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Step 1
First, decide which you want to focus on but keep in mind that it is important to have a basic knowledge of phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. For those new to the study of linguistics, there are many different subfields.
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Step 2
Once you know which area you are going to pursue, learn as much as you can and look for any job that puts you in contact with large groups of people.
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Step 3
Pay close attention to the way people sound when they talk and the words they use to convey what they are expressing. Keep notes of differences you notice and anything you find interesting about the language of different people. In other words, always pay close attention to the different facets of language that surround you.
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Step 4
If you are a graduate or post-graduate student, volunteer as much as you can in your university’s linguistics department. The experience will pay off in the future.
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Step 5
Look for clerical or entry-level jobs, or research assistant jobs in the area of linguistics you are studying. Always pay close attention to the different facets of language that surround you.
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Step 6
For both students and professional linguists, one of the best resources available in the field of linguistics is “The Linguist List.” Sign up for the Linguist List mailing list and check the website daily for job listings. The Linguist List job listings are arranged so you can browse available jobs or search for jobs by specific ranks, locations, linguistic fields and languages.
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Step 7
Because this cannot be repeated enough times - always pay close attention to the different facets of language that surround you.
