bdr2.0

Sales Support

Language barrier, anyone ?

I am in a market where I can't take on a new sales role whether it's an SDR or a BDR because of the language barrier. I don't speak the places foreign language, which is making me not be able to go into next steps with recruiters.

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42 comments

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braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

How'd you find yourself in that predicament?

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

TBH it doesn't sound like there's an easy solution.. Can you find something remote that targets an English speaking market?

bdr2.0

Personal Narrative

Sales Support

That’s exactly what I’m in search for atm, definitely crossing fingers for such opportunity.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Good luck

Rosie

Catalyst

Sales Director

Let me know if you find something. In a similar situation. Feel free to hit my dm!

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

Have you tried….learning their language?

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Don't come in here speaking all that common sense now.

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

lmaoooo

sketchysales

Politicker

Sales Manager

Well that sucks to be you.

pirate

Big Shot

Account Executive

Which market would not speak English?

bdr2.0

Personal Narrative

Sales Support

Europe

pirate

Big Shot

Account Executive

They can't hire for most languages in Europe anyway. Maybe come over to Ireland

GDO

Politicker

BDM

What market and language are we talking about?

bdr2.0

Personal Narrative

Sales Support

Netherlands

GDO

Politicker

BDM

And your market? I can say with a lot of confidence that Dutch people all speak English very well

ThatNewAE

Big Shot

Account Executive - Mid enterprise

I worked momentarily in the German, Nertherlands market: Emails work better. GDPR otherwise will duck you over.

GDO

Politicker

BDM

I work in de Benelux market and don't get the GDPR issue you have?

bdr2.0

Personal Narrative

Sales Support

GDPR?

sketchysales

Politicker

Sales Manager

i dont get that, the primary language there is practically English, i used to sell in the Netherlands, spent over 6 months a year there in a previous role and never once met anyone, in or outside of the industry that could not speak fluent english. im struggling to buy this story. If anything, it sounds like you are qualifying yourself out of a job before you have actually gone out and tried speaking to anyone.

if your target industry speaks less english, there are so many others there that could accommodate you. As i said before, in several years of selling into The Netherlands, not once have I met anyone who cannot speak perfect english.

GDO

Politicker

BDM

Exactly

sketchysales

Politicker

Sales Manager

@GDO , Was sales manager for Europe and also never had issues with GDPR in the Benelux market or wider into Italy, Germany, France and Spain. I think its a big scary acronym for a lot of US based companies. As long as you are not hawking to individuals b2c then you have very little worry about.

Rosie

Catalyst

Sales Director

I think you got lucky and sold for a rare international org. Europe overall is very localized language wise, in Sweden you sell in Swedish, in Germany in German unless you have an international org and those roles are rare to find.

sketchysales

Politicker

Sales Manager

I agree with you in certain markets in Europe, the examples you have given I fully agree and you will struggle even more with France, Italy and Spain however I wholeheartedly disagree when it comes to the Netherlands, English is spoken in pretty much every industry I am aware of.

Rosie

Catalyst

Sales Director

I agree with you on Netherlands and I feel it’s probably the only country where this could work. Please if someone knows of another Eu country other than Ireland. Please enlighten us

Rosie

Catalyst

Sales Director

That´s really bad. It´s a big problem unless you go after multinational companies. there are usually only a few of them though.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

I mean I don’t know how you can overcome that without learning that language or finding an English speaking role

bdr2.0

Personal Narrative

Sales Support

Yes and I am still continuing learning, but it will be awhile until I reach the level needed.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

The level needed to talk to the recruiters or to do the job? Do you have sales experience already? Or is this a new role for you?

bdr2.0

Personal Narrative

Sales Support

Yes that’s right, I think it’s level b1 and above. As far as experience I am in the green zone for this industry I’d say, but definitely not the issue here.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I'm sorry, what? What is level b1? And what is the green zone?
I guess I'm having a translation issue as well.

sketchysales

Politicker

Sales Manager

@Sunbunny31 , see my response below on GDO's post. Not meaning to be skeptical but this post has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.

bdr2.0

Personal Narrative

Sales Support

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I’m still lost with regards to B1 and green zone.

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

Why did you move to a country where you don't speak the language and expected to enter the job market without issue?

lowhangersalesbanger

Executive

Account Executive

me looking at your negative votes

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

Legit question right? Sorry but it isn't always going to be sunshine and rainbows in here.

lowhangersalesbanger

Executive

Account Executive

The solution is to find a job in a market whose language you speak

Rosie

Catalyst

Sales Director

How would you be able to do that when life situation thrown you in the Eu market where most have a different language? And you speak mainly native English yet cannot work anywhere close to the Uk or Us due to Eu nationality and without a company to sponsor you. Add to it that learning the local langage would be not the wisest if it’s take 4 years to mastery. What would you do in those 4 years?

It’s easy to tell to go learn the local language but it’s a really tough spot to be in. Keep to learn of anyone cracked as I’ve been in a similar situation before.

lowhangersalesbanger

Executive

Account Executive

I'm not sure where in my 14 word comment I suggested that anyone learn a new language. I said to find a job in a market whose language you speak. Everything is remote these days including sales. There is no shortage of remote jobs. There are plenty of sales jobs that are remote that maybe someone doesn't want to take because of pay or other factors. But I am not sure why you are coming at me like I have anything to do with anyones situation.
The most obvious solution is to get a job that accomodates your language, whether it is sales or not.

Rosie

Catalyst

Sales Director

Sorry I didn´t mean to sound attacking or come as aggressive. My point was that it´s not always a simple solution of learning the language because some languages take years to learn and some are impossible to master unless you are a rare genius linguist.

lowhangersalesbanger

Executive

Account Executive

You are 100% correct. Learning a language is not a viable option.

AnchorPoint

Politicker

Business Coach

And?