Why employers want linguists
Speaking German has been a passport to adventure and success for Nan Gibson, Chief Human Resources Officer at Lidl GB. Her language skills have enabled and inspired her to travel the world and enjoy a high-flying career. And Mrs Gibson wants the next generation of linguists to make the most of their skills by making their mark in the workplace. In an interview with Guy Collender, Mrs Gibson explains why linguists are special and why German speakers in particular have good career prospects at the head office of Lidl GB.
High demand for linguists
As a leading figure in the field of human resources and with nearly 30 years’ experience in the aviation industry and food retail, Mrs Gibson knows the job market inside out. She knows what makes excellent employees, and how to select, and promote, promising graduates. Her verdict on the benefits of languages is clear and encouraging: linguists offer much more than an ability to communicate in another language. They embody a combination of unusual attributes, including unrivalled inter-personal skills and an awareness of other cultures. Such skills are highly valued by employers, and are currently in short supply. Mrs Gibson says: ‘What is unique about linguists is that they are exceptionally good listeners. They are able to get to the essence and intention of what is being said, rather than just the words being spoken. Good listeners are good communicators, and good communicators are good line managers.’
Above all, Mrs Gibson continues, immersing oneself in a different language and culture means you can recognise and appreciate differences, and adapt accordingly. You learn to broaden your outlook, and your approaches to challenges become more nuanced. She adds: ‘If you study a language you study a culture and it gives you a perspective beyond how you grew up. You begin to question your own values.’
Such strengths enable linguists to succeed in the workplace. By understanding different types of people, be they colleagues or customers, linguists have the enviable ability to be able to influence, persuade and negotiate effectively — all vital skills in the modern world.
Mrs Gibson also emphasises that technical skills and data gathering are important, but only go so far. What is important is interpreting the data, showing how they tell a story, and working out what to do next. Linguists are able to demonstrate such soft skills in abundance. In addition, linguists embrace the new, and this hankering for discovery and innovation is key in the fast-paced world of business. Mrs Gibson says: ‘Linguists are naturally curious, and intellectual curiosity will make you push boundaries.’
While linguists demonstrate a range of skills, it is often their skills in one foreign language that will open the door to employment. In the case of Lidl GB, speaking German is one very important asset someone can have.
The importance of German at Lidl
Lidl was founded in Germany in 1973, and the discount supermarket chain entered the UK market in 1994. The food retailer operates in 32 countries and its official language is German.
Mrs Gibson explains that this means that all information from Lidl’s headquarters in Neckarsulm, is in German, and German is the common language when colleagues from two different countries are communicating with each other. Speaking German, therefore, is a real benefit, particularly at Lidl GB’s head office, where many roles involve speaking German on a daily basis, often directly with international colleagues.
Mrs Gibson says: ‘Whilst Lidl is strongly committed to Britain, our roots are undoubtedly German. It is a massive advantage to have language skills, and in order to progress to the most senior levels at Lidl GB you are required to understand German. We continue to recruit and expand, with plans to open 60 stores next year in the UK. The future is optimistic for Lidl GB, and everything is full steam ahead.’
Of course, German skills are not the only route into Lidl GB, and other pathways exist, including the company’s graduate management programme for buyers, which closes on 30th November 2020.
Lidl GB’s support for Oxford
Mrs Gibson’s positive views about linguists are shared by her fellow Lidl GB board members (pictured above), all of whom speak German. In 2018, to support German language teaching, Lidl GB committed to funding scholarships and prizes for students studying German at the University of Oxford. Such philanthropy from the discount supermarket chain has already given talented students new opportunities. Isabelle Riepe, last year’s Lidl Graduate Scholar, would have had to abandon her dream of studying at Oxford without the fully-funded scholarship. Undergraduate student Eve Mason has translated and published five previously untranslated German fairy tales by women writers in a book entitled A String of Pearls thanks to support from the Lidl Year Abroad Project Grant.
A personal story
Mrs Gibson’s love of German began when she was a teenager at Dunfermline High School. Her ‘truly inspirational teacher’ Miss Simpson emphasised that languages are a reflection of culture and society. Aged 17, Mrs Gibson visited Germany for the first time, and a Master’s degree in German at the University of St Andrews followed. Supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAAD), she spent ‘a seminal year’ studying at the University of Freiburg. She says: ‘My eyes were completely opened to a different culture. I was fascinated by the German language and Germany — a country that has helped shape the modern world. I was impressed by the political self-awareness of students in Germany, and it was clear that they did not resemble the German stereotype.’
Then, suddenly, while still a student, Mrs Gibson’s German skills were in high demand due to the most unexpected of circumstances. A fire on board a cruise ship in Piraeus, Greece, led to a transfer of German tourists to the QE2 at Bremerhaven. A request from the Cunard shipping line, via the father of a fellow student, ended up with Mrs Gibson a day later on board the QE2 translating menus, instructions and compèring shows during a 10-day cruise of the Northern Lights. This experience left her hooked on travel. Once she finished her studies Mrs Gibson returned to work for Cunard, where she met her husband and travelled the world. A translating role for Northwest Airlines followed before human resources roles at American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.
Then, four years ago, Mrs Gibson was recruited to Lidl GB as a HR specialist, not simply because she shared the company’s vision and values, but because she combined that with vital German skills. Speaking German has been a leitmotif throughout her successful career.
