Marketing oneself while job-seeking can be challenging for anyone. For BIPOC talent, who have been told time and again by the forces of racism and white supremacy that they are less deserving of opportunity, this can be doubly challenging. With <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-29/job-applicants-with-black-names-still-less-likely-to-get-the-interview" rel="noopener" target="_blank">studies showing</a> that BIPOC talent is less likely to get interview callbacks than their white counterparts, it&rsquo;s no wonder that going through the job-seeking process can be discouraging for BIPOC talent. While feeling dismayed is a valid feeling, there are ways BIPOC talent can leverage their skills and backgrounds to create stellar profiles for employers.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>With this in mind here are 4 tips for BIPOC talent to market themselves while job-seeking:&nbsp; </h4>
<ol>
<li>Create an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a short summary of your professional self, your goals, and your experience. This is a great and simple exercise to start feeling more comfortable talking about your strengths and skills. Need a place to start? <a href="https://techlatino.org/why-everyone-needs-an-elevator-pitch/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Tech Latino explains</a> how everyone needs an elevator pitch, even current workers! Copywriter Course has a great <a href="https://copywritingcourse.com/elevator-pitch/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Elevator Pitch template</a> and practical tips for how to pitch yourself.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<ol start="2">
<li> Share what motivates you. Employers appreciate fresh authenticity, especially when having to sift through hundreds of job applicants. Whether it's in your cover letter, job interview, or even your LinkedIn profile, sharing what motivates you in your industry is a great way to separate yourself from the crowd. Perhaps it&rsquo;s giving back to your community or building on a legacy of professionals within your family lineage. Whatever your &ldquo;why&rdquo; is, knowing the answer can be your guide as you make your way through the job-seeking process.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<ol start="3">
<li>Keep Imposter Syndrome in check. Imposter Syndrome can make you feel as if you don&rsquo;t belong in the professional world. According to <a href="https://www.intheknow.com/post/imposter-syndrome-young-black-employees/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">psychologist Dr. Orb&eacute;-Austin</a>, who coaches young Black professionals on how to overcome Imposter Syndrome, &ldquo;the triggers for Imposter Syndrome can be very different for the BIPOC community.&rdquo; Remind yourself that yes, you deserve opportunities and that yes, you have valuable skills that would make you an asset to an employer.</li>
</ol>

<ol start="4">
<li> Attend a networking event for professional minorities. Not only are networking events an excellent way to meet other BIPOC professionals, they&rsquo;re also an opportunity to practice your elevator pitch! Remember: You are not the only minority who has experienced the job-seeking journey. Connecting with others can help you feel less isolated, more grounded, and more validating. Many minority-based professional organizations host networking events, such as the <a href="https://members.naaap.org/join-naaap" rel="noopener" target="_blank">National Association of Asian American Professionals</a> and the <a href="https://www.ncaied.org/about-ncaied/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development</a>.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
 It&rsquo;s no secret that being a BIPOC professional can be challenging&ndash; the job-seeking experience is no exception. However, with good self-esteem, marketing, and networking, BIPOC can make themselves stand out to employers. The bottom line? Don&rsquo;t undervalue yourself!&nbsp;
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4 tips for BIPOC talent to market themselves and stand out in the job-seeking process.

Effectively Marketing Yourself  as BIPOC Talent While Job-Seeking | Getting Hired

Effectively Marketing Yourself  as BIPOC Talent While Job-Seeking

During your high school years, you may have been exposed to the opportunity of learning another language. Still, depending on many factors, you might miss out on this opportunity. There are many benefits to learning a second language. In this article, we&rsquo;ll focus on how learning languages can boost one's career opportunities. After all, if you are a student, you&rsquo;ll likely want to stand out from the crowd when applying for a job!
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"> 7 Ways Learning a Second Language Can Enhance Your Career Opportunities<o:p></o:p></h3>
The task of learning a new language can seem daunting at first. However,&nbsp; learning a second language brings many benefits, and in this section of the article, we&rsquo;ll be focusing on seven of them. 
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" style="font-weight: 400;">Better Chance Of Landing Your Dream Job</li>
<li aria-level="1" style="font-weight: 400;">Increased Number Of Interview Invitations</li>
<li aria-level="1" style="font-weight: 400;">More Freelance Opportunities</li>
<li aria-level="1" style="font-weight: 400;">Improved Brain Functionality</li>
<li aria-level="1" style="font-weight: 400;">More Opportunities To Advance In Your Career</li>
<li aria-level="1" style="font-weight: 400;">Enhanced People Skills</li>
<li aria-level="1" style="font-weight: 400;">Better Speaking And Writing Skills</li>
</ul>

