Melanie
Job title
Business Development Executive
Organisation and location
Think London, London
Industry sector
Inward Investment
Background
LLB in European Commercial Law, University of Sussex
Legal Practice Course, College of Law, London
A level French and German. Recently joined Goethe Institute language class to take German ‘up a level’
Hebrew – good, learned at primary school then GCSE in spare time while at secondary school
Learnt Russian for two yrs at University as an option
Picked up basic Greek at home, as my mother is Greek.
What are your main responsibilities at work?
My role as Business Development Executive is to provide a range of administrative and project management support to the Business Development team. This includes research of lead-generation activities, project management support, compilation of statistics and analysis, helping to organise marketing events, etc. The main foreign language that I use at work is French, to communicate with French-speaking clients. I have also used French in a large telemarketing campaign that we ran and in helping to create promotional material. I have used German a bit less than French here, while helping to put together a business trip to Germany for the European Director and have also undertaken some translation from German into English. I have even been able to use my Hebrew here, when speaking to a new client. Even though he spoke English well, I chose to speak to him in English, at least at the beginning as this goes a long way to establishing a rapport with people.
Have languages helped you get on?
Yes, I would say they definitely have. My first job after completing my education was based at an international tribunal in Switzerland, where fluent knowledge of at least one other language was a pre-requisite. This was a fantastic opportunity, which gave me the chance to do some really valuable work, as well as experience living in a beautiful country and working with a very interesting group of people. I made some really good friends, whom I have stayed in touch with. My knowledge of languages was also a large factor in securing my current position. I feel that having languages is a real advantage, opening doors that would otherwise not be open and giving you the chance to experience things that you would otherwise not be able to experience.
Why are languages important in your industry?
Our organisation, Think London, advises international companies on setting up in the UK and assists them in doing this. Languages are therefore extremely relevant. We are divided into three main teams; the North American, Asia-Pacific and European teams. In the North American team, languages are obviously not that much of an issue, although French is relevant in Canada. In the Asia-Pacific team we have fluent Chinese, Japanese, Hindi and Bengali speakers as China, Japan and India are all important markets for us. In the European team we have fluent French, German, Spanish, Italian, Swedish and Norwegian speakers, so we can communicate with people from all of these markets in their mother tongue.
How did your past experience help you in your job now?
My experience of living and working abroad in an international organisation has helped me in my current job, which requires me to work with colleagues and clients from a variety of backgrounds. My experience also helped me to realise that I really enjoy working in an international environment. This was one of my main motivators in choosing to apply to work for Think London.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The thing I enjoy most about my job is that I work with a very interesting bunch of people, who come from many different backgrounds. It is a culturally exciting and open-minded environment. There is also the possibility of travelling with my job in the future which is something I would love to do. I enjoy the satisfaction I get from helping people to get things done in this country, as it is always hard for people to know where to go and whom to talk to when you come from another country.
What other job skills and experience are useful?
My legal education has come in very useful in my work, enabling me to understand and explain to clients the legal issues involved in setting up a company in the UK. Good spoken and written English is also important. Good basic IT skills are also necessary (Word, Excel, Internet, Powerpoint, Goldmine).
What tips would you give to anyone interested in using their languages in your area?
My advice to anyone would be not to neglect your languages once school has come to an end. It is possible to take a language ‘on the side’ at University (i.e. Law and French, Economics and German, etc) which is a really good idea. Often, this gives you the chance to spend one year living and studying abroad which is great. Finally - make friends with people from different countries! This is the best possible way to practice a language and is also great as you learn about different cultures and lifestyles. Apart from this, it is always nice to be able to visit friends in their home countries later on!