Bridging Languages & Careers: Highlights from the Languages2Careers Summit
Students pursuing degrees in world languages have long confronted the question: “What real-world job can you get with a language degree?” At The Ohio State University, the Center for Languages, Literatures and Cultures (CLLC) answered that question decisively at the Languages2Careers (L2C) Summit held on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The event invited language majors and minors from higher education institutions across Ohio to join faculty and industry leaders in reframing language learning into a strategic asset for the modern workforce.
The Double Major Advantage & Skills Gap
The Summit addressed a defining trend in higher education: students increasingly pursue double majors to stay competitive in a changing labor market. Recent data shows double majors increased nationwide, with language majors maintaining the highest rate of second majors of any discipline. At Ohio State alone, 60% of Spanish majors pursue dual degrees. Despite this trend, research reveals a persistent gap: students often treat language study as an isolated discipline. They frequently miss opportunities to articulate the transferable professional skills language acquisition naturally builds such as cognitive flexibility, adaptability, perspective-taking, and conflict resolution. The L2C Summit was launched specifically to bridge this divide.
From Classroom to Career
The day began with a hands-on World Language Skills and Competencies Workshop, giving students tools to effectively pitch their intercultural expertise to employers.
"I enjoyed the World Language Skills and Competencies Workshop the most! This provided a lot of useful information and challenged me to approach thinking about post-grad prep differently." — Student Attendee
A second presentation led by a career coach from ASC Career Success provided attendees with with practical tools to effectively articulate their language proficiencies on resumes and during job interviews.
"I really like the first two presentations about intercultural communication and how to present the strengths of learning another language in a new and unique way in a professional setting beyond just ‘I can speak the language.’" — Student Attendee
Real-World Insights & Opportunities
During the roundtable, guest speakers highlighted how cross-cultural competence drives success in global business, technology, public policy, and international affairs. The speakers emphasized that while digital translation tools advance rapidly, human empathy and cultural context remain irreplaceable. The formal sessions transitioned into a vibrant networking session, where students met directly with recruiters from major public service organizations, including the FBI and the Peace Corps.
Reflecting on the overall impact of the event, one participant shared:
"I enjoyed the event and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend." — Student Attendee
As global industries increasingly prioritize cross-cultural agility, the CLLC’s Languages2Careers Summit served as an essential bridge, ensuring Ohio’s language students step into the job market equipped, confident, and career-ready.
To learn more and explore our languages and career-readiness tools, please visit the Languages2Careers website : cllc.osu.edu/l2c
References
- Enrollments in Languages Other Than English in US Institutions of Higher Education, Fall 2021 (PDF)
- Jaros-White, G. (2022, August 16). Why It Pays to Be Bilingual - Language Testing International. Language Testing International - Certify Language Skills Anytime, Anywhere.
- Marcus, J. (2026, January 28). College students hedge their bets in a chaotic labor market by double-majoring. The Hechinger Report.
