Without a doubt, English has truly become a global language. Everywhere from Houston to Hong Kong, deals are being made, meetings are being conducted, and people are getting hired in English. For that reason, having English fluency as a skill is more important than ever, especially in the business world. Any kind of international cooperation or commerce will inevitably use English when speakers of various languages come together. Perhaps more than any other skill, it is the best way for many people to find global work opportunities that have a significantly higher salary than monolingual jobs in their home countries. It also enables them to move to other countries to find opportunities that may not be available elsewhere. Let’s look at all the different ways that English can open doors to global work opportunities!
In 2024, around 1.515 billion people around the world spoke English at a useful level. Of these, 1.135 billion spoke it as their second language – about the same amount of total Mandarin speakers around the world. This is a truly staggering number, and shows that English has become a priority for enterprising people around the globe. The desire to learn in part has come because global companies are increasingly designating English as their official language of business.
The Rakuten Experiment
This is happening in non-English speaking countries as well – in 2010, the CEO of Japanese web commerce company Rakuten decided that English would be the company’s official language. Most of his employees were Japanese, so he mandated that they had to pass an English fluency test within a certain period of time in order to keep their jobs, also offering them free English classes on company time.
The effects were wide-ranging. Due to the high level of English proficiency (90%) that was achieved within the time limit, Rakuten was able to rapidly expand across the globe, open research and development centers overseas, and hire the best talent from all over the world. They also found that when everyone spoke the same language, it made working on projects faster and more agile. More companies took notice of Rakuten’s experience, and now “Englishnization”, as it was called, is being adopted at an increasing rate.
How Can English Help You Find Global Work Opportunities?
English proficiency is a gateway to global work opportunities, allowing professionals to collaborate seamlessly in multinational teams. Anyone who wants to work in tech needs to have a good level of fluency in English, since most coding takes place in that language. The tourism industry also relies heavily on English – many people learn it to travel to countries all over the world, even those where English is not the official language. If there is a tour group in Rome with people from France, Brazil, Malaysia, and Egypt, chances are that the tour guide will be speaking to them in English, even if it is not anyone’s native language. Finance also relies heavily on English, since many international trades take place every day and precision of language is of the utmost importance to avoid costly errors.
Working From Home or Abroad
For the job seeker looking for global work opportunities, why is learning English a good idea? In this post-pandemic world where remote work is here to stay, English is the key to getting an interview. Gone are the days where to work for a Canadian company, you had to pick up and move to Vancouver or Toronto. Now, you can work from the comfort of your home, speaking your native language in your everyday life, except for when you are at work. If you are interested in moving overseas, English is indispensable to find the best opportunities as well.
Even for those who are looking for work in their home country, English will help you get ahead of your competitors. Employers increasingly seek candidates with English skills, as they are better equipped to handle global work opportunities and represent the company internationally. A bilingual employee is also more likely to get a promotion to a role that would lead them to represent the company in international situations.
Post-Graduate Studies and Networking
English’s usefulness for global communication has other advantages too. If you decide to study a master’s degree or PhD, inevitably you will need to read scholarly articles in English in order to complete your thesis. In fact, many postgraduate programs require a certain degree of English fluency in order to be accepted. Networking in English also opens doors to global work opportunities, enabling professionals to build connections that transcend borders. You can participate in international seminars and workshops with people from other countries, thus building your skills and making contacts that could help you later on.
Why, then, do many people not learn English? It isn’t the easiest thing to do in the world, especially since it requires an investment of time and money. If you are working long days and barely have time to relax at home, taking English classes might be the last thing on your mind. But it is worth it to set aside some time and funds for this goal, since it could very well help you get a job where you get paid more and have to work fewer hours. Craving English’s wonderful teachers are available at a wide range of times to best fit your busy schedule – why not try a free trial class to see how you like it?
Build Your Confidence
Confidence is also a limiting factor many times – people are afraid of making mistakes and facing their limitations. This is certainly understandable! Learning and then using a new language is a vulnerable situation, and saying things incorrectly will inevitably happen. But it is only through consistent practice (ideally with a friendly, professional teacher) that you will make less and less mistakes, reaching new heights of fluency that you had never thought possible.
In a world where global work opportunities are increasingly accessible, learning English is no longer just an advantage—it’s a necessity. Whether you’re aiming to work remotely for an international company, relocate to an English-speaking country, or simply stand out in your local job market, English fluency can be the key to unlocking your potential. From tech and finance to tourism and academia, English connects professionals across borders, enabling collaboration, innovation, and career growth. While the journey to mastering English may require time, effort, and confidence, the rewards are undeniable. So take the first step today, and open the door to a world of global work opportunities that await you. Your future self will thank you!