What languages should you learn for a career in International Development?

There are six official languages of the UN. These are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Increasingly, our partner Organizations have been seeking candidates that speak Portuguese. So let’s dive into the question, which one of these languages should you learn to strenghten your CV for this sector?

Learning a new language is highly advised in this sector as it can improve your career prospects. Across all kinds of industries and job roles, employers look for those who can speak multiple languages. 

It can help with soft skills such as creativity, problem-solving, and multitasking as well as boost cultural understanding. I have come across many job descriptions where specific language skills are essential and part of the minimum requirements and personally, this has been my most frustrating part of the job search process.