Careers

Next Generation Localisation

Mr Sean Sherlock, Minister for Research and Innovation, launches CNGL's Localisation Careers Guide. View full story.

Download the Localisation Careers Guide [pdf - 1.6MB]

Exciting careers for tomorrow’s global economy

• Want to explore your interests in language, computing or business?
• Fascinated by the differences between the cultures of the world?
• Seeking a career in one of the world’s fastest growing industries?

What is Localisation?

Localisation is the process of adapting digital content, products and services to the needs of global users.

In addition to language translation, localisation involves modifying content, products and services to consider cultural and political sensitivities; date, time and currency formats; colours and sounds; and the social norms and legal requirements of the country for which they are being adapted.

Proper localisation means adapting the product seamlessly, so that it appears to have been created specifically for each user.

A Role for Everyone!

Although still a relatively young industry, localisation is expanding at a rapid pace and offers exciting career opportunities.

You could work in language services, using the latest machine translation tools to ensure that all content is translated perfectly. You might like to develop innovative technologies that enable companies to communicate with their customers around the globe. Or you could opt to work as a games localisation engineer, adapting the games of tomorrow to the requirements and tastes of foreign players.

Whatever your interests, you are sure to find a fascinating role for yourself in the field of localisation.

Why adapting for different markets is important

Localisation brings added value as it enables companies to introduce their products and services to foreign markets. this means that the company can benefit from having access to a whole new pool of potential customers.

Although English is the international business language, research has shown that even fluent English speakers are much more likely to buy a product when it is in their native tongue. Also:

• More than 72 per cent of consumers say they would be more likely to buy a product with information in their own language.
• Global shoppers will pay more for products with information and after-sales support in their native tongue.
• More than half of consumers say that the ability to obtain information in their own language is more important than price.

Ireland - World Leader in Localisation

The localisation industry was practically invented in Ireland in the 1990s and the country continues to play a global leadership role.

Most of the world's large software and web companies have a presence in Ireland, with the bulk of their localisation and multilingual customer support being managed from here. Other sectors, including financial services and medical devices, also rely heavily on localisation to bring their products and services to foreign markets.

The localisation sector is estimated to be worth about €680 million annually to Ireland. Current estimates suggest there are now 14,000 - 16,000 jobs in the localisation and language services sector in Ireland. Our ability to maintain and grow these jobs depends on having a strong supply of graduates with skills relating to language, linguistics and computing.

A Wise Career Choice

Localisation is a high growth sector that offers dynamic, rewarding careers.
Potential employers include multinational companies such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, IBM, Microsoft, PayPal and Symantec, as well as many excellent Irish small and medium sized companies.

Benefits include:

• Strong job prospects: With the increasing globalisation of the world's markets and the explosion in digital content, the need for localisation professionals will continue to rise.
• Excellent salaries: The average salary of language services industry professionals in Ireland is €54,000, which is significantly higher than the national average income of €35,000.
• Opportunities to travel: Given the global nature of localisation, you might well find yourself travelling to international clients or the overseas offices of your company.
• Learn about other cultures:If you are fascinated by what makes us different to people from other countries, localisation will offer you insights into the cultures of the world.

Localisation Careers Guide

The Centre for Next Generation Localisation (CNGL) has produced a guide to careers in Next Generation Localisation. This guide includes examples of localisation and profiles of localisation professionals working across different industry sectors.

Download the Localisation Careers Guide [pdf - 1.6MB]

Relevant Third Level Courses

Localisation jobs are at the intersection (or meeting point) of language, linguistics, computing, business and culture, so there are many possible routes to a career in localisation.

You might choose to study a course in just one of the disciplines of localisation. Better still, you might consider combining two or more localisation disciplines in your degree, such as business and languages, computing and linguistics, or language and culture.

Of course, many students now opt to pursue postgraduate study after they complete their degree. There are a small number of specialist Masters courses in Ireland that are dedicated specifically to localisation. Another popular option is for students to complement their degree with Masters study in a different discipline, so that they have skills and knowledge in more than one area of localisation.

There are so many great options available; you can select the path that appeals to you most.

Below you can download a summary of Bachelor Honours Degree (Level 8) courses offered at the four partner universities of the Centre for Next Generation Localisation (CNGL), which could provide a launch pad to a dynamic career in localisation.

Localisation-related courses at Dublin City University [pdf – 378kb]
Localisation-related courses at Trinity College Dublin [pdf – 388kb]
Localisation-related courses at University College Dublin [pdf – 453kb]
Localisation-related courses at University of Limerick [pdf – 1MB]

There are many more course options available within these universities and also within the other universities and institutes of technology across Ireland. For a full and up-to-date list of courses, consult Qualifax, the national courses directory.

Explore More

Some interesting articles on key technologies related to next generation localisation:

Scientists have been trying to automatically translate languages for almost as long as computers have been in existence. So why is it so hard? Read the full article

The computer keyboard and TV remote control may be the ways we interact with our technology today, but new ideas are appearing all the time - namely, voice control. Read the full article

If you want to learn more about linguistics and problem solving, why not try the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad?