Study Cadremploi : executives and foreign languages in a professional environment
10 Jul 2017Conducted among more than 2,200 French executives, the study reveals that 86% of them already have used a foreign language during their career. If English largely dominates, and even though it is meant to be more and more used, more than one in three executives however has a limited level. A tendency incapacitating for more than 50% of the professionals interrogated who consider that their low level of English represents an obstacle to be hired or to evolve in their company.
Without any surprise, the most spread professional language remains English
If a large majority of executives already has used a foreign langue over the course of their professional experience (86%), it is indeed English that dominates for 99% of the respondents; Spanish (20%), German (15,5%), Italian (7,5%) and Mandarin (1,5%) come far behind.
This tendency is likely to last as the executives surveyed consider that English will keep being demanded in the company world. As the fifth language most taught in France, the language of Confucius should experience a progression of 3.5 points, as an obvious consequence of the economic dynamism of China.
In spite of these forecasts, France is regularly pointed out for its learning of foreign languages and still has the lower level of English of the European Union. This analysis is confirmed by 36% of executives who consider that their skills in the matter are limited. Indeed, if 28% state that they speak English fluently (compared to 20% during the previous edition), they are only 35% to have an operational level.
The language level required by recruiters curbs candidacies according to 63% of executives
Poor English skills represent a real disadvantage for a lot of candidates who, when they consult a job offer, are 63% to be discouraged by the language level demanded. Even though the use of English during an interview is widely spread (67%), 79% of executives indeed feel that they would be inadequately prepared if they had to be interviewed. A posteriori, more than one third consider nevertheless that the level demanded is often higher than what is really needed for the position.
Speaking in English though continues to be a difficult exercise for 45% of them who still don’t dare to express themselves orally. On the contrary, writing remains easier for 67% of the respondents who feel more comfortable to write a letter or an e-mail.
Ubiquitous in companies, the English language needs some training to reinforce the knowledge of employees and thus improve companies’ performance.
A training in English: an obvious asset for the career of executives
While one in two executives consider that their English level curbs their progression in the company, their learning and their knowledge keep being a capital argument for their career development. As it is a real springboard for a professional promotion or to get a job, executives are thus 60% to want to follow a training in English.
As they are misinformed (42%), or not informed at all (20%) concerning the existing measures, less than one in two executives has already benefited from one or several trainings financed by their employer even though it remains the most demanded (53%), before management (46%) or software skills (18%).
Also, if solutions exist, it is the responsibility of everyone, both employees and employers, to try hard to reach their ambitions.
“It is a fact: English has become the most used language in the world of work, its knowledge is a part of the basic skills without which a career is likely to reach limits. Improving their level is a certain advantage to get a job in varied sectors (distribution, automobile, luxury, aeronautics…). It is systematically demanded by multinationals, export companies but also by French companies. Because it is known that 80% of the information on the Web is in English. And companies need employees capable of connecting to that incredible deposit of resources” Sylvia Di Pasquale, editor-in-chief of Cadremploi, comments.