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Those seeking graduate jobs overseas should be aware that foreign language skills could benefit their careers, it has been suggested.

In comments which may also interest students thinking of holiday jobs abroad, Angela Baron, an advisor from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), noted that learning a new language can increase a student's employment chances.

"If you want to go and live and work on the continent then - even if English is the language of business - you still need to be able to speak the language of your host country if you want to progress your career," she explained.

Ms Baron also said learning a new language is a worthwhile pursuit in and of itself as well as increasing an individual's employable skills set.

She continued to suggest once someone has learnt one foreign tongue it becomes easier to pick up others, as they are in a "language-learning mindset".

The European Commission has claimed 50 per cent of the European population speak a foreign language, with 99 per cent of the Luxembourgish fluent in two or more.

However, research from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education discovered 29 per cent of UK workers have learnt more than one language.

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