Home

International Business Degree Career Options

Read about the many career options available with a degree in international business.

International Business Home | Resource Center Home | Find International Business Schools

man with business degree in international relations

International business is an exciting arena, and a business degree in international relations or a similar degree will open doors to global career opportunities.

But with so many options, how do you start? Understanding some of the most popular career paths in international business may help you find your way. Here are some ideas that you may not have considered.

get an international business degree

International Networking on the Internet

The Internet is a great resource for international business jobs, letting you begin networking before you leave the country. Some booming economies, such as the growing city of Dubai, recruit business students and other workers online, and often first interviews are conducted by phone or email. Qualified candidates for jobs in real estate, construction, trade, oil and natural gas, and import/export are all in demand.

Expatriate Assignments

Many large corporations have overseas offices and often employ a staff that is comprised of both local and expatriate workers. In decades past, an assignment in India or China meant the worker would take their whole family with them, but budgets often don't allow for that now, and many international workers are either spending time apart from their families, or those people that apply for these jobs don't have families. This is an important consideration to make when applying for positions overseas. Some companies will find a job of some sort for your partner or spouse. If they are able to find work in the foreign city in which you work, an international posting may work for you.

Starting Your Own Company Abroad

Many people finish international business school with the ambition of starting their own company overseas. There are opportunities, if you conduct proper due diligence research on market trends, taxes and tariffs, business practices and risk, so this might be a fascinating and lucrative way to go. For example, a recent international business graduate might plan on exporting beer to India, which has a growing youth culture and business entertainment sector, but find out that it would be more economically feasible to actually set up a beer brand in an existing brewery in India, which would save fuel costs, tariffs and taxes and employ fewer workers.

find an international business school

Public Sector Jobs

There are many jobs held by civilians in the public sector and government, such as the aerospace industry, in embassies, education, administration, information technology and health care. Many of these jobs require some sort of security clearance, and as a contractor or civil worker, you may be required to follow certain government practices or regulations. Other government jobs may be in the trade arena, such as international trade specialist, international economist and import compliance specialist.

Short-term International Jobs

A cultural advisor works with international business people, usually as a contractor, in specific areas of business such as technology, management, international trade, banking, law, media and education. These types of consulting jobs can be short- or long-term, and you may be hired by a specific firm in the United States and travel abroad, or you may want to find a position overseas first. The Internet is a great resource for these jobs, letting you begin networking before you leave the country.

Other people may want to have a unique travel experience abroad to gain experience and language skills. If you want to work for a few months, you might find a position teaching English, as an intern in an international law firm or business, as a tour guide, or in a hotel or restaurant. These jobs will give you experience and an opportunity to learn a new culture and language, and think about your next step in pursuing an exciting international business career.

Bookmark and Share

get an international business degree

Sources: international-business-careers.com; transitionsabroad.com

International Business Home | Resource Center Home | Find International Business Schools