Importance of English in a workplace

Remember how complicated it was to understand your health care benefits when you got your first real job? Now imagine trying to figure it out if all the information was in another language. That is exactly what happens to millions of Spanish-speaking workers and their families in the United States, and it’s costing them — and their employers — a lot of money.

In 2013, 21 percent of U.S. households (about 62 million people) reported speaking a language other than English at home, and Spanish was by far the most common at 62 percent. That same year, there were roughly 11 million Latino immigrants working in the United States.

“As our workforce in this country becomes more diverse, it’s just good practice to think about what form information should come in for it to be most effective,” said Irfan Hasan, senior program officer of health and people with special needs at the New York Community Trust, which supports an array of nonprofits in the city. That means giving workers the information they need in a language — and platform — that is most easily accessible, he said.

Your Job Search and The "Jargon" of Industry Language

Look up the definition of "Jargon" and you will likely find something that reads... The language used for a particular activity or by a particular group of people, i.e. legal jargon, sports jargon or medical jargon - the kind which is only understood by medical professionals. Every profession, every trade and every industry has it own unique "Jargon". It's the language that is spoken daily at any place of work when two or more people are gathered discussing the job, the clients, the business and its results. This language can also vary from department to department depending on what the function and role of the department is within the organization.

When it comes to job searching, jargon and its effective use by the candidate can be a make or break point to landing the job. For Hispanic professionals that have been educated in countries outside of the U.S. learning and embracing industry jargon can be one of the most challenging obstacles to finding great jobs. As people transition to the U.S. English as a second language focuses on conversational English. Hello, good-bye and how do I get to the train station? Although necessary and essential, when it comes to finding a job, a true mark of a professional or qualified job seeker is greatly connected to how well they are able to speak the industry language in terms that are common to that environment or career field.

As a foreign or relatively new job seekers in the U.S. concentrate on learning and understanding your trade language. Drill down into Google and do searches on any industry jargon. I can assure you that hundreds will pop up. For Spanish/English speakers make learning industry language a priority. One of my favorite sites is BusinessSpanish.com. This website is primarily for English speakers who want to learn business Spanish; but I find its versatility very appropriate even for Spanish speakers wanting to learn business English. The site has great audio features that allow you to hear words in their proper pronunciation. Its best feature is its vocabulary listing that groups words by industry or career field. Proper use of industry jargon makes a resume powerful and provides a great impression during an interview. Learn the power of words. Use internet resource as a source of learning. And remember that a kindergarten vocabulary will not help you land the college level job you want.

More Spanish Speakers In America Than Spain

According to the Instituto Cervantes, here’s how many people speak Spanish in the U.S. and Spain.

1) Less Americans speak Spanish really well (Native-Level Speakers).

Spain: 43.9 million

U.S.: 41.3 million

2) More Americans speak Spanish sorta-okay (Limited Competence).

Spain: 3.7 million

U.S.: 11.6 million

That’s right, 11.6 million people are learning a fair amount of Spanish from their high school teachers or abuelas.

3) More Americans study Spanish than any other in the world. Brazilians are a close second. France is a distant third.

U.S. Spanish students: 7.8 million

Brazil Spanish students: 6.1 million

France Spanish students: 2.5 million

http://www.latintimes.com/more-spanish-speakers-america-spain-6-facts-about-espanol-326226

Meet Anna María Chávez:CEO Of Girl Scouts Of The USA

Anna Maria Chávez is the first Latina CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, and not only is she the brain behind its famous cookies, Anna is also lifelong Girl Scout. Her experiences growing up with the organization lit a career-defining passion for public service and social engagement, which she is now passing on to girls across the country. Anna and GSUSA are committed to helping girls across the country experience the fun of Girl Scouts, unleash their leadership potential, and use their natural talents to make their communities, countries, and our world a better place. Girl Scouts has a rich history of bringing up generations of Hispanic- and Latin American leaders, entrepreneurs, and luminaries. Some GSUSA alumni include the likes of Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and the “TODAY Show’s” Natalie Morales!

