Advice on possible language barrier

[YL*]

Hy everyone,

I'm a new user of this forum and I'm a French graphic designer with 10 years experience.

I would like to work in Ireland or in England, I have intermediate level English (NOT FLUENT) but I think the best way for me is to go to Ireland, (because it's much easier for me, I have some family over there) to practice my English… but my question is: Is it possible to work as a graphic designer in an English speaking country with a low level in English ? Thanks in advance for your answer.

YL*

[brokendalek]

Hi and welcome - I'm not sure but I'm quite sure someone will be able to help.

[LeadMagnet]

Well, many foreigners have told me that they find it easier to understand irish people speaking english than to understand english people speaking it, so that's another reason to go to Ireland.

The problem is that this country isn't quite as good as England for jobs. There are so many more companies over there that your chances for employment are far greater. Ireland sucks for the multimedia sector in general. Also, as much as i hate to admit it, alot of people in Ireland (age 40+ mostly i'd say) have a prejudice against hiring foreigners whereas England is jam-packed with foreigners.

It's slowly changing for the better (people are getting used to having more foreigners around ever since poland joined the EU and so many of them moved to Ireland), so if you can get a job or some interviews then go for it.
There's a polish guy in my Multimedia course who managed to get a job at a web-design company quite easily when he came over here if that's any indication of things. He's fluent in english though.

This is me speaking as an irish person living in Ireland all my life. Hopefully someone else here who has direct experience with it will offer their opinions.

[Toon]

Originally Posted by YL*

Hy everyone,

I'm a new user of this forum and I'm a French graphic designer with 10 years experience.

I would like to work in Ireland or in England, I have intermediate level English (NOT FLUENT) but I think the best way for me is to go to Ireland, (because it's much easier for me, I have some family over there) to practice my English… but my question is: Is it possible to work as a graphic designer in an English speaking country with a low level in English ? Thanks in advance for your answer.

YL*

Got to agree with LeadMagnet you've maybe got a better chance of finding a job in England but I will say if you can join an English speaking forum and type a post in good english as you did you're halfway there, your english seems fine to me and language barriers are being broken everyday in business due to the fact that people travel further and wider for jobs now than they ever did.

Welcome.

[LSalesa]

Well, I am Spanish, I moved to this country 2 years ago with around 5 years of experience on Graphic Design. In truth, I got a degree on PR and Advertising in Spain and after working as a Journalist and Graphic Designer in Spain when I moved to London I decided I would go for the Graphic Design side because of my English skills (not that good to work on english journalism!)

I got my first and only job in London 2 weeks after a moved through the jobcentre. I feel lucky about it though I know that by then i got that job because they knew I woud accept anything they offered (it happens when you need to pay the deposit for your rent, plus one month and, first of all, people dont rent you a flat without a job!)

After 2 years I am trying to get a new job in better conditions and I had problems with that because: 1)market is competitive 2) recruitment agencies (and full stop) 3) some of the offers required Sales skills combined with graphic skills (there is when your language skills come to scene) 3) just a thought, my degree is spanish?

Each experience is different, maybe any other foreigner with same skills and background than me might have a totally different point of view, but as far as I see, British designers have much more changes to get jobs, or at least better jobs (with that I mean better paid jobs) because many companies just take that advantage from you that you come with nothing and accept anything.

My advice is to be clear with them and with yourself about how do you sell yourself and when you want to be before looking for jobs.

[tommylogic]

I say go for it.. most of them are drunk anyway and can't understand themselves. Throw down a few pints and you'll do fine.

[YL*]

I will improve my English on this Forum, before trying to work on the other side of the channel.

YL*

[LeadMagnet]

You'd be better off improving your spoken english with people you know who speak it or if you don't know any, then call up some random people on skype and have a chat.
Your written english is perfect from what i can see, conversational english is where you might run into problems. Do you refer to a dictionary or any reference while typing in english?

[LSalesa]

Yeah, best way to improve is just talk talk and talk. I came to London with a medium-high level of English skills, but more on the writing/reading side. Once you get here and live here you realize that the conversational English is very different to what you learnt from the books.

Try to read newspapers, watch movies and tv programmes (one good trick is to use the subtitles for the hearing impaired in the teletex 888) and try to take any chance to practice (in shops, with friends).

NO!! if you cant communicate with your client how can you provide the level of service required to make it!