Best Practices for Securing an International Business Job Overseas

Posted on Jul 25, 2017 | 0 comments

Best Practices for Securing an International Business Job Overseas

Increasingly, professionals and college graduates are finding that good-paying jobs can be hard to come by in the United States. To better their odds, some are considering obtaining an international business degree and seeking employment in other countries. Likewise, international business students in countries like Canada and Australia are more likely to seek employment in the country in which they completed their studies, rather than their home country.

 

Working in another country is not a decision to be taken lightly, but can be immensely rewarding. It is important to take the time to do some research and to make sure that working in your career field is a possibility in your chosen country. Not all fields of study are in demand in all cultures, and not all countries require the same qualifications for certain careers.

 

 

Plan Early

 

If you have decided that working in a foreign country is something you would like to do, it is best to start planning early. It is highly recommended that you utilize easily accessible resources, such as informative online career webinars and international career blogs and sites, but you should plan to use the local resources in your new home country as well.

Below are several suggested steps, besides acquiring an international business degree, which can ease your transition into a new culture, and some that can make you a more attractive candidate to the companies hiring there.

 

Research the Country
First, you need to find out as much as possible about the country where you intend to work. Studying there is always a benefit, but not always possible. If you cannot study there, you should try to travel there, or at the very least speak to expats living there. Always be open to the possibility of an internship, even if you have work experience. Even if the pay is poor or non-existent, the experience will prove invaluable. On the ground experience is the best way to know whether you will enjoy living and working in that country.

 

Learn the Language
Second, you need to learn the language of the country you intend to work in. It is not necessary that you be fluent, but you should be able to ask basic questions and understand basic directions. This will not only make your life easier once you get there, but will convince any possible employers that you are serious in your desire to work for them.

 

Internships
To find an internship or prospect, it is a good idea to join professional organizations related to your field. Joining organizations and associations is a great way to make contacts, network, find job listings and open a few doors that would otherwise remain closed to you.

 

Be Flexible
Finally, although you may have a target country in mind or you may be looking for a career that will last a lifetime, it is important that you be flexible. If an opportunity arises that is not where you expected to travel to, or only lasts a short time, take it. It will still be a great way to get on track to your ultimate career goals.

 

There are almost no guarantees in life, so by following these practices you cannot be assured that your international business degree will be put to good use. However, not taking the time to put these tips into practice will most assuredly limit the probability of you successfully finding employment abroad.

 


 

 

Want to Know More About Starting an International Business Career?
Passport Career provides more detailed career information and extensive resources about networking, finding a job, internship, alternative career opportunities as well as information on writing CVs, cover letters and interviews. If your organization, embassy, university/college, library, or other institution would like access to our country portfolios (15,000+ pages of expert content for 80+ countries and 250+ cities) to share with your students, employees, spouses/partners, and others managing a national or international career transition, please click here to contact us (or send email to: info@passportcareer.com) regarding a free, live, online demo and details on how to obtain a license to access Passport Career.

 

This is a guest blog by Blake Pappas. Blake is passionate about education and international business. When not writing and working, Blake is busy planning his next international excursion with friends or exercising. You can reach him at blakepappas1984@gmail.com.

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