Want an International Career? Do This
Some people aren't so particular about exactly what type of business career they want as long as it's in the international category. Maybe human nature plays a role in the desire to travel the world, leave one's home country, and interact with other cultures. If you're one of the many who yearn to spend their working years abroad, consider the following strategies for achieving the dream.
The obvious first item on the list is learning a foreign language, but there are other skills that can go a long way toward making an international job a reality. For instance, acquiring experience in finance or IT, earning an MBA (master's in business administration), becoming an area specialist, and joining the right professional organizations can put you on the fast track to international job openings. Here are details that can help you hone in on specific skills to up your chances for success.
Learning a Foreign Language
In today's increasingly digital, global marketplace, English has become something of an international language. But people who are bilingual usually get the best jobs and are able to move up the management ladder more quickly. Consider doing an intensive program to add Spanish, French, or Chinese to your skills list. Being able to speak something other than English will make your resume shine and you'll gain a massive amount of cultural information just from learning another tongue.
Getting an MBA Degree
Whether you're multilingual or not, earning a master's degree in business is probably the single most relevant piece of the success puzzle for internationalists. But getting an MBA and paying for it can be a challenge for anyone. A smart tactic is to get the financing taken care of first by taking out an education loan through a private lender. Private loans offer flexible and competitive terms, cover the cost of attendance, and free you up to focus on earning excellent grades instead of worrying about how to cover the next term's tuition and fees. Note that some schools offer global MBA diplomas, which can be an ideal way to hone your resume and get the attention of the right employers.
Being an Area Specialist
Focus on a single geographic area and learn its language, customs, economic situation, history, and cultural practices. It's extremely helpful if you can spend at least one semester of study in the area you select as your zone of expertise. Once you've built up the skill set to call yourself and area expert, focus on employers who do a lot of business there. For instance, if your zone of choice is Southeast Asia, apply for jobs with banks and development corporations that serve nations in that region.
Acquiring the Right Kind of Experience
There's plenty of competition for international jobs, so it pays to get solid experience before applying. For example, think about adding basic IT skills, financial industry acumen, and perhaps even a foreign language to your resume so that your applications will stand out from the pack. Spending a year as a foreign exchange student in college or high school is an ideal way to enhance a resume.