An international career is a series of jobs that requires employees to conduct their work across national borders or between at least two cultures within a single country. Notice there’s nothing here to say that “international” means working and living outside of the United States. For Americans, the trend in the international job market is for entry-level positions to be in locations within the United States, for mid-level positions to involve travel to other countries, and for employees with the most experience and/or most desirable skills to get the overseas assignments.
Look at it from the employer’s point of view: Entry-level employees need time on the job to develop the work experience and organizational exposure that allows them to be trusted to operate abroad. It costs employers too much to experiment with employees who have great potential, but unproven skills. Work experience and corporate savvy complement language and cultural communication skills.
“International” vs. “domestic”
As the economy becomes more globalized, more and more positions can be considered “international” jobs, whether the job is physically located within or outside the United States. Corporations increasingly view all professional careers as potentially international, and in spite of their tendency to assign overseas positions to seasoned employees, they would prefer to schedule initial, globally oriented assignments early in the career path. The reason they don’t is often a matter of the individual’s lack of what has come to be known as “cross-cultural competence.”
The employee who displays “cross-cultural competence” has an understanding of the international business environment, plus the skills and knowledge needed for applying these effectively in new situations. International performers need to be multiculturally aware, sensitive, and tolerant as well as skillful in their jobs. But for all of that, these same capabilities are in demand for the more “domestic” positions as well.
So how does an “international” job differ from a “domestic” one? There are a number of ways. An international job:
- Involves working for an international company that views the world as its market.
- Involves contact with people from other countries, whether in person or through telecommunications.
- May require living and working abroad for periods of time, or may require working in the United States and traveling abroad on occasion.
- Usually demands a targeted skill or area of knowledge (e.g., in finance, computer programming, statistics, sales, research), built upon a base of multicultural interest and proficiency.
- Is extremely demanding—if performed outside the home country—of one’s time, often requiring functioning on a 24-hour schedule, balancing work, travel, and business contacts with personal time.
Skills required for “international” jobs
You already know that to qualify for most good positions you need more than just a degree—you need a variety of skills and abilities that don’t come with a degree. But there are some skills that some employers say are essential for those working in an international environment (in alphabetical order):
- Ability to learn
- Adventurous spirit
- Creativity
- Curiosity
- Functional skills
- Initiative
- Language skills
- Sense of humor
- Sensitivity, adaptability, and flexibility
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Tenacity
- Willingness to take risks
In addition to these, cross-cultural competence is a critical requirement for candidates hoping to work for corporations doing business on a global basis. The ability to function efficiently and properly in a multicultural environment has become the keystone to securing an “international” position in the corporate world and is essential if you hope to work and live abroad.
Becoming an “international” candidate
Your best chance of graduating and moving directly into an international job is to become a teacher—usually in English or ESL (English as a Second Language), and most often in the Asian and Pacific Rim countries; enter the Peace Corps; or go with one of the small businesses that are emerging in the developing nations. With most majors, however, the chances today of an entry-level job that is “international” are slim. You’ll need to work on acquiring pertinent knowledge and cultivating a multicultural attitude so you’ll be prepared to compete for international positions a little later in your career with the firm.
Developing a multicultural attitude
Many colleges have begun to internationalize their curricula, offering courses on such topics as European and non-European traditions, international competitive advantage and technical change, cross-cultural issues for international management, world economic problems, and other relevant topics. These types of courses should be your electives. Broad reading of what’s happening on the international economic front is also important. Fluency in another language is always a plus, but is a requirement only for a small percentage of international positions among American companies.
No matter what type of career you’re seeking—international or domestic—you’re likely to find that employers look for some type of experience in their job candidates. You can help your case by participating in one or more internships—locally or overseas—that will let you demonstrate the skills demanded by the type of position you seek. Travel or study abroad would be another plus.
First steps
If you’re committed to pursuing international employment, you’ll have a better chance of attaining that goal by first securing a domestic position with an organization that conducts international business. From that vantage point, and after a period of employment “proving” your capability for advancement, you can then go for the international position you want from within. If you’re prone to taking risks, you might also consider firms that have just recently entered the international marketplace; these tend to be smaller, entrepreneurial businesses. Such businesses are more likely to “put you on a plane” early in your career than are their better-established counterparts. Keep in mind, however, that such organizations don’t have the same footing in the international arena as do firms that have a well-staked out part of the global marketplace.
Remember that, no matter what type of career you’re seeking—a domestic one, a U.S.-based international one, or one located in Caracas, Dublin, Nairobi, or Moscow, there are basic elements to the job-search process. You need to:
- Start your job search early in your college career.
- Participate in experiential education programs—internships, co-ops, and other experience-building programs.
- Research firms with international interests.
- Stay involved in the process; don’t give up.