Pathway to Great Careers in International Business

If you are keen on a career in business but are also passionate about traveling and knowing more about other countries, a career in international business will allow you to pursue both your interests.

The best way to start a career in international business is to obtain a degree in that particular field. Many work towards a master’s degree in international business after working in a business of their choice and getting some initial hands on training.  With a degree in hand, they can have the opportunity to work for many well-known international companies and brands.

With increasing globalization and competition in the international marketplace, a company now needs to have a deeper understanding not just of the business aspect but also of different languages and cultures. Such a broad perspective is now part of the course work offered by many international business schools and allows students to get know multicultural business etiquette, appreciate cultural differences and of course, study global business markets.

There are now a variety of positions available with international companies and based on one’s interests, a student can choose to specialize further in any one of these. The general responsibilities of any person with a career in international business would be as follows:

• Traveling to different countries and acting as the ambassador for their company or brand.
• Learning foreign cultures, traditions and languages so as to better understand the local business practices.
• Working within common local practices and international business procedures.
• Studying the history of the foreign market and analyzing future trends.
• Helping a variety of cross-cultural people communicate effectively with each other.
• Showing sensitivity to the local and international social economic as well as political factors that may affect business environments and adapting quickly to changes.

While most skill sets needed for a business career in the international market are the same as those needed in the domestic market, a career in international business does need some special skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively, with an understanding of the cultural differences.
• Flexibility to adapt to different cultures and business practices.
• Ability to quickly learn about foreign markets, principles and procedures.
• Being able to stay away from home for extended periods of time.
• Strong understanding of international marketing, finance as well as business management.
• Ability to work efficiently even within different time zones.
• Ability to quickly grasp local cultural do’s and don’ts.
• Strong leadership and project management skills.
• Show an understanding of what kind of promotional campaigns can or cannot work in different parts of the world.

Once a person obtains the necessary qualifications and skills in international business, they basically have three major options. They can work for a US company that has a business presence in another country, they could work in the US but on behalf of a foreign company or they could decide to join a local company in another country.

There is no doubt that the demand for skilled people with experience in international business is only going to increase in the coming years and careers in this field have a very bright future.