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SUNY Oswego - Career Services

What can I do with a minor in french culture studies?

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SUNY Oswego - Career Services

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International Student Association

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  • French Instructor
  • Language Assistant
  • Travel Consultant
  • Translator

Search for employers hiring graduates in your minor

Employers in NY: 2,226
Employers in the U.S.: 25,416

 

Explore the numerous career fields related to your major

Government
Areas
  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Language analysis
  • Linguistics
  • Diplomacy
  • Civil service
  • Foreign service
  • Immigration/Naturalization
  • Customs
  • Intelligence
  • Security and protection
  • Law enforcement
  • Journalism/Broadcasting
Employers
  • Overseas aid agencies
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Central Intelligence Agency
  • Drug Enforcement Administration
  • Department of State
  • US Customs and Border Patrol
  • US Citizenship and Immigration Services
  • US Armed Forces
  • National Guard
  • National Security Agency
  • Department of Commerce
  • Agency for International Development (USAID)
  • Peace Corps, VISTA, AmeriCorps
  • Library of Congress
  • Voice of America
  • US District Courts
  • United Nations
Sample occupations
  • The government is one of the largest employers of people with foreign language skills.
  • Consider studying a critical need language for the greatest number of opportunities.
  • Complete an internship with a federal agency and maintain a high GPA to be a more competitive candidate.
  • Learn government job application procedures.
  • Plan to apply early and inquire frequently about job vacancies.
  • Review special hiring authorizations to be hired and to advance more quickly.
  • Participate in campus organizations and activities that promote interaction with international students.
  • Attend a specialized school that teaches foreign languages for additional training.
  • Live abroad and gain knowledge of politics and economics to prepare for a career in this field.
  • Increase knowledge of geography, history, and international affairs.
  • Join the armed forces as a way to get experience.
  • Consider earning a graduate degree for more job opportunities.
Industry and Commerce
Areas
  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Banking/Finance
  • Sales
  • Customer services
  • Manufacturing
  • Logistics and transportation/Supply chain management
  • Engineering/Technical
  • Computer and software services
  • Research
  • Operations management
  • Consulting
  • Importing/Exporting
  • Administrative services
  • Advertising and marketing
  • Human resources
  • Law
Employers
  • Banks and financial institutions
  • Import/Export companies
  • Foreign firms operating in the US
  • US firms operating in foreign countries
  • Manufacturers, including automobile
  • Retail stores
  • Environmental firms
  • Consulting agencies
  • Sports organizations
  • Telecommunications companies
  • Computer and software firms
  • Advertising agencies
  • Professional associations
  • Law firms
Sample occupations
  • Supplement coursework with business classes or earn a business minor.
  • Develop international competency by living and working abroad and by interacting with international students on campus.
  • Get involved in student organizations and seek leadership roles.
  • Research which companies do business with the countries in which your language of study is spoken.
  • Be prepared to start in a position in the US working for a firm with an overseas presence.
  • Very few entry level positions are available in international business.
  • Some jobs will require graduate degrees (e.g., business, law, etc.).
Travel and Tourism
Areas
  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Airline services
  • Management
  • Booking and reservations
  • Travel services/guidance
  • Ecotourism
Employers
  • Tour and excursion companies
  • Travel agencies
  • Hotels/Motels
  • Resorts
  • Restaurants
  • Airlines/Airports
  • Cruise lines
  • Railroads
  • Bus lines
  • Car rental agencies
  • Convention centers
  • Chambers of commerce
Sample occupations
  • Take courses in hotel/restaurant administration or recreation and tourism management.
  • Get a part-time job in a hotel or restaurant to gain experience.
  • Spend some time abroad to learn about various cultures and traditions.
  • Brush up on your knowledge of geography.
  • Consider attending a travel and tourism school.
  • Develop office management and technology skills.
  • Maintain a travel blog.
  • Show attention to detail.
  • Read international newspapers to keep up with overseas developments.
Interpretation/Translation
Areas
  • Business, conference, escort/guide, judiciary (court) Interpretation
  • Legal, literary, localization, machine, medical, technical
  • Translation
  • Steganography
  • Lexicography
Employers
  • Freelance
  • Educational services
  • Business services
  • Government agencies
  • Healthcare organizations
  • International organizations
  • Nonprofit and social service organizations
  • Courts
  • Publishers
  • Libraries
Sample occupations
  • Develop fluency in a second language.
  • Seek out any opportunity to converse with native speakers to better learn the language.
  • Learn a third language for increased job opportunities.
  • Some languages are in more demand than others.
  • Gain experience through internships or volunteering.
  • Seek certification or accreditation from an interpretation/translation organization.
  • Gain skills with computers and relevant software programs.
  • Interpreters and translators who have expertise in a particular area such as law or medicine may find more opportunities.
  • Develop skills in negotiation and the ability to work well under stress. Most people who work in this field freelance. Show language expertise, initiative, and motivation as this is a very competitive field.
Service and Education
Areas
  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Teaching
  • Tutoring
  • Educational administration
  • Student affairs, study abroad programs, international houses
    or cultural centers, international student services
  • Linguistics
  • Civil service
  • Social work
  • Mission work
  • Library science
  • Health services
  • Counseling
  • Nonprofit or public interest law
  • Research
Employers
  • K-12 schools, public and private
  • Universities/Colleges
  • Pre-schools
  • Professional language schools
  • English language institutes
  • Overseas dependents’ schools
  • Foreign study exchange programs
  • Libraries
  • Adult education programs
  • Religious and volunteer organizations
  • International organizations
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Social service agencies
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Hospitals
Sample occupations
  • Obtain state teacher licensure for K-12 teaching.
  • Earn a graduate degree for college or university teaching opportunities.
  • Develop superior written and oral communication skills in the English language including proper sentence structure and comprehensive vocabulary. Minor or double major in another subject that you could also teach.
  • Get experience as a teaching assistant or tutor.
  • Become familiar with the cultural base of your language (literature, art, politics, etc.) as well as with cultural traditions.
  • Consider teaching English as a foreign language (overseas).
  • Research courses and certifications for teaching English to non-native speakers.
  • Volunteer with government programs such as VISTA or community programs such as ESL classes.
  • Work abroad through volunteer programs or missions.
  • Plan to take both written and oral examinations to become an interpreter.
  • Notify local hospitals, schools, and chambers of commerce of your availability to translate or interpret for international visitors.
  • Earn a graduate degree in a field of specialty, (e.g., Student Affairs Administration, counseling, or law).
Arts, Media and Entertainment
Areas
  • Advertising and marketing
  • Translation/Interpretation
  • Journalism/Broadcasting
  • Photography
  • Writing
  • Publishing/Editing
  • Public relations
  • Performing
  • Film-making
  • Museum work
  • Fashion
Employers
  • Museums
  • Foreign news agencies
  • Book publishers
  • Newspapers
  • Magazines
  • TV networks
  • Radio stations
  • Film companies
  • Recording companies
  • Internet media companies
  • Advertising firms
  • Design firms
Sample occupations
  • Learn about the customs and culture of the country in which your language of study is primarily spoken.
  • Supplement coursework with related classes such journalism, photography, art, etc.
  • Spend time studying or working abroad.
  • Complete one or more internships in your field of interest.
  • Work at campus and local newspapers or radio and television stations.
  • Read international newspapers to keep up with developments overseas.
  • Listen to foreign broadcasts.