<h3>Better Chance Of Landing Your Dream Job</h3>
We all have that dream job we see ourselves working for most of our lives. However, things can get competitive for most ideal jobs. So, to give yourself the best chance of success, you should apply for similar jobs in other parts of the world. This is where being bi- or multilingual becomes very beneficial, as you won&rsquo;t be forced to a particular geographical location when looking for jobs. 
<h3> Increased Number Of Interview Invitations</h3>
Learning a second language increases the number of jobs you can apply for and is likely to impress your potential employers. At times, due to the lack of skilled labor, some businesses choose to hire foreigners with the hopes they can adjust to the culture and language. However, when you show you have knowledge of the language or, at least, the willingness to learn, you instantly become a more attractive prospect to most companies.
<h3> More Freelance Opportunities</h3>
If you decide that the idea of working a full-time job is tasking, you can consider freelancing opportunities. Individuals, businesses, and even corporations are almost always looking for translators to join their teams for short-term contracts. For instance, many <a href="https://thewordpoint.com/services/certified" rel="noopener" target="_blank">certified translation services</a> offer document translations and, thus,&nbsp; constantly look for skilled translators. You get to decide your hours, and you get paid to simply translate documents. 
<h3> Improved Brain Functionality</h3>
As you can imagine, learning a new language is a challenging thing to do. It requires time, effort, and a lot of brain power. Don&rsquo;t let this scare you, as things get easier after a few weeks of learning. This isn&rsquo;t because the workload is less but because your brain functionality improves. Much research has been done into the benefits of learning a second language on the brain. For example, you can see a boost in memory and analytical skills. These are skills that will allow you to excel in job interviews.
<h3> More Opportunities To Advance In Your Career</h3>
Businesses that are looking to expand will always want to look for talent within their organization first before hiring outside. By learning a second language, you would be increasing your chances of getting a promotion. This isn&rsquo;t always guaranteed, but if an opportunity does present itself, you would be in the best position to take it. For instance, companies that offer excellent <a href="https://www.grabmyessay.com/academic-ghostwriting" rel="noopener" target="_blank">academic ghostwriting services</a> often look to hire writers that are fluent in more than one language.&nbsp;
<h3> Enhanced People Skills</h3>
Learning a second language will improve your chances of meeting more people you can converse with. Also, as learning a new language requires learning about the culture, you&rsquo;ll develop the necessary people skills to excel in most workplaces. Good people skills, paired with leadership skills, are one of the easy ways to climb the corporate ladder.
<h3> Better Speaking And Writing Skills</h3>
When <a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/blog/7-steps-learn-new-language" rel="noopener" target="_blank">learning a new language</a>, you&rsquo;ll often find yourself thinking deeply about how to convey your thoughts. While this might seem difficult at first, it can lead to better speaking and writing skills. With time, you&rsquo;ll find it easier to present your thoughts in a clear and understandable manner in both languages you speak. 
<h2>In Conclusion</h2>
Learning a new language comes with its own challenges but even more benefits. It can improve your chances career-wise in numerous ways. So, if you are a college student or new to the job market, you should consider setting aside time to learn a new language today. 
<h4 style="text-align: center;">Searching for a new position or switching careers? &nbsp;To apply and discover more about opportunities that are HIRING NOW, create an account at <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/candidates/signup" rel="follow">careercircle.com</a>. </h4>
<hr>
<h2> Author&rsquo;s Bio</h2>
Ruby Butz is a freelance writer and career advisor. While she primarily works with college students, she is always open to opportunities where she can help many more people. This has motivated her articles on career opportunities and how best to take advantage of them. Ruby enjoys long walks with her Golden Retriever in her free time.

Boost your career by learning a second language. Discover 7 ways it can enhance your job opportunities.

Learning a Second Language & Your Career | Getting Hired

Looking to enhance your career opportunities? Learning a second language could be the key. Our blog explores how speaking a second language can boost your professional prospects, from opening up new job opportunities to improving communication skills and cultural understanding. Discover the benefits of bilingualism and take your career to the next level.