To read more go to:

http://www.latintimes.com/meet-anna-maria-chavez-11-things-know-about-ceo-girl-scouts-usa-343287

The worst mistakes job candidates make in (or before) interviews that can make them look seriously unqualified:

1. Talking about how nervous you are.

You might think it's endearing to admit to nerves in an interview But the truth is, it's not a good look. Employers expect you to be an adult, calm under pressure, and able to handle the kinds of stressful situations that you might encounter in the workplace. Talking about your nerves, and by implication looking for pity, is a great to way to send them the message that you're not ready to handle a real office environment.

2. Failing to do your research.

As you prepare for an interview, you should find out everything you can about the company, its leaders, and the person with whom you'll be speaking. "Employers want to see that you've done your homework, and that you're engaged with the company and its issues."

It's totally fine to ask questions but not questions that you should already know the answer to or can easily answer with a quick Google search.

3. Answering questions without elaborating.

Interviewers aren't looking for one-word answers — they're looking for stories about how you made an impact in previous roles So when an interviewer brings up your past role as the president of a club, or as an intern at a startup, don't just say, 'Yes, that was a lot of fun.' Explain!

4. Not having any questions for the interviewer (or acting as if the interviewer covered all of your questions earlier).

At the end of almost every interview, the hiring manager will turn the tables and ask: "Do you have any questions for me?"

A lack of questions reflects a lack of engagement or even an inability to think on your feet.

Come to the interview with three questions that the interviewer is guaranteed not to address during your time. 'What is the toughest part of your job?' or 'Where do you think the company really needs improvement?'"

And it doesn't hurt to make the interviewer feel like you're interviewing them just a little bit.

Did you know?

Hispanics enjoy shopping more than other races. The authors of a recent study -- Fashion leadership, shopping enjoyment, and gender: Hispanic versus, Caucasian consumers׳ shopping preferences -- from SUNY Buffalo State and University of North Texas found that Hispanics are more likely to be fashion leaders than their Caucasian peers and they also conveyed higher levels of shopping enjoyment than Caucasians as well. Within genders, the study found that women are more interested in fashion and display higher levels of shopping enjoyment than men.
‪#‎HispanicHeritageMonth‬ ‪#‎Thehill‬ ‪#‎AReasonToBeProud‬ ‪#‎TheHillFunFacts‬

Benefits of Spanish for career advancement

When workers learn Spanish as a foreign language, it improves reading skills, reasoning, and better verbal communication. In addition, it can also improve grammar skills. In international commerce, transactions with Latin markets can sometimes be done in Spanish only. Knowing how to express the concerns and deal with businesses can be crucial for successful commerce. Written and verbal communications between foreign clients are excellent ways to enhance the interaction lines in businesses.

It is estimated the Hispanic community will increase by 24 percent in 2050 in the United States. With a great demand of the bilingual workforce, learning Spanish can be a valuable tool. It provides a competitive edge and a cultural advantage.

Interview Etiquette for Hispanic/Latino Job Seekers:

What to Wear

Dressing inappropriately tells the interviewer that the candidate is naive and probably misunderstands the job requirements.

Don't Provide Too Much Information
Sometimes candidates may reveal too much information, because they are not aware there are questions that interviewers are not legally permitted to ask. It is very important not to give out unnecessary personal information that is not specifically relevant to the job.

Practice and Prepare
The candidate who is prompt and prepared can go in with confidence. And if the questions the interviewer asks are inappropriately personal, then it's a good idea to look elsewhere for employment.

Why your language skills are your most important asset:

-My accent will be seen as an additional competence that helps me communicate better with colleagues and customers from diverse backgrounds.

-My language skills will be used to resolve cultural or language conflicts, or problems between customers and colleagues.
-Being multicultural or multilingual demonstrates I can adjust my style to different people and situations.
-Being multicultural or multilingual indicates I have experienced looking at problems and opportunities from different perspectives.
-Being multicultural or multilingual indicates I think before I act.
-Being multicultural or multilingual means I know how it feels to be misunderstood, and I also know what it takes to reverse misunderstandings.

https://hilljaxjobs.com/

Scared about what to wear on your interview? Here is a cool tip fromOprah.com:

Have a cup of coffee in the morning near your potential new office or drive by during lunchtime and watch people going in and out.You will get an idea of how people dress at the workplace and you can follow the same dress code. Just don't do your investigating on a Friday when many companies' dress codes are more relaxed

https://hilljaxjobs.com/