What Can I Do With A Major In Modern Languages?

Modern Language majors pursue a variety of career opportunities. Some occupations may require additional educational and training. Information presented in this handout includes a list of sample occupations, work settings, professional organizations, books in our resource area, web resources, and recent activities of our graduates. Further information including skills to develop, strategies for contacting employers, graduate school information, and where to get assistance may be obtained by making an appointment with a Career Services adviser.

Sample Occupations

Civil Servant Foreign Student Advisor Peace Corps/Vista Worker
Consultant Hotel Manager Public Relations Manager
Customs Agent International Relations Specialist Scientific Document Translator
Editor International Trade Economist Social Science Program Director
Export Manager Journalist Social Worker
Foreign Language Teacher Lawyer Tour Organizer
Foreign News Editor Librarian Translator/Interpreter
Foreign Service Representative Linguistic Professor World Trade Manager

Sample Work Settings
  • Advertising Agencies
  • Art Galleries
  • Film Companies
  • Government Agencies
  • Hotels, Resorts
  • Immigration Centers
  • Import/Export Companies
  • International Business Organizations
  • Libraries
  • Museums
  • Newspapers, Magazines
  • Peace Corps
  • Professional & Tech. Companies
  • Public Relations Firms
  • Publishers
  • Social Service Agencies
  • Translation Companies
  • University/College

Professional Organizations

American Association of Language Specialist

http://www.taals.net

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language

http://www.actfl.org

American Translators Association

http://www.atanet.org

Modern Language Association

http://www.mla.org

Translators and Interpreters Guild

http://www.ttig.org

 

Books in our Resource Area

Thinking about a career in Modern Languages? Browse our Career Resource Area and check out the numerous resources we offer on majors, internships, international experiences, graduate & professional schools and employment searches. Most books are available for check out for a period of one week. The following is a sample of available resources:
  • 100 Jobs in Social Change
  • Careers for Culture Lovers
  • Careers for Foreign Language Majors
  • Careers in International Affairs
  • International Job Directory
  • Jobs for People who love to travel
  • Opportunities in Foreign Language Careers
  • Opportunities in Teaching Careers
  • Translator’s Handbook
  • Travel & Hospitality Career Directory
    •

    Web Resources

    Career Services offers a wide selection of web-based resources for career-related areas. These resources address areas such as corporate research for employment and internship searches, career self-assessment, investigation, occupational information gathering, graduate school research, and internship information and leads. You can access these resources on the Career Services webpage at www.trinity.edu/careerservices. Contact Career Services for username and password information, where applicable.

    Discover - Complete career self-assessments, research occupational information, and perform searches for graduate schools across the United States. Discover requires a unique user name and password. You can pick-up access information in the Career Services office.

    TigerJobs - A web based system allowing students and alumni to access job and internship listings as well as sign up for on campus interviewing. TigerJobs allows students to self-register for this service. Simply click on the TigerJobs link on our homepage and register today.

    Hoover’s Online - A database of thousands of public, private and global companies, searchable by organizational name, location, type of industry, and ticker symbol. If you access Hoover’s Online on-campus, no user name or password is needed.

    Internships Online - Web-based service allowing students to search national internships in areas such as international affairs, history, human rights, sports, resort and seasonal employment, women’s rights, environmental organizations, congressional internships, business, media, and law and policy. Click on the "Getting Started" link under the Internships Online logo on the Career Services’ webpage for access information.

    Where do Trinity graduates go?

    Employment: Peace Corps, Japanese Exchange and Teaching

    Graduate Schools: UT-Austin, Baylor College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Trinity University, Univ. of North Carolina