Learning a Second Language & Your Career

When developing job descriptions, employers tend to emphasize the specific abilities required to complete a job. These are typically identified as &ldquo;hard skills,&rdquo; and are most often learned through education or training (i.e. computer programming, foreign language proficiency, or a specific degree or certificate). However,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalsoftskills.org/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">soft skills</a>&nbsp;can play an equally as important role in getting and keeping a job.
Soft skills are the personal attributes that enable us to interact effectively with others and succeed in the workplace. Sometimes they are referred to as &ldquo;people skills.&rdquo; Unlike some hard skills, soft skills are transferable from one job to another and are either inherent or developed over time. These are the attitudes, verbal and nonverbal behaviors, and habits that make us desirable employees and valuable team members.
Here are 7 soft skills that are sure to help you find and keep a job:
<ol>
<li>Communication&nbsp;&ndash; Effective communication is an essential skill to ensure job success. This not only includes being able to communicate well with clients or customers, but also with colleagues and managers. Significant aspects of communication in the workplace include the ability to listen, negotiate, persuade, deliver presentations/speak in front of others, write, and use nonverbal communication. For employees with disabilities, this also includes the ability to communicate about accommodations and other needs both during the interview process and while on the job. </li>
<li>Problem Solving &amp; Critical Thinking&nbsp;&ndash; The need to analyze, problem solve, and make informed decisions occurs consistently in any work setting. This includes the ability to be creative, flexible, and observant. Problem-solving skills are often one of the admirable qualities that employees with disabilities bring to the workplace, as people with disabilities are consistently required to think outside of the box or adapt a situation or environment to meet their needs. </li>
<li>Time Management&nbsp;&ndash; Good time management skills are important because they demonstrate the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines. It also proves that you are reliable. Time management not only means delivering assignments on time but also includes being on time for work, meetings, etc. Employees with disabilities may also have to consider any disability-related needs that may affect their time management at work. This could include factoring in extended time for restroom breaks, meals, or completing projects. &nbsp;
It&rsquo;s important to remember that managing your time effectively not only impacts you, but your colleagues as well. Quite often, our work correlates with others&rsquo;, and a missed deadline can reflect negatively on an entire team or business.
</li>
<li>Teamwork&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Employers&nbsp;consistently seek job candidates who work well with others. Even if a job requires you to complete most of your work independently, you will inevitably need to interact with others at some point. Essential components of teamwork include the ability to accept and apply feedback from others, recognize and appreciate diversity (including disability), be self-aware, resolve conflicts, and work collaboratively. </li>
<li>Work Ethic/Professionalism&nbsp;&ndash; Having a strong work ethic is an impressive quality to demonstrate to an employer. People with a strong work ethic don&rsquo;t require micromanaging. Instead, they are responsible, meaning they arrive on time to work, meet deadlines, remain focused and organized, dress appropriately and generally follow instructions well. </li>
<li>Positive Attitude&nbsp;&ndash; Demonstrating a positive attitude can make all the difference in getting a job and succeeding in the workplace. Employees who are friendly, excited about their work, and have an overall positive attitude even as they interview are more likely to impress employers. This is especially helpful in fast-paced or high-stress environments. </li>
<li>Self-Confidence&nbsp;&ndash; Many other soft skills derive from having self-confidence. If you don&rsquo;t have confidence in your skills and abilities, it will be difficult to effectively apply other skills in the workplace. Being self-confident helps you not to take things personally and provides a sense of strength as you pursue your professional goals and help your employer succeed. It can also help you make confident, timely decisions and easily adapt to changes. </li>
</ol>
While developing your soft skills doesn&rsquo;t happen overnight, it is never too late to work on them. Simply observing people who demonstrate these qualities or asking someone to mentor/coach you in these areas can be beneficial. Additionally, choosing to take on more responsibilities in the workplace, such as serving on committees or signing up for an additional project, can help you hone your strengths and recognize areas for improvement.
For more resources and best practices on soft skills, check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalsoftskills.org/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">National Soft Skills Association</a>. Job seekers and employees with disabilities can also reach out to the&nbsp;Getting Hired team&nbsp;for resources and ideas on how to develop your soft skills.
Contributions to this blog were made by Andra&eacute;a LaVant of Solutions Marketing Group.

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Staff Writer

144 Articles

Effectively Marketing Yourself as BIPOC Talent While Job-Seeking

Learning a Second Language & Your Career

7 Essential Soft-Skills for Getting and Keeping a Job