How the International Business Major Prepares You for the Job Market
The business major is one of the most widely-accepted and applicable majors available. Every industry, from health care to non-profits, has a business aspect that demands attention. For this reason, business students are highly likely to find employment in a variety of fields. This may account for the popularity of the business degree. In 2006-2007, approximately 21 percent of the 1,524,000 degrees conferred were given in the field of business, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. International business majors in particular focus on working with businesses on a global scale. As the world shrinks, thanks to major advancements in communication and e-commerce technology, more companies will look for employees who can successfully coordinate worldwide business activities. To prepare for a future working with both large and small businesses in and out of the country, international business majors take courses in comparative economics, international relations, global marketing, and other topics related to how to best handle the many aspects of a multinational corporation. This educational preparation gives international business majors a head start towards a rewarding career, as graduates will possess the knowledge needed in the field.
Best Career Paths for International Business Majors
As technology eliminates former boundaries and pitfalls such as distance, language barriers, and time zone differences, international business is becoming more normal for companies everywhere, making those with an international business degree valuable to any company team. The best career paths for international business majors to take are:
- Administration. Administrators ensure that any part of a company runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible. They are responsible for motivating and organizing other employees, as well as planning future business strategies and overseeing other duties such as resolving customer or employee disputes. Administrators make an average salary of $77,040 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Financial Management. Financial managers who specialize in international finance work with multinational companies to streamline their financial and accounting systems. They coordinate the expenditures and savings made by a company to other companies around the world. Financial managers make an average salary of $90,970 annually, according to the Bureau.
Both of these positions utilize the business skills and industry knowledge that international business majors possess.
How to Market Your International Business Degree
Earning an international business degree is an important step towards starting your career. However, you will also need to know how to market your degree to potential employers in order to prove that your education makes you an excellent candidate for the position. To do this, be specific about the skills you learned in class. For example, mention that your degree program helped you learn how to best run a company with different foreign investors. Be sure to mention the challenging projects you tackled and how those projects helped you hone your skills in the field. Reassuring employers and clients that your educational background helped you develop real-world skills is the most effective way of marketing your international business degree.
