Plan an International Career

4 Parts:

How to Plan an International Career

Portable Career Areas

Tips Tricks & Warnings

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You should be aware of some ways in which international career paths differ from those in the United States. As Americans use different job titles, along with descriptions that correspond to certain levels of responsibilities, so do employers in other countries. But the job titles in other countries do not always correspond to the job descriptions and responsibilities you might expect. When speaking to the French about different levels of jobs, for example, you will frequently hear them describe each level as a stage.

Job titles are an important factor to research carefully if you are planning an international career path, because you may be surprised to find yourself involved in a job abroad that requires more qualifications than that same job in the the United States or the other way around. There is also sometimes different prestige given to certain jobs in different countries. Although a service (front-of-the-house) position is not considered the ultimate goal for most U.S. food service professionals, a service position in Europe usually carries with it a good amount of prestige.

The United States is one of the few countries in the world in which professionals frequently move from job to job and company to company. In most other countries, professionals stay with the same employer for a relatively long period, and someone's career is not considered to be stagnant if he or she is in the same position for many years.

1. 1
   Find out what categories of work exist in different companies.

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2. 2
   Find out where the jobs are.

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3. 3
   Focus on researching current economic trends.

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4. 4
   Know different approaches used to compensate people in each country.

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5. 5
   Find out how long it takes to move from one position to another.

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6. 6
   Starting your own business may require a very different set of requirements than in the United States.

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7. 7
   Determine how long you plan to stay; your length of stay may affect the job you are eligible to receive.

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Portable careers can be developed as a result of having expertise in a particular discipline. For example, consulting, teaching, writing, or owning and operating your own business are possible in almost any field. Usually these career paths can be pursued after you have attained a high level of professional experience in your particular field.

If you are considering to work abroad the portable career can move with you wherever you go. For professionals who relocate frequently because of their own initiative or because a spouse has been transferred to a new job in a new country, it is wise to develop a portable career.

1. 1
   Office Administration

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   Multilingual secretaries with knowledge of the latest electronic office systems have a good chance of finding work almost anywhere in the world.

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2. 2
   Computer Systems

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   Businesses worldwide use automated systems and need specialists who can write computer programs and teach employees how to use the latest equipment.

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3. 3
   Training seminars

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   If you have a specialty area in which you are very knowledgeable or have considerable experience, training in business and industry can be applied in many different settings.

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4. 4
   Teach English

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   For those with the proper certification, many jobs are usually available in language schools or corporations to teach English throughout the world.

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5. 5
   Sales Representative

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   Selling products or services for an American company operating abroad or a firm based in another country can be an excellent career in any country, if you have an inclination toward sales and learning about new products and customers.

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6. 6
   Entrepreneur

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   Create your own product or business and try your hand at being an independent businessperson in whatever country you find yourself in.

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7. 7
   Interpreter

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   When you are fluent in more than one language and have a great capacity for listening and for articulating concepts clearly, you may be a successful interpreter in social, business, or educational settings.

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8. 8
   Chef

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   If food service is your profession, you can take your culinary expertise with you anywhere in the world and find a restaurant, hotel, resort, or other place in which to flaunt your talent.

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9. 9
   Hotel Manager

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   Major hotels operate in large cities around the world, and thus opportunities for experienced managers exist worldwide.

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• The greater your professional versatility, the greater chance you have of moving through different workplace environments successfully.
• It is important to decide on a specific focus within your career.
• When considering an international career, you should determine the reason you want this experience.
• Experience with other countries and their cultures can be professionally and personally rewarding because it broadens your perspective of the world.
• Having a targeted career goal will help you remain motivated to make effective decisions about what experiences you need to obtain the position you want.
• You will find opportunities abroad with companies that are based in America and companies based within each individual country.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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