Jobs in International Business

As an International Business professor I have the opportunity to talk to hundreds of students with grandiose travel plans; most after they finish their degree and some through studying abroad. I commend these students as there is no textbook that can accurately teach the lessons learned while traveling abroad (for work or pleasure). I would even recommend taking out a loan to get the opportunity to study abroad as long as specific goals are set beforehand…but we will get to these in another blog.

I often ask my students what type of job they want after they graduate. The most frequent answer is “You know professor, a job in International Business.” This may even have been the answer that I gave my academic advisor when I was asked the same question (a long time ago). The problem is that International Business is a concept, not a profession. You do not graduate with a IB degree and have a job title called “International Business Expert” – although that would be a great job. So what types of jobs exist that allow you to travel?

The positions that I encounter the most often while traveling abroad include:
· Sales, sales, and more sales – mostly in B2B
· Project Manager – especially for oil and gas companies
· International Marketing Specialist
· Market Researchers
· Government and Nonprofit Organizations

Other related positions that could (or occasionally) travel:
· Accountants
· Consultants
· Store Managers
· Hospitality Industry Managers
· Investment Bankers
· Manager Trainees
· Political Risk Analysts
· HR Managers
· Public Relations Specialists
· Purchasing Agents
· Education
· Lawyers
· Production Engineers
· Finance Specialists
· Production Planners
· Logistics Experts

How do you find out about job opportunities? You can order our resource manual at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/2321 (shameless plug). Or you can search these websites:
http://www.jobsoverseas.com/
http://www.4icj.com/
http://www.amanet.org/index.htm

Let me also add that international travel is not as glamorous as the concept. Vacationing abroad is one thing, but getting off a 14 hour flight, hoping into a taxi, sitting in traffic for an hour, delivering a presentation to prospective clients, then going out with prospective clients for a karaoke marathon session is another! Those who frequently travel to conduct international business do not usually have a lot of time to sight-see.

For more resources on living/traveling/studying abroad, download our Resource Manual for International Business at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/2321 (another shameless plug).