Posts Tagged ‘Working’

Making It Real

I went overseas mid-career, which I recommend. My combination of significant experience to date, in-depth knowledge of my company, and a level of sophistication that only comes with age all made it much easier for me to figure things out. Whether I was trying to determine how to negotiate the best deal for my company, how to evade the numerous shots of vodka at regular banquets I attended, how to buy anything in the Russian version of a grocery store, or navigate the Moscow subway system, I felt much better prepared. —Pamela, Westinghouse (more…)

As a professional in middle management, you probably have between eight and fifteen years of experience depending on your industry, your academic background, and your on-the-job training. More likely than not, you have achieved a certain degree of status or standing within your company and are looking for a way to distinguish yourself from your peers as the upstream channel grows increasingly narrow. (more…)

Making It Real

Right out of school, I worked in Africa for almost five years, gaining a lot of experience and building up my selfconfidence. When I returned to the United States and began my job hunt, I found that people did not know how to react to a confident twenty-seven-year-old with extensive international work experience. Some assumed I had exaggerated my role. (more…)

The other way to pursue an international career is to move yourself. Many “global souls” we know finished school, worked a little, and then took off to see the world with the intention of getting the “travel bug” out of their system before returning to a corporate career. Some did just that, but others settled in one place, established themselves, and were taken in by multinationals as local hires. Most of the time, companies will help you get the necessary paperwork to work for them, especially since you will be a less expensive “local hire.” This can be a great way to complement your academic work with real on-the-ground experience in a foreign country. (more…)

While you’re still in college, study abroad for at least one semester. Although studying outside your home country is different from working, it will help you find out if you actually like living abroad. You will learn how to buy food, use public transportation, set up personal systems such as phone and computer connections, and deal with local bureaucracies. Many people get hooked on working internationally after studying abroad. (more…)