General information and strategies

  • Supplement foreign language skills with additional content area, preferably one that requires a high degree of technical skill.
  • Most people with foreign language ability use those skills to assist them in a different career field such as business, education, journalism, law, etc.
  • Study related or adjacent courses (e.g., geography, history, civilization, foreign relations, international law, world economics, etc.).
  • Utilize a number of learning methods to develop language fluency.
  • Combine listen and repeat drills, textbooks, audio lessons, and learning apps.
  • Travel to a foreign country or study abroad in international exchange programs to develop your language skills and international/intercultural competency.
  • Study and practice your foreign language skills by reading foreign newspapers, magazines, and books.
  • Seek opportunities to interact with international students on campus or members of your local community.
  • Host international students, join relevant student organizations, and participate in international campus events.
  • Watch foreign movies and listen to foreign broadcasts to maintain your fluency.
  • Volunteer your language skills to churches, community organizations, and programs that work with people who speak your target language.
  • Contact professional associations and read their publications to learn about job opportunities.
  • Research job postings to get an idea of jobs in which knowledge of a foreign language is useful.
  • Participate in summer programs, co-ops, and internships to improve your skills.
  • Network with others in the field to learn about job opportunities.
  • Be very proactive in developing the skills and experiences international employers seek.
  • Get your foot in the door in domestic positions because many international employers promote current employees into international positions.
  • Seek certification or accreditation from an interpretation/translation organization.
  • Become familiar with the cultural base of the language (literature, art, politics, etc.) as well as with cultural traditions.