Summary

The website content outlines strategies for linguists to stay relevant and adaptable in a rapidly evolving industry.

Abstract

The article "How to Pivot as a Linguist" discusses the importance of adaptability in the linguistics field amidst competition from technology like apps and AI. It emphasizes the need for lifelong learning and openness to change, suggesting that linguists should be willing to pivot in their careers to maintain relevance and income. The author shares personal experiences of pivoting from a flight attendant to a culture consultant, and then to a language tutor for a defense contractor. Key strategies include seizing opportunities, continuously acquiring new skills, maintaining an eagerness to learn, leveraging online platforms to find work, thinking laterally to explore diverse roles, and falling back on native languages if demand for other languages wanes. The article encourages linguists to view each opportunity as a chance to learn and contribute, ultimately leading to job satisfaction and flexibility.

Opinions

The author believes that flexibility, the ability to work from home, and earning potential are more important than job loyalty.
Learning is seen as a lifelong process that is essential for successful career pivots.
Opportunities should be actively sought after and seized when they arise.
Linguists are encouraged to be open to acquiring new skills and relearning languages to stay competitive.
Enjoyment in learning is considered crucial; otherwise, it is deemed a waste of time.
The article suggests that linguists should not limit themselves to one industry or role but should explore various opportunities, including teaching, coaching, mentoring, writing, and interpreting.
The author advocates for the use of online platforms and professional networks like LinkedIn to find employment and to network with other linguists.
In cases where there is insufficient work in a particular language, the author advises linguists to revert to teaching and developing curricula for English as a Second Language.
The author expresses that with multiple language fluencies, job opportunities and work flexibility increase, making pivoting easier over time.

How to Pivot as a Linguist

Let's face it. Today we are competing with apps, AI, YouTube videos, etc. So how does one stay relevant as a linguist? How does one continue to earn in a rapidly changing industry? Here are some tried and tested (by me) strategies.

1. Be open to pivoting.

It can be quite challenging if you are set in your thinking. Be open to changing what you do for a living. Contrary to what people say, don’t get married to your job. Get married to how you want to live for the rest of your life. Do you crave flexibility? More money? An ability to work from home?

If it means pivoting several times. Do it. I did.

Seriously, think about it. Learning is a lifelong process. It first takes a willingness and open mind to learn. You cannot pivot if you do not learn.

I started my career as a linguist quite accidentally. In fact, I was an involuntary culture consultant before becoming a linguist. I was living in a posh suburb of Bombay and volunteered to take some American visitors around my town. I did not plan on being a culture consultant. I was actually a flight attendant at the time. And loved to sightsee and show people around cities I happened to be in.

Of course, walking around anywhere in India sparks interesting conversations. For example, “Why does that guy have 15 live chickens on his bicycle?” “Where is he taking them?”

I learned to see my town through the eyes of visitors. And thoroughly enjoyed it. I had no idea at that time that I could make a living doing this.

2. Seize the opportunities

Trust your gut and when an opportunity presents itself, seize it!

Fast a little forward from the scene with chickens on a bike, to about 18 years ago. I had moved to the United States to attend a seminary. Remember those people I was a tour guide to in Mumbai? Yes, I followed them back to the US. Started teaching them Hindi and Indian culture voluntarily on the college campus.

One thing led to another, and before I knew it I was signing on a contract with a defense contractor.

Why? And how? I answered an ad for a Hindi tutor. Someone randomly asked me if I could tutor Hindi. I said yes. Went for the interview. Passed the interview and asked myself how hard could this be? Teaching two people, five hours a day and five days a week for one year?

3. Be open to picking up skills — again and again.

I took the contract and then set about polishing up my second language, Hindi. What my students did not realize at that time, was that I was relearning the language from scratch.

Yes, I had scraped through the Hindi courses in school and never thought I would learn it. But learn I did. Not only that but years of living in America, now, had given me the motivation to learn more about the country of my birth. Go figure!

4. Be eager to learn.

I say all this to say, educate yourself. Research, learn, read, and then read some more. You have to enjoy it though. Or it is a waste of time. Figure out that you do not know until you know that you don’t know.

5. Go online — target companies

Shop for every site that will hire tutors, interpreters, bloggers, and sign up. Go on Linkedin. Make sure you state you are a native speaker and bilingual. Network with other linguists. Join voluntary organizations like the National Language Service Corps.

6. Think laterally

Think outside the box — what can a linguist do? Don’t limit yourself to just one industry. Interpret, translate, teach, coach, mentor, write curriculum, be a flight attendant, be a tour guide, tech writer etc. In fact with the various opportunities globally this is the best time to look through your social media, business network and see what opportunities lie there. You can live in London and work in Tokyo. Literally.

7. Not enough work in one language? Go back to the native language.

What if you train and relearn and polish up your language skills and then there is not enough work in that particular language? Well then, revert back to English. I did that. Teach and develop a curriculum for English as a Second Language. And get hired to teach adults and kids. Write books for kids. Self-publish them on Amazon, Google, teacher resource websites.

The more languages you are fluent in, the more job opportunities and the more flexibility with work. After a while pivoting becomes easier. You see every opportunity as one to learn and give while getting tremendous satisfaction.