CONTENT ANALYSIS OF RECRUITMENT DISCOURSE IN KAZAKHSTAN: LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR JOB SEEKERS ON THE EXAMPLE OF JOB ADVERTISEMENTS

Abstract

In the context of globalisation and growing intercultural communication, Kazakhstan’s labour market places high demands on the language competence of job seekers. This study analyses the recruitment discourse by identifying the most in-demand language skills based on content analysis of vacancies on the popular website HeadHunter. The results show knowledge of Kazakh, Russian and English is critical for various positions, especially in such areas as management, sales, IT, education and business services. English proficiency at B2 level and above, confirmed by TOEFL\IELTS certificates, provides a competitive advantage. Kazakh and Russian are in high demand in the context of interpretation and negotiation. In some cases, knowledge of other foreign languages is required, such as Chinese. Vacancies emphasise the importance of not only fluent language skills, but also competent oral and written communication. Professional multilingualism is becoming a key factor of successful employment in Kazakhstan, opening up new opportunities for career development.