

Spanish, German, Irish and Japanese 

➜ 


• Graduate Diploma/MA in Conference 

Interpreting. Working languages on offer 

are: Irish, English, German, Spanish, 

French 

• Graduate Diploma/MA in Intercultural 

Studies 

National University of Ireland, 

Maynooth 

• MA sa Nua Gaeilge 


• MA in Applied Linguistics. 


• Postgraduate Diploma in Linguistics 


• Graduate Diploma/MSc Software 

Localisation 

Europe 

evening courses and prepare students for 

examinations with the aforementioned 

bodies. 

Postgraduate courses in translating and 

interpreting in the UK 

Masters and postgraduate diplomas are 

offered by the following institutions: 

• Department of Languages, Heriot-Watt 

University, Edinburgh 

• Modern Languages Centre, The University 

of Bradford 

• The Languages Centre, University of Kent 

• Department of Linguistic and 

International Studies, University of Surrey 

• Faculty of Languages, University of 

Westminster. 

Be aware that fees and maintenance 

grants for postgraduate courses can only be 

applied for in Ireland, grants are not 

available for postgraduate courses in the 

UK. 

College of Europe, Bruges and Natolin 

• Master of European Studies 

• Courses in politics and administration, 

economics and law are also offered 

European University Institute, Florence 

• LLM in Comparative European 

International Law 

• Postgraduate studies in economics, 

political and social science, history and 

civilisation are also on offer 

Other translation qualifications 

Professional examinations may be taken 

with external examining bodies such as the 

Institute of Linguists and the Institute of 

Translating and Interpreting. Translation 

Diplomas in French or German are run by 

Dublin Institute of Technology. These are 

➜ 


➜ 

Further information 

Useful websites 

gradireland 

http://gradireland.com 


http://www.dcu.ie 


http://www.ul.ie 


http://www.ucd.ie 


http://www.ucc.ie 

University College Maynooth 

http://www.may.ie 

College of Europe 

http://www.coleurop.com 

Ecole de Traduction et d’Interpretation : 

Universite de Geneva 

http://www.unige.ch/eti/ 

Prospects UK 

http://www.prospects.ac.uk 

Language Advantage 

http://www.languageadvantage.com 

Information on the translating 

profession in Ireland 

http://homepage.eircom.net/~translation/tran 

slationprofession.html 

Irish Association of Translators and 

Interpreters 

http://www.translatorsassociation.ie 

Institute of Translation and Interpreting 

http://www.iti.org.uk 

Irish Association for Applied Linguistics 

http://www.iraal.ie 

Institute of Linguists 

http://www.iol.org.uk 

CILT National Centre for Languages 

http://www.cilt.org.uk 

European Union 

http://europa.eu.int 

European Parliament 

http://www.europarl.eu.int 

EURES (European Employment Services) 

http://europa.eu.int/eures 

European Movement (formerly The Irish 

Council for the European Movement ) 

http://www.europeanmovement.ie 

European Commission traineeships 

http://europa.eu.int/comm/stages 

European Commission temporary and 

permanent employment opportunities 

http://www.europa.eu.int/epso 

Applications for stages in EU translation 

department are sent to: 

➜ 


DG Translation RL-1 

JECL 7/8A 

European Commission 

B-1049 

Brussels 

Belgium 

Eurograduate 

A resource for graduates who wish to work or 

study in Europe http://www.eurograduate.com 

Useful reading 

• The Art of Building Windmills, Dr Peter 

Hawkins (1999) Graduate Information 

Employment Unit 

• Using Languages, AGCAS 2002 

Job websites 

Recruitment agencies focusing on linguistic 

skills include: 

• http://www.bond-personnel.com/ 

multilingual 

• http://www.1800-people.com 

• http://www.edenrecruitment.ie 

• http://www.workskillsfirst.com 

• http://www.myjob.ie/multilingual. 

A useful inventory of recruitment 

agencies in Ireland can be found at: 

http://www.gaire.com 

Other career and work related websites 

include: 

• http://www.aiesec.org 

• http://www.educationposts.ie 

• http://www.translatorscafe.com 

• http://www.translators3000.com 

• Information on companies that employ 

linguists http://www.geocities.com/ 

aishasaid/companies 

• Enterprise Ireland listings of software 

companies in Ireland can be found at 

http://www.enterprise-ireland.ie 

• IDA Ireland http://www.ida.ie 

Register at 

for an inbox full 

of jobs, news and 

postgraduate 

study updates 

Brought to you by your Careers 

Service and published by 

AGCSI and Ireland 

➜

Careers with Languages - St. Patrick's College - DCU

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