Business Jobs Abroad

As important as your education and professional internships or experience at home has been, simply put: you cannot get the kind of inter-cultural communication and work experience needed in the business world of today without working abroad. The opportunity to get to know another country and culture while improving your personal and professional skills is an opportunity that should truly not be passed up. The benefits of work experience abroad are exponentially greater than getting another business job at home!

Individuals seeking an international career in business administration and management are fortunate in that they have a wealth of job opportunities to choose from around the globe. The world of big (and small) businesses is constantly evolving and growing, making it quite easy for job-seekers to find the perfect position for them abroad. Highlighted below are just a select few of the most major business cities in the world; however, applicants are encouraged to expand their search based on their individual interests and purpose for working abroad.

Israel. Quickly making a name for itself as one of the largest startup business hubs and economic markets in the world, individuals looking to get into popular and emerging companies at the ground level should look toward this Middle Eastern nation. Those who decide to work abroad in Israel in the business world will have the advantage of working side by side with some of the biggest names in tech.

China. The logical pick for anything remotely related to business, this giant world leader is (and has been) the definitive frontrunner for business around the world. More and more companies are outsourcing resources and business jobs to China, and the number of local organizations and businesses is growing too. Despite a somewhat intimidating language barrier, China proves time and time again to be the place to be in the business world. If you have work experience in China, your chances of winning a business job anywhere else in the world are exponentially higher.

United States seems like a very obvious option. With locations like the Silicon Valley, New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco, the list of exceptional places to work in business in the U.S. goes on and on. Home to the headquarters of a staggering number of Fortune 500 companies, nearly 27 million people work for corporate giants, such as Target, 3M, Apple, Google, General Electric, and more, in the United States.

International business jobs abroad can vary greatly depending on the sub-field, responsibilities, size, and goal of the company, as well as your expertise and interests. In a field as expansive and nebulous as business, it is important to always keep in mind what you want to get out of each job you have. Business graduates are fortunate to be in a field where opportunities are bountiful, and more and more companies sprout up every single day. Knowing this, and not feeling pressure to be forced into an area or a professional decision, gives you great flexibility with your selection of international business jobs abroad. The most important thing to do is find a job abroad that can make you happy, as well as successful, and play to your strong suits.

For those individuals with natural management skills, a position in team leadership might be the best fit. Leadership-focused international business jobs will allow you to gain control of a team and work with them, directly overseeing and guiding their progress. One of the most important qualities employers look for in a new hire is potential leadership abilities, and experience working abroad in business administration and management will go a long way on your resume and in your future career.

For those individuals who prefer to be more of a team player, and less in the spotlight, general business jobs are a popular route, allowing you to do everything from assisting team leads to working in smaller groups on specific projects.

Individuals with “lone-wolf” mentalities might look elsewhere, as most international business jobs abroad require lots of group and teamwork; not to mention, you most likely will not get hired unless you show positive teamwork experience!

Another very popular form of international job in business is company budgeting. Tracking, reviewing, and projecting budgets is an essential element to any administrator or managers success, and good, instinctive decision making skills in budgeting will lead to valuable payoffs.

Starting salaries can vary greatly depending on the size of the company, specific job details, and level of management; but, most individuals near the beginning of their careers will find very healthy salary and benefit packages. Salaries will also vary greatly depending on location of your international business job abroad, and the local cost of living. A business job with a company in New York City will pay more money than the same job in Minnesota, for example; it is simple economics. It is, however, important to keep this mind as you refine your search, and begin to lay out specific benefits that are most important to you.

Leadership. One of the most important qualities employers look for in the business realm is leadership experience and abilities. A successful track record of leadership experience at the international level will positively impact your future job prospects by significantly increasing your chances of further employment. Aside from the long-term professional benefits of international business jobs abroad, the skills you gain abroad will be crucial for achieving related attributes that will develop your work ethic, critical thinking, and confidence.

Communication. Another element crucial to successful teamwork is strong communication skills. Working abroad with members of several different cultures and communities will teach you invaluable communications skills in situations that you otherwise might not be exposed to. You will find yourself constantly referencing experiences and scenarios from when you were working abroad after you return home, emphasizing the opportunities that good communication came in handy.

Personal Development. This is especially important for individuals seeking employment right after graduation. Business school is great for making connections and learning all the fundamental technical skills you need to have a successful career, but one thing that many business departments lack is the actual opportunity to work and mature as an employee in the workforce. Something as important as business maturity in the workplace, and personal development, can only be gained from practical experience, and working abroad will only heighten those areas for you at a faster rate.

Networking. Okay we get it, it’s important to meet people, but just think about this: you went to one college, in one state, and enrolled in a business program provided by one department. Already your opportunities for networking has been extremely limited. Let’s even be generous and say you had a business internship in another city; this would have expanded your circle twofold. Now zoom out, and realize that all of this is still taking place in one country; a single country in a world filled with more than 200 countries. Now how big is your networking circle, really? Often overlooked, one of the simplest, yet most fundamental aspects of business is who you know. International business jobs abroad can be your foot in the door, as these positions will inevitably help expand your circle, and your subsequent job opportunities.