What Do You Need on the Global Job Market?
We are living in what some sociologists have called the global village because there is greater communication between nations and more people who travel abroad. In this context it is small wonder that an increasing number of businesses have now taken their services onto the international market. This makes if more likely for people to be able to get a job abroad in their specialist area, providing they have had some training on how to conduct themselves in the international market place. If you apply for a job as a training specialist then you will be expected not only to train staff but to assess their training needs. Most companies will expect a trainer to be focused on things like developing employee's existing skills and organizing training courses that are designed to foster company loyalty – especially relevant when training in an international context.
Some engineering or research companies may be looking for training specialists in that particular field, as well as someone with qualifications and experience in international business. If a company, a bank for example, moves its operations abroad and plans to use mostly local staff, then speaking the language of that country would be an advantage, as would a qualification in teaching English as a second language. The world of international business and international training is varied and welcoming to someone with the right attitude and qualifications.
If you are keen on foreign travel and learning about how other people live, then you might want to get a job in international business. As the number of multi-national companies such as Gillette and Federal Express grow, so does the requirement for more people who want to be involved in international business. Once you have an interest then it is a good idea to pursue a qualification in international business studies. You can earn an associate's degree in this area, which differs from a bachelor's degree since it is only of two years duration. Such a course would give you an understanding of different cultures and how international business is undertaken; your course might also include career preparation training.
What type of subjects you study in an international business degree would depend on whether you wanted training in a particular type of job, or whether you wanted to train others in the complexities of international business. International business training will usually encompass the function and operation of any businesses that operates in a number of different countries, which is why some businesses are referred to as multi-nationals. Some companies may also require you to have either significant experience or a sound qualification in human resources management.
Qualities for International Business
Business is always affected by external factors, such as the social, political and economic factors of a given country. If you want to be eligible for training jobs in international business then you would require at least some knowledge of the politics, wealth and culture of other countries. Working on an international basis requires someone with a certain sensitivity, in some countries if you say the wrong thing about the government or prominent individuals you could find yourself in the middle of an international incident.
If you already have the qualifications and have worked in international business and understand the issues that affect people working in a country other than their own, then you might want to consider a career as a training manager. Companies that are in the process of a merger with a foreign company or who plan to take at least a part of their business abroad will be looking for someone to pass on their knowledge to existing staff. A training manager can be a vital resource to a company that is in transition.
International Training as a Career Path
If you have taken an associate's degree in international business and have significant experience in training in the field then it is worth applying to one of the multi-nationals if you want to go further. When a company has branches in several countries then they may need a training director who can oversee other training colleagues in the various locations.
International training jobs can be quite well paid, around $40,000 rising incrementally. Some companies may also provide employees working abroad with accommodation and transport on top of their salaries. Though the qualifications and requirements might be quite demanding, remuneration would be high. International training and business is a very wide field, and even with the current international financial crisis, with the right qualifications and experience the training world is your oyster.
