Bilingual secretaries provide administrative services in English and one or more foreign languages. On a day to day basis they may translate documents and letters, write letters, emails and reports in a foreign language, translate or summarise articles from foreign journals, speak in a foreign language on the phone or in person, interpret at meetings and much more.

The main routes to get into this role are:

• A university course- you could undertake a degree for this role. 

• A college course- you could do a diploma to help you gain this role. 

• An apprenticeship- you could do an apprenticeship for this role.

• Applying directly- if you already have the key skills and experience for this role then you could just apply. 

You usually need 2-3 a levels to undertake a relevant degree. It could help you if you have a degree in modern languages or languages combined with business studies, although this is not essential.

For roles with more responsibility, the following degree and HND subjects may increase your chances:

• business or management

• business with languages

• government or public administration

• law

• secretarial studies.

You can get into this job through a business administrator advanced apprenticeship and combine it with your language skills to find work. This is dependent on the company and you will usually need to complete and pass an interview.

Apprenticeship Finders

https://careerfinder.ucas.com/

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Interview Help

https://www.globalguideline.com/interview_questions/Questions.php?sc=Bilingual_Secretary&id=58412

https://www.jobinterviewquestions.com/interpreter/bilingual-secretary

Direct entry 

You can apply to companies directly if you have some of the relevant skills and knowledge required for this role.

You'll need at least one A level or equivalent in your second language unless it's your native tongue, or you became fluent by living abroad.

Employers may also expect you to have GCSEs or relevant office skills and experience.

Most businesses look for bilingual secretaries who can speak a European language like French, German, Spanish or Italian.

Other languages like Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic are also growing in demand.