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Leveraging International Experience to Launch a Global Career

Posted by Stacie Nevadomski Berdan on Thursday, January 28th, 2010

The world economy is in flux but emerging economies continue to drive significant growth for global enterprises. Global companies recognize that their best chances for success lie with recruiting managerial talent with international experience – it’s the big resume differentiator.

For students who have studied abroad, this is good news, especially considering the contracting U.S. job market. However, many students with who have lived abroad don’t understand how to package this experience in a way that’s appealing to prospective global employers.

And what do companies value most in the study abroad experience? Based on my conversations with many large, multi-national companies, the general attraction stems from the inherent curiosity in these global-minded citizens. For some industries or companies, the benefit ends there as they need global thinkers not employees willing to go overseas.

For those global companies for which an international experience is a true hiring differentiator, however, the payoff can be huge. The vast majority of professionals I interviewed on this topic agreed that if two applicants have essentially the same resume credentials, they would choose the one who studied abroad or possessed other international experience. The following attributes were cited:

Enhanced cross-cultural awareness critical to diverse, global teams
Ability to bring global thinking skills to bear on problems across the board
Multiple language skills, especially for non-American students who go abroad to English-speaking campuses
Predisposition to and experience with global mobility

But would-be employees shouldn’t expect these companies just to tick the box of international experience and move on. Generally, this overseas experience opens up a whole line of questioning during the interview process – questions that, depending on the answers, will impact the interview. For example, companies want to know what the student did, learned and how he or she can bring that international experience to bear on the job. Was the experience a rigorous one with a full academic load on campus – or was it primarily just for fun with a light course load? Were classes in the local language; was an internship part of the term? Variations provide insight to a prospective employer.

Where a student studies increasingly matters to prospective employers. Branching out beyond the typical Western European countries into China, Brazil, Russia or India signals an enhanced awareness of growing global economies – and a direct link to the places most companies are expanding and growing within. These non-traditional destinations often offer more challenging situations intensifying the learning curve. Moreover, opportunities for employment in the U.S., UK or South Africa working for a Brazilian, Indian or Chinese company are on the rise.

Students can use not only study abroad experience, but also second or third language fluency, internships abroad and international business classes and personal interest can make a difference. I have found, however, that many such students don’t know how to package these skills, how to apply them to current global business trends, or know where to start if they simply want to take a chance and move to another country to look for a job.

Both students and their career counselors, therefore, must make a concerted effort to learn how to adequately enter today’s increasingly global job market – or bring in the experts. In the workshops I conduct on campuses, I provide practical advice that students can follow right away. Here are a few tips to consider:

1. Make sure that an international career is right for you. Understand the skills needed, learn about the challenges of working cross-culturally, and use the appropriate tools to search for international jobs.

2. Develop a strategy after you have done extensive research by gathering intelligence, networking with as many people as you know and who know someone, and targeting relevant markets, industries and companies.

3. Package your experience as appropriate for each market, industry and company. Learn how to incorporate international experience and interests into resumes, cover letters and interview preparation, making your points relevant to the organization. Study or brush up on foreign language skills.

4. Consider working for the U.S. Government, if you’re American, which estimates it will higher more than 200,000 graduating students in the next two years in areas such as FAA, border patrol and CIA.

5. Manage your expectations. Companies may not send you abroad as a transfer with a big package. They might offer you a position as a local hire with wages commensurate with the local economy and living conditions. Whether you choose to accept or decline, do your research and determine the pros and cons.

6. Consider moving to another country without securing a job. Only consider doing so after you’ve done extensive research on the economy, job market, taxes, work visas and more. Make sure you have at least six months of living expenses in case you do not get a job immediately. Network like crazy before and after you land. Appreciate the risks you are taking, the potential rewards and manage expectations accordingly.

Today’s leading organizations value international experience and, after a few years in another country, you could return to the U.S. with enhanced and differentiated business skills to catapult you further and faster.

Stacie Nevadomski Berdan is a consultant who specializes in international careers and co-author of the award-winning Get Ahead By Going Abroad: A Woman’s Guide to Fast-Track Career Success.