Career Options

Wondering what you can do with a Modern Language degree?  Past UW La Crosse Modern Language grads have taken jobs in business, government, education, media, travel and tourism, social services and other fields.

Take advantage of all the resources available to you through the Career Services Center. The Center is the best resource for assistance with career planning, assessments, internships, job market information, job search services, and alumni services. 

What Can You Do With a Degree in Modern Languages?

The variety of career options open to modern language majors includes government, business, the arts, social services, travel industry, and education.  Consult Languages and Careers (pdf file) for ideas about how modern languages can be used in many different careers:

For additional information visit these sites:

Look through the resources listed in this web site, and use all the resources available to you at UW La Crosse's Career Services Center. The Center is the best resource for assistance with career planning, assessments, internships, job market information, job search services, and alumni services. The Career Center offers individual counseling as well as a wide variety of workshops.

We also invite you to talk with the department faculty concerning employment opportunities, graduate schools, etc.  

Which line of work is for you?

Do a self-assessment to map out your personality style and top ten career options you might consider based on your career motivations. 

Look through the resources listed in this web site, and use all the resources available to you at UW La Crosse's Career Services. The Center is the best resource for assistance with career planning, assessments, internships, job market information, job search services, and alumni services. Career Services offers individual counseling as well as a wide variety of workshops.

We also invite you to talk with your department advisor or any faculty member you wish concerning employment opportunities, graduate schools, etc.  

Job Search Strategies

Use the resources available to you through UW La Crosse's Career Services Center. As early as your junior year, attend job search workshops.  Learn how to research companies, promote your skills and experience, and identify the hidden job market. The Career Services Center offers several workshops throughout each quarter to help students with every topic you can think of:

  • Job Search Strategies

  • Resume writing

  • Cover letter writing

  • Interviewing techniques

  • Developing an internship

  • Getting into graduate school

Attend career fairs and other events. Several career fairs and other events are offered throughout the year to help students and alumni research employers and job opportunities.  Check the special events schedule to see what events are scheduled for this quarter.

During your senior year, register with the Career Services Center to take full advantage of job search services, including on-campus interviews and the candidate referral program.

Also participate in on-campus recruiting. Business, industry and government organizations recruit during fall, winter, and spring quarters. School districts recruit primarily during winter and spring quarters.

Here are several other Job Search Strategies

  • Contact agencies, companies or organizations you would like to work for and see if they're hiring

  • Check with the state employment opportunity office

  • Talk with parents and others about job possibilities in their companies

  • Check local newspaper classified ads--especially on Sunday

  • Consider volunteer or internship positions (these sometimes lead to paid positions)

  • Call employment/temporary placement agencies

  • Check the internet for job posting web sites--several are listed below

Salary Comparison Sites

Check out these salary comparison sites (Ref. U.S. News & World Report, 11/6/00, p64).

  • Salary.com  The broadest salary-comparison site.  Its Salary Wizard allows you to pick a job category and a region and to quickly find median salaries by position.  There's also news on compensation and benefit trends.

  • SalaryExpert.com  A free comprehensive salary site offering salary, benefits and cost-of-living information. Find salaries quickly by selecting Job Title and Zip.

  • NationJob  This data-base for job seekers allows you to search by salary level. 

Grad school

Choosing a Graduate School. 
Your major advisor can help you with suggestions of universities that may fit your areas of interest.

Preparing for Graduate School. 
Many departments also require applicants to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).