Build an International Employment Profile: International Careers and Jobs C. Randall Powell, Ph.D. Indiana University Kelley School of Business

International careers don’t just happen They are carefully planned and built up over a period of time Gain international internship experience before considering work abroad The key to gaining international experience is to dive into all things international Build up a host of international experiences before you are ready to start applying for professional international jobs. And the great thing about building these experiences is that you can have a blast doing it!

Getting Started International careers are built on experience in various areas. Preparation, preparation, preparation will improve your odds of getting a full-time, professional international job after you graduate.

Academic Studies An MA is a prerequisite for most international positions social sciences, pure sciences, and business less important in health careers, engineering, and computer science A BA in any field with outside electives broadens your skills inventory Include language skills with all types of disciplines Other academic experience is important Attend or help organize a conference; participate in a professor-led research project; work as a teaching assistant; participate in academic competitions; become a tutor; actively seek to work on team projects and preferably team up with foreign students.

Networking and Cross- Cultural Experience Network with at least three international experts in your field of interest. For example, write essays that require you to speak directly to someone working internationally in your field of interest. Guide foreigners who are new to your country. act as a tour guide for visiting professors; assist with foreign student orientation; or teach English as a second language. Befriend foreign students on your campus. Join foreign student social circles on campus; visit with them in their homes; become familiar with their food and social behavior; try to pay a visit to them and their families in their home country; actively participate in foreign student associations. Become socially active and knowledgeable in a culture other than your own. ethnic social clubs; become knowledgeable in one or more fields of ethnic music; focus on the writing or history from one region or country; learn ethnic cooking;

Overseas Experience Work internationally for 2–6 months. intern or volunteer, preferably in your field of expertise. Try for two professional internships Study abroad for one or more semesters Study abroad in your field and learn a new language. Travel for 2–6 months. Do not underestimate the value of backpacking for six months. Interact closely with people from other countries in order to learn the skills required by international employers. Add onto your experience with a short trip. Be creative. Extend the value of all your international travel by combining two or more objectives while abroad. For example, take four months off and study Spanish full-time in Guatemala while living with a local family and having a full-time one-on-one instructor for less then the cost of going to school

Hard Skills Proficiency in a new language Be able to speak and read another language Be an active listener and learn to pick up at least 20 or 30 words in any country you visit, however briefly. Economic and geographic knowledge of the world Gain a solid knowledge of the political and social forces shaping the planet. Writing and analytical skills Demonstrate these skills outside of course work by participating in a research project or writing for a web site. Computer skills Business skills business backgrounds that include strong people skills. such as strategic planning, financial management, and systems analysis. Other management skills These include project management, accounting, training, research, report writing, evaluating.

Soft Skills Organizing, people, and leadership skills. Demonstrate these through work and volunteer experience, preferably with an international group, organizing an event, or as an executive member of a committee. Intercultural communications abilities. Demonstrate these by being conversant in describing patterns of behavior in cross-cultural work and social environments. Learn to professionally describe these real-life experiences. Coping and adapting abilities. Demonstrate these with examples of how you coped when living away from your support structure of family and friends.

International Job Hunting Skills Essentials for finding international work. Experience has shown that those who are successful at finding international work have all done something extraordinary to land their first job. They have gone out on a limb, acted boldly (but politely), have been entrepreneurial, have sacrificed certainty and taken risks to gain international experience and land that first job. International employers are looking for individuals who are fully committed to international work and living, and your job-hunting methods should reflect this.

Make the Commitment International jobs require a long- term commitment you need to invest in yourself to build an international IQ. this becomes a lifestyle, an outlook on life, a commitment to internationalism and cross-cultural learning. Go forth and have fun with the exploration!

Managing Expectations Finding overseas or more broadly- defined international employment can be a long and exacting, sometimes frustrating but also extremely rewarding process.. When starting your search, it is important to understand both the possibilities and limitations before you.

Understanding the process Many organizations do not hire students straight out of college for positions abroad; such employment is typically reserved for employees with considerable experience in the profession. many firms start initial hires in domestic offices, offering the possibility of working into a position overseas. Some companies are increasingly less willing to hire expatriates for their overseas offices, looking instead to the local employee pool. This is largely due to cost/expense issues involved.

Don’t give up research and target firms in your job search that do a great deal of work internationally and/or have overseas offices, knowing that you will need to work your way to overseas employment or work internationally from a domestic base. Your Resume resume and cover letter are key to your job search. make sure you understand the necessary formalities, style, language and format particular to the firm, field, and country. Do not apply for a position until you know how to tailor your resume to the position. Internship or volunteer opportunities If you have the flexibility, consider a short-term position overseas during the summer, a long break, a semester, or following graduation. Making the process work

Other venues to consider Your first jobs abroad need not be career-focused in any narrow sense. If you have the time and inclination, “low-level” jobs such as: apple picking in Spain or bartending at a Greek resort can open the door to “traveling with a purpose.” these positions can earn you valuable experience living, working and navigating abroad.

Finally Securing full-time, permanent overseas placement through an online jobs site can be difficult and time consuming. Patience is required!

Resources Sources: 1. The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas (Univ. of Toronto, 4th ed., 2004) at