Careers by Major - Linguistics

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Careers for graduates

There are many different career options available for Linguistics graduates.  Below is a sample of types of positions available to graduates.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list as there are many other careers available. Many positions require additional education or experience.

  • Acting Instructor* (voice work)
  • Advertising Copywriter / Copywriter*
  • Airline Customer Service Agent*
  • Audiologist*
  • Border Services Officer
  • Communications Specialist*
  • Computer Trainer*
  • Conference Interpreter
  • Consultant*
  • Corporate Communications Manager
  • Court Interpreter
  • Director of Programs Abroad
  • Editor*
  • Employees Relations Advisor
  • ESL Teacher*
  • Event Manager
  • Foreign Language Instructor*
  • Foreign Service Officer*
  • Foreign Student Advisor
  • Hotel Manager
  • Human Resources Specialist*
  • Immigration Officer*
  • Interpreter*
  • Journalist*
  • Lexicographer
  • Marketing Specialist*
  • Mediator*
  • News Editor
  • Professor*
  • Proofreader*
  • Public Relations Specialist*
  • Special Education Teacher*
  • Speech-Language Pathologist*
  • Speech Researcher
  • Technical writer*
  • Terminologist
  • Training Specialist
  • Translator*
  • Travel Agent*
  • Screenwriter
  • Web Developer*
  • Writer*

 

Note: career profiles for many of the above jobs are available in the Career Centre. Those marked with an asterisk(*) can be viewed using Career Cruising, a Canadian electronic career guide available through your Career Centre account.

Potential employers

  • Translation firms
  • Government agencies
  • Publishers
  • Public & private schools
  • Universities & colleges
  • Community centres
  • Newspapers & magazines
  • Software companies
  • Health & rehabilitation centres
  • Cultural Institutes
  • Language schools
  • Acting schools, studios, & theatre organizations
  • Media outlets
  • Computer training schools
  • International organizations
  • Advertising agencies
  • Financial institutions
  • Self-employed / freelance

Skills developed by Linguistics majors

  • Organizational skills
  • Detail-oriented
  • Write clearly and present information effectively
  • Communicate with people from many backgrounds
  • Understanding of the structure and function of language
  • Understand historical language change
  • Knowledge of other cultures
  • Creativity
  • Analyze and identify patterns
  • Observe people and data
  • Evaluate evidence
  • Relate language to social context
  • Weigh values and compare interpretations
  • Apply methodologies from many disciplines

Some content adapted from Academic Advising & Career Centre, University of Toronto Scarborough http://webapps.utsc.utoronto.ca/aaccweb/

Sample job listings for graduating students/recent graduates

Below is a sample of the types of positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre for graduating students or recent graduates.  To access full-time opportunities (for up to two years after graduation), you must first attend an orientation.  Drop by or call us at 905-828-5451 for more information.

  • Travel Advisor/Team Administrator, Butterfield & Robinson
  • French Translator & Customer Service Spe, Delvinia
  • Program Evaluator and Research Assistant, Abrigo Centre
  • Project Administrator, CROSSMARK
  • Course Pack Editor, SOS Tutoring
  • Community Outreach & Development Coordinator, Parkdale Community Information Centre
  • Translator, Sleep Country Canada
  • Executive Team Leader, Target Corporation
  • Healthcare Consultant, Cirrus Consulting Group
  • Employee Relations Advisor, Ministry of Government Services
  • Event Manager, Strategy Institute
  • Marketing / Administration Assistant (Bilingual), Canmax Financial Insurance Ltd.
  • Community Resource Specialist, East Scarborough Storefront
  • Tour Consultant (Bilingual), EF Education First
  • HR Administrator (Bilingual), Global Payments Canada
  • Intake Receptionist (French Speaking), Centre for Information & Community Services
  • Real Estate Office Administrator, Freeman Real Estate Ltd.
  • International Marketer (Bilingual), Study English in Canada Inc.

Don't forget about U of T Mississauga alumni!

Check out our Alumni Profiles page, to read profiles of UTM alumni who have studied in this area, find out about their career path and how their experiences have affected their career direction.

How to get experience

Start early by seeking relevant summer, part-time and volunteer opportunities that will help you gain experience and develop the skills that employers want.  Below is a sample of the types of temporary positions that have recently been posted with the Career Centre. To access the summer, part-time, temporary and volunteer postings, register with the Career Centre Online.

