most valuable second language for finance?
native english speaker who is attending a decent uk school (warwick/durham/bath) and am wondering what language is the most feasible and useful to learn for finance
first thought that comes to mind is german, being that it would open doors to DACH, with Zurich being particularly of interest to me.
french as well, but have been told it’s more difficult to reach business level vs. german (would appreciate info) + non native french being looked down upon by employers?
dutch is marketed as the easiest for english speakers but not sure how much that’ll
help me unless i wish to be in amsterdam in (could help with london pe?). no clue on italian/spanish/nordics
have an interesting thought re japanese, as a family friend at a HF in HK expressed that because of the lack of bilingual speakers vs demand for covering japanese equities & growing PE industry there makes candidates who can speak both very attractive. have also heard of stories of people easily getting top jobs in japan after being western educated just because there are few japanese/english speakers applying for the roles, but i assume japanese is quite literally the most difficult language an english speaker could learn
i don’t have an issue immersing myself in any language, it’s more that i want to commit to one and go through with it. i know that everyone here will probably say ‘pick one you like’ but for me i think all of these languages are interesting and appreciate all cultures equally, im just interested in learning the language most useful for my career
any personal experiences and advice is appreciated
The ROI on the time it takes to actually learn a language to full fluency is not great IMO (as someone that learned a second language to Native fluency over the course of 6+ years). Even if you are good with languages/high IQ, it takes years of consistent and dedicated work to get to fully understand and speak not just a language but all of the accompanying cultural factors that make the language worth knowing. IMO it would be better to spend that time reading finance/regular books, networking, working out etc.
Germans almost universally speak English, so there's almost no value add unless you desperately want to live in Frankfurt/Zurich for some reason. Same thing with Dutch and Nordics. If you live in the US, Spanish is very useful but in Europe most Spaniards in finance speak at least functional English bc all cross-border business is conducted in English anyway.
French comes to mind as probably the most useful out of all of them, but then again I think the time would be better spent networking/modeling practice than studying verb conjugations.
bump. avoid italian and southern europe in general. the languages are way too complex, there is NO incentive to go there (unless you enjoy high tax rates and COL) and the locals are almost as snobby as the french when it comes to judging your proficiency in their semi-dead language
Based on the most helpful WSO content, the most valuable second language for a finance career, especially for a native English speaker attending a UK school like Warwick, Durham, or Bath, largely depends on your career focus and geographical preferences. Here’s a breakdown of some key languages and their utility in the finance sector:
German: As you've noted, German is highly valuable, particularly for opportunities in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). Zurich is a major financial hub, and German skills can significantly enhance your prospects there. German is also generally considered easier for English speakers to learn compared to French, due to its more straightforward pronunciation and some shared vocabulary.
French: While French is a global language and useful in various financial markets including parts of Africa, it is true that achieving business-level fluency can be challenging. There is also a cultural preference for native-level proficiency in French-speaking regions, which might be a hurdle for non-native speakers.
Dutch: Dutch could be beneficial if you are considering roles in Amsterdam, which is a notable financial center. However, its utility might be limited compared to German or French unless you specifically target companies or roles that engage with the Dutch market.
Spanish: Learning Spanish opens up opportunities in Spain and Latin America, both of which have significant financial sectors. Spanish is also one of the easier languages for English speakers to learn.
Italian and Nordic languages: These are more niche but can be valuable if you are targeting specific markets in Italy or the Nordic countries. However, the demand and utility might be less compared to German or French.
Japanese: As per your insight about the demand for bilingual professionals in Japanese equities and the PE industry, Japanese can indeed be a strategic choice if you are looking at markets in Japan or roles that deal with Japanese clients. However, Japanese is complex and requires significant investment in learning and cultural understanding.
Given your interest in all these languages and cultures, and considering the strategic career benefits, German seems like a particularly strong choice given your interest in Zurich and the relative ease of learning compared to some other languages. French could also be a solid option if you are looking at broader European or African markets. If you are drawn to the challenge and unique opportunities presented by the Japanese market, then pursuing Japanese could also be a rewarding, albeit more demanding, path.
Ultimately, the choice should align with your career goals, the specific financial markets you aim to engage with, and your personal interest in the language and culture, as these factors will sustain your motivation throughout the learning process.
Sources: 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions - London Edition, 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions - London Edition, Is target MSc Finance still possible in my situation? (Bocconi, HEC, LSE, HSG....), Working for European PE as an American
Hello there.
Although I am speaking more from an International Business/Supply Chains perspective generally, (I originally wanted to be a translator before realizing Finance and related careers paid more), I also have an interest in using Foreign Languages in Business. This is both for hobbyist and professional reasons. Unlike the other commenters here I do think it is a great skill to have so long as you do not compromise technical abilities nor the soft skills needed to succeed.
My perspective/recommendation when evaluating a language to learn is to look at 3 facts regarding how useful the language is:
1) Does it have a lot of speakers? Does the language cover an extensive region? What are the country's birth rates?
2) What is your interest level or passion for the language? It cannot just be for work otherwise the language will become boring.
3) How useful is the language from an economic perspective?
To this reality, I would recommend one of the following languages for the following reasons (listed in order of priority with unique reasons attached)...
Spanish: Is a very important language due to NAFTA, the Americas, and the EU.
French: Is very useful in Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Furthermore, in Canada, it's a required language for many high-level jobs. They will not care about the differences between Parisian French versus Quebecois. Lastly, Africa should be a major growth market due to its high birthrate.
Mandarin Chinese: Useful because of its rarity for English speakers and the population size of China worldwide. Also, a lot of money/capital/diaspora are leaving China. So even if you do not go there for safety reasons there are plenty of people to talk to worldwide.
German: This language is extremely relevant and useful in areas of Science and Technology historically. You also have the reality of strong German Banks in the EU and their legacy of managing the Financial Crisis under Merkel.
Although cool, Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, etc may not have the payoff one expects. I base these realities on the likelihood of those people speaking English already and their aging societies/economies. Thankfully with Spanish, German, and French, due to colonization, whilst these societies are aging, you have a lot of breadth and depth when learning these languages for business purposes.
Hope this helps.
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