Transferable Skills:
In addition to the specific subject matter that French majors learn, they acquire many skills that can easily transfer to any subject matter.  The following is a list of transferable skills that French majors develop:
Understanding historical language change
Reading critically 
Evaluating information and evidence
Acquiring new perspective about one’s own culture
Understanding how ideas shape cultures, vice versa
Acknowledging value systems
Summarizing ideas  
Working with original sources in many fields
Determining the needs of others
Writing clearly  
Explaining complex concepts  
Reading for content and structure 
Communicating between cultures
Establishing hypotheses  
Adapting to other cultures
Understanding and appreciating diversity  
Interpreting data
Collaborating as part of a team


Sample job titles of Davidson alums who majored in French: 
Architect ‘82
Assistant Account Executive "00
Actuarial Analyst ‘92
Clinical Psychologist ’86
Community Service Coordinator ’98
Director of Marketing ‘92
Engineer ‘92
English Teacher in France '03
Film/Videotape Editor ‘78
Investment Banking '04
Health Data Analyst ’88
Intelligence Officer '01
Investment Analyst ’00
Librarian '87
Lobbyist ’83
Musician ’91
News Anchor/Reporter ‘78
Orthopedic Research '02
Paralegal '01
Physician ’91
Professor ’74
Psychologist '96
Senior Consultant ’90
Social Worker ‘98
Special Events Coordinator ‘98
Stockbroker '97


Other job titles for French majors:
Attorney
College/University Official
Foreign Correspondent
Foreign Service Officer
Intelligence Specialist
International Banking Officer
International Relations Specialist
Linguist
Minister
Speech Pathologist 
Teacher
Tour Guide
Translator
Writer 

Types of employers:
Academic & Professional Journals
Advertising & Public Relations Firms
Airlines
Banks
Business & Industry
Educational Institutions
Film Companies
Fund-Raising Firms
Government Agencies
Hotels
Import/Export Companies
Investment Firms
Magazines & Newspapers
Museums
Publishing Companies
Travel Agencies
United Nations


Resources in the Career Services Library:
Over 1200 books, pamphlets, and periodicals are available in the Careers Library to help you with self-assessment, career exploration, the job search, and graduate school planning.  Some good library resources for French majors looking for career information include 
Career Opportunities in the Travel Industry
Careers for Foreign Language Aficionados 
Careers in Foreign Languages
College Majors and Careers
Directory of Jobs and Careers Abroad
Great Jobs for Foreign Language Majors
Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors
Opportunities in Foreign Language Careers
Travel Writer's Handbook


Other sources of career information:
Career counselors and faculty members are great resources.  Visit the Careers Office early and often, and make time to talk to professors in your major and related fields.  Professional associations are excellent sources of career and employment information, and many of them have websites.  Surf the internet, keeping in mind that many colleges and universities have websites for their Career Centers and for each academic major, many of which include career and employment information as well as links to professional associations and other useful websites.  Contact the following organizations and websites for more information:

American Association of Teachers of French
http://www.frenchteachers.org

American Translators Association
www.atanet.org

Davidson College French Dept.
http://www2.davidson.edu/academics/acad_depts/french/french_home.asp

Institute of Translation and Interpreting
www.iti.org.uk

Linguistic Enterprises
http://web.gc.cuny.edu/dept/lingu/enter

Modern Language Association of America
www.mla.org

OverseasJobs.com
www.overseasjobs.com/do/where/jobtree/france

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/index.asp

Univ. of Delaware Career Services Center, Major Resource Kits
http://www.udel.edu/CSC/mrk.html

(Current as of 12/05)