Summer positions

  • Associate Editor, Grey House Publishing Canada
  • Summer Research Assistant, Higher Education Strategy Associates
  • Heritage Coordinator Tour Guide Curator, The Township of Wilmot
  • Community/ Employment Resource Worker, East Scarborough Storefront
  • Admin. Support/ Resource Area Assistant, Job Skills
  • Translator / Editor / Researcher, Fundata Canada Inc.
  • Logistics Assistant, The Iceman Toronto

Part-time positions

  • Freelance Linguistic Checker, Nomen France
  • Legislative Student Usher, Legislative Assembly of Ontario
  • Campus Representative, The Princeton Review
  • Transcriptionist, eDecree
  • Business Writer, EMEND Management Consulting Inc.
  • Transcriber, Henderson Reporting & Transcribing
  • Family Support Worker – Relief, Harbourfront Community Centre
  • Recreation Group Coordinator, Epilepsy Toronto

Work-Study positions

  • Student Liaison, UTM Department of English & Drama
  • Library Ambassador – Student Experience, UTM Library Hazel McCallion Academic Learning
  • Editorial Assistant, UTM Historical Studies
  • Research Assistant, UTM Department of Language Studies
  • Community Outreach Assistant, UTM Department of Psychology
  • Promotions and Advertising Coordinator, UTM Student Affairs & Services
  • Copy Editor- The Medium, UTM Student Affairs & Services

Volunteer positions

  • Communications Volunteer, Swapsity
  • Event Coordinator, Room to Read
  • Volunteer Site Supervisor, Working Women Community Centre
  • Distress Line Call Responders, Distress Centres of Toronto
  • Staffing Coordinator, Arbitrage Magazine
  • English Conversation Facilitator, University Settlement
  • Promotions Officer, Unity of Hope Foundation
  • Volunteer Welcome Host/Tour Guide, Evergreen

Extern Job Shadowing Program

Extern is a career exploration program that offers you the opportunity to meet with people working in your preferred career area for placements of 1-5 days.

Samples of previous Extern placements include:

  • Speech Language Pathology, Toronto District School Board
  • Book/Magazine Publisher, Concrete Wave Magazine
  • Marketing & Communications, Ingle International
  • Adult Education Instructor, Global TESOL College
  • Hotel Manager, Days Hotel and Conference Centre
  • Translator, Allspeed Translations & Consultants Inc.
  • Event Planning/Organizing, Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office

Research Opportunity Program (ROP at U of T Mississauga)

UTM's Research Opportunity Program (ROP) allows students in their second and third year to earn one full course credit by participating in a faculty member's research project. Check the ROP website for information about the program including application deadlines.  Past projects included: “Linguistics for Diversity and Cultural Awareness”; “Exploring the sociolinguistic competence of FSL learners at the university level”; “The acquisition of pronouns by second language learners of French at the university level” among others.

Professional associations

Each industry has affiliated associations. There are many benefits of becoming a member of an association, such as stating your affiliation on your resume.  In addition to your experiences and the completion of your university degree, a student membership in an association is one way to get an edge in the job market.  It also furthers your knowledge of a particular field.

http://www.cttic.org Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC)

The CTTIC is “recognized as the national body representing professional translators, interpreters and terminologists.  They maintain and promote national standards in translation, interpretation and terminology to ensure quality communication across linguistic and cultural communities.”  To become certified translators, candidates must pass an exam set by the CTTIC.

www.atio.on.ca Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO)

Founded in 1920, “the ATIO is the oldest organization of translators, conference interpreters, court interpreters and terminologists in Canada.   ATIO is also the first translators' association in the world whose certified members are deemed professionals by law.  The main purpose of the Association is to promote a high level of competence in the fields of translation, conference interpretation, court interpretation and terminology by: providing a collective voice for its members; promoting the professional development of its members; and applying standardized, national criteria to recognize the competence of professional translators, conference interpreters, court interpreters and terminologists.”

http://homes.chass.utoronto.ca/~cla-acl/ Canadian Linguistic Association (CLA)

Founded in 1955, the CLA “has as its aim the promotion of the study of languages and linguistics in Canada. In order to further this aim, the CLA publishes a scholarly journal and organizes an annual conference.  The CLA is a constituent member of the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada and represents Canada in the Permanent International Committee of Linguists (CIPL). The association welcomes all those with an interest in linguistic research, whatever their perspective.”

www.cognitivelinguistics.org International Cognitive Linguistics Association (ICLA)

“ICLA connects cognitive linguists all over the world by sponsoring conferences, sponsoring a major journal and book series for relevant research, as well as other affiliated publication venues, keeping up a website and email discussion list, fostering regional affiliates, and generally providing a community for researchers in cognitive linguistics and others interested in such research.”

Resources

Career Centre Library resources

  • Career Cruising
  • Careers for Bookworms & Other Literary Types
  • Careers for Foreign Language Aficionados & Other Multilingual Types
  • Careers for Writers & Others Who Have a Way with Words
  • Opportunities in Foreign Language Careers
  • Great Jobs for Foreign Language Majors

Web links

UTM Career Centre panel packages:

  • Career Panel for Languages (2011)
  • Alumni Career Night: Writing & Communications Networking Event (2008)
  • Careers in Languages (2006)

The Career Centre Resource Library is located in DV 3094. For more information please visit us, call 905-828-5451 or e-mail: careers.utm@utoronto.ca

What's your next step? Take a look at our Sample Career Plan to see suggested steps that you can take towards developing your career-work search plan. Check our Events Calendar regularly for upcoming career related events (we offer several networking events and panels throughout the year). Watch for our Get Experience Fair (held annually in September), the Graduate and Professional School Fair (held annually in late September or early October), and the Summer Job Fair (held annually in January).