Modern Languages

What will I gain from my subject?

Your degree will provide you with a variety of transferable skills including experience in group work, leadership, planning, self-management, and excellent written and oral communication, all valued by graduate employers. By participating in a year abroad you will develop your cultural awareness and an ability to adapt to working in new environments. Your transferable skills and the level of intellectual attainment gained through study of your subject mean that you will have many different career options when you graduate. A high percentage of all graduate vacancies are open to graduates of any discipline yet many students are not aware of this or they are influenced by the myths surrounding the choices open to them.

What can I do with my subject?

Graduates find employment in a variety of roles including as interpreters, translators and teachers. Many graduates use their language skills to work in companies that operate internationally. Language graduates are employed by a range of employers and across many sectors.

What help is available?

You have a dedicated links Careers Consultant who works closely with your department to provide support, advice and information. Careers workshops and events are held in your department to promote work experience opportunities, support career planning and network with professionals working in industry. A central careers education programme is also delivered and postgraduates have access to the Postgraduate Skills Training programme. You are welcome to drop into the Careers Service for further support and information anytime.

Where do I start looking for work experience and graduate jobs?

By taking your work experience a step forward and gaining relevant experience directly related to your future aspirations, you will be developing the skills sought by employers in that sector. In addition, you will be demonstrating enthusiasm, commitment and a strong interest in that area of work.

In some cases, you may find details of work experience placements but more often, you will need to use the information to give you ideas for speculative applications. For example, you may find general vacancies relevant to your subject which are not placement opportunities; however, if this an area of work where you would like to gain experience, you could contact the employer with a speculative application to see if there is the possibility of a placement with them.

Don't forget that many graduate employers, particularly the larger companies, include details of work experience placements on their websites. If there are organisations you'd like to work for, have a look at the Careers or Recruitment sections of their websites to see what is on offer.

Finally, remember that many of the links below will be equally useful to you when looking for graduate jobs.

UK

Overseas

Professional bodies and associations

These organisations promote the interests of people working in particular professions. Some have listings of employers who are members of the association and may advertise jobs while others may be a useful source of information when researching employers for applications or considering a speculative application.

What do Aber graduates do?

Many students move into roles related to their degree course for example teaching and language assistants. Other students have used their language and transferable skills from their degree course to secure employment in roles such as accountancy, logistics, event management and marketing.

Examples of jobs entered by Aberystwyth modern languages graduates and postgraduates:
  • Administrator
  • Assistant Auditor
  • Assistant Immigration Officer
  • Business Development Executive
  • Comenius Language Assistant
  • Community Support Worker
  • Conference Co-ordinator
  • Editorial Assistant
  • Editorial Office Manager
  • English Language Assistant
  • Events Manager
  • Executive Sales Analyst
  • Freedom of Information Act Advisor
  • Freelance Theatre in Education Practitioner
  • Graduate Assistant and House Tutor
  • Health and Safety Environment and Quality Adviser (German speaking)
  • International Personal Banker
  • Logistics Manager
  • Marketing Co-ordinator
  • Management Information Assistant
  • Paralegal
  • Proof Reader (for German publisher)
  • Research Officer
  • Spanish Language Teaching Assistant
  • System Analyst
  • Teacher of English as a Foreign Language
  • Trainee Accountant
  • Web Designer
Examples of employers that Aberystwyth modern languages graduates and postgraduates have gone to work for:
  • Age Concern
  • BAE Systems
  • Barclays Bank
  • Book People
  • Bristol City Council
  • British Airways
  • Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
  • DVLA
  • European Parliament
  • Holmer Parks
  • Intercall Europe
  • London School of Economics
  • Madison Farell
  • Ministry of Defence
  • Opinion Research Services
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Principality Building Society
  • Reed & Mackay Travel