Intercultural competence is "a set of cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills and characteristics that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.”

(Bennett, J. M. 2008. Transformative training: Designing programs for culture learning. In Contemporary leadership and intercultural competence: Understanding and utilizing cultural diversity to build successful organizations, ed. M. A. Moodian, 95-110. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.)

Intercultural competence is one of the most vital professional superpowers today.

Cognitive Skills

• Cultural Curiosity
• Problem Solving
• Tolerance of ambiguity

Affective Skills

• Openness
• Respect
• Empathy
• Cultural decentering

Behavioral Skills

• Sensitive to different social practices
• Appropriate cultural behavior

1. Employers seek applicants who know more than one language
2. Develop Intercultural Competence
3. Participate in unique experiential learning experiences
4. Participate in unique professionalization experiences

"…[E]mployers are quietly seeking graduates who can think critically, analyze complex problems, and understand human behavior. Humanities majors develop exactly these skills. By 2030, 170 million new jobs will require human-centric skills like these."

https://research.com/careers/what-can-you-do-with-a-humanities-degree

“When employers list the skills they most seek in a candidate, “knowing more than one language” is listed among the top eight—regardless of the job title, the economic sector, or the candidate’s experience. In other words, whether you’re an engineer, a restaurant server, a salesperson, or a small business owner—any role in any sector—multilingualism will serve your professional goals well.

And while knowing more than one language is a powerful way to distinguish yourself from your peers and colleagues, it’s becoming less of a nice-to-have and more of a job requirement. A full 90% of U.S. employers report relying on employees who speak more than one language—with one in three of these businesses reporting a significant “language skills gap.”

https://www.actfl.org/advocacy-and-public-education/the-benefits-of-learning-languages

Benefits include:

• Keeping teams running efficiently
• Good for reputation
• Bringing in new clients
• Building trust with clients
• Effectively communicating with overseas partners
• Able to work with diverse colleagues
• Increased productivity/increased sales and revenue

Lack of intercultural competence skills leads to:

• Miscommunication and conflict within teams
• Global reputational damage
• Loss of clients
• Cultural insensitivity to clients/partners overseas
• Project mistakes

1. Study a new language and immerse yourself in a new culture;
2. Study your language in the target country;
3. Take courses such as: FRIT 3054 The 21^st-century skill: Intercultural Competence for Global Citizenship;
4. Complete the Intercultural Competence Certificate (a collection of core courses, including language, that you have to do anyway!)
5. Join one of the 100+ language/culture and ethnic clubs on campus – consider a leadership role;
6. Take advantage of experiential learning opportunities like the World Language Filmathon and the World Language Appathon

Internships in Columbus

• Teaching assistants in language programs in local high schools
• World language and intercultural competence promoters in local high schools
• Greater Columbus Sister Cities International (GCSCI), a 501 c-3 tax-exempt organization
• Advanced Language Institute Summer Internship Program
• Ohio Department of Higher Education: World Languages Division
• Columbus Council on World Affairs
• Other internships organized by departments (research, etc.)

Apply, apply, apply!

Apply for scholarships and grants from:

• your departments;
• the Center for Languages Literatures and Cultures;
• the College of Arts and Sciences;
• the University;
• the Office of International Affairs;
• sources outside of OSU

• Meet with Career Services;
• Participate in experiential learning and internships;
• Participate in the World Languages Skills and Competencies Workshop where:
  • a member of the language faculty brings together the transferable skills you have developed through learning your language and a representative from Career Services explains how to incorporate these skills into your resume and job interviews.

• AI cannot build relationships, you can: AI can translate words from one language to another, but it cannot read the room. Success in professional environments relies on trust, respect, and rapport.
• AI cannot replace your Intercultural Competence skills: Being aware of culturally appropriate behaviors, respecting cultural norms and building genuine connections makes you invaluable in ways that an algorithm cannot imitate.
• AI is predictable, you are creative and innovative: AI generates statistically average responses based on data. Employers often look for more than the average. They are looking for the unique perspective, empathy, and creative leadership that only a human can bring to the table.
• You’re the boss, AI is a tool: AI is a tool for efficiency. You are the architect. The most successful professionals of the future will be those who use AI to handle the routine tasks, leaving them free to focus on the high-level, human-to-human impact that actually drives careers forward.