• There are many paths to take when settling on an international business career.globe # 4 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
  
  Landing a career in international business requires a clear plan of action and set of goals. Considerations include issues such as visa restrictions, salary offered in relation to the exchange rate and cost of living, housing, and benefits. Once you have decided on a plan of action, you'll need to decide how you'll want to enter the international business world, whether it isthrough domestic companies with foreign holdings, working for a foreign company, or applying yourself to international development, education, or government work.
  
  

Domestic Corporations

• One of the quickest ways to get into the international business world is by landing a job with a company that has foreign interests or holdings. Business functions might include sales, marketing, logistics, or research and development. You'll need some basic skills and traits such as speaking a foreign language, willingness to travel or relocate, and an understanding of foreign trade. If you are just starting out, more than likely you will need to spend time learning the company, the industry, and the foreign markets before entering the field overseas.
  
  

Foreign Corporations

• Foreign corporations will, at times, recruit workers from overseas. Your specialty will depend on how much competition you will encounter. Engineers, for instance, who also are skilled in sales and marketing, would be in demand for tech companies. Fluency in the language is important and, before interviewing and eventually accepting an offer, you'll need to gain an understanding of the culture, the foreign market, and the living environment. Jobs in foreign businesses could be found in such areas as accounting and finance, human services, marketing and sales, planning and strategy, and business development.
  
  

International Non-Profits

• You can translate your business skills and acumen into a career in the international world of non-profit organizations. Non-profits with international reach need business people in administration, finance, sales, and development. Additional areas include journalism, research, and law. Examples of organizations reaching around the world include such well-known names as the World Wildlife Fund, Amnesty International, the Population Institute, and World Affairs Councils. Most international non-profits have domestic offices in the US and you might get your start there before seeking a position overseas. Traditionally, non-profit organizations pay less than their for-profit counterparts but the work is often satisfying, especially to those who want to make a difference in the world.