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What Can I Do With a Masters in International Business

Do you want to learn about the latest findings list of international business jobs? Get ready! Find out all the information you need right here on Collegelearners so you don’t have to go looking again. Find all the specifics you need, such as MSc international business job opportunities, MSc international business management jobs in India to jobs for international business graduates

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There are several advanced degree programs available for graduate students interested in pursuing a career in international business, so it’s helpful to understand the finely nuanced differences between the degree types.

The basic difference between the master’s degree in international business (the Master in International Management, or MIM) and an MBA is that the master’s degree in international business programs are highly specialized and will allow you to focus almost exclusively on issues related to international business, while an MBA offers a skill set that can be transferred to other areas of business.

The 5 most affordable Masters in International Business

Master’s In International Business

The Master in International Management (MIM) places an emphasis on management with a cross-cultural perspective, and includes language and culture classes. The master’s degree in international business also includes language and culture curriculum, but the emphasis is on international business practices.

MBA in International Business

In contrast, an international business MBA program will help you develop a general set of management skills in addition to specific multinational knowledge. There are advantages to each: a master’s program will enable you to delve into international issues in greater depth; an MBA program will allow you to develop a set of skills that can be transferred to other areas. While both a master’s degree and an MBA will prepare you to hold international business management positions, an MBA may also qualify you to hold management positions in other fields, should you become interested in a different career.

MBA programs in international business focus mainly on topics like international governmental policies, international financial services, cross-cultural management, unique customs and attitudes, and other factors that affect multinational operations management.

What You Can Do With a Master’s in International Business

With a master’s degree in international business, you will be prepared for a number of career options, both overseas and in the U.S. The following are just some of the possible positions you can have with an MIM or MBA in international business:

  • International Marketing Director
  • Financial Controller
  • Multinational Manager
  • Business Development Director
  • International Trade and Customs Manager
  • International Foreign Policy Advisor

Featured Master’s Programs

SchoolProgram
University of DelawareMS in International Business (Online)

Business in today’s digitally connected world is increasingly global and many international business graduates work in a variety of sectors. Find out where the degree could take you

International Business Degree Worth It

Job Options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

  • Arbitrator
  • Business development manager
  • Data scientist
  • External auditor
  • Financial trader
  • Human resources officer
  • Marketing executive
  • Public relations account executive
  • Sales executive
  • Supply chain manager

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

  • Compliance officer
  • Costs lawyer
  • Digital marketer
  • Financial manager
  • Management consultant
  • Media planner
  • Public affairs consultant
  • Recruitment consultant

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don’t restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work Experience

A degree in international business prepares you for a global, culturally diverse career, with opportunities spanning sectors and industries. Employers typically expect graduates to have experience of working in a business environment so it’s a good idea to undertake some relevant experience before you graduate.

If you’re looking to specialise in international business or hope to join a global company, it’s advisable to show a clear interest in different cultures. Volunteering and even travelling abroad will help you to demonstrate this, as will an ability to speak a foreign language.

However, remember that international business does not always require you to be based abroad, with most ecommerce and digital businesses having an international client base.

Undertaking a sandwich year abroad or teaching English as a second language will help you stand out to global employers.

MLitt International Business

Learn about business management on a global scale and how you can make your mark. Register your interestVisit

Typical Employers

International business graduates often join employers in sectors closely related to the subject, such as marketing, HR, finance and sales.

Common employers include:

  • banks
  • management consultancies
  • recruitment agencies
  • technology companies.

Global and international employers are often, but certainly not always, based in large cities, with London offering the largest number of international graduate vacancies.

International companies typically have standalone early careers websites and it is worth following the ones of interest to you via their social media accounts (specifically Twitter and LinkedIn).

Employers Hiring International Business Graduates Now

Marketing Executive my hr toolkit Sheffield £17,001-£19,500 Communications & Marketing TPP Leeds Over £37,001 Communications & Marketing (Mandarin Speaker)TPP Leeds Over £37,001.

Skills For Your CV

As well as introducing you to business in different countries and cultures, a degree in international business provides you with a range of in-demand skills, such as:

  • appreciation of cultural differences
  • communicating with different audiences
  • critical thinking
  • planning and management
  • problem-solving
  • research and analysis
  • teamwork.

Many international business courses encourage international study or work experience so you may also be able to demonstrate transferable skills such as learning a new language, flexibility, cultural awareness and curiosity.

What you can do with a master's degree in international business

Further Study

Some international business graduates choose to study a Master of Business Administration (MBA), though work experience is typically expected before starting one of these programmes.

Studying or training abroad is a popular choice for international business graduates as it provides additional exposure to different countries and cultures. You may choose to study a specific field within business, particularly for specialist fields such as innovation or digital marketing.

Employers often state their preferred professional qualification so it’s worth researching this. Examples of related professional qualifications include:

  • HR – Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
  • Management – Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
  • Marketing – Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)

What Do International Business Graduates Do

Half of those who are employed are working in business, HR, finance, marketing, PR or sales six months after graduation, with marketing executive being the most popular job role.

Many graduates choose to pursue further study. A relatively high proportion (9.9%) of international business graduates are managers.

DestinationsPercentage
Employed71
Further study13.2
Working and studying3.7
Unemployed5.2
Other6.8

Graduate destinations for international business

Type of workPercentage
Business, HR and financial27.3
Marketing, PR and sales23.7
Retail, catering and bar work11.9
Managers9.9
Other27.2

Types of work entered into in the UK

What Can I Become with a Master's in International Business? -  MastersPortal.com

What Careers Can You Go Into With an International Business Degree

Wondering whether an international business degree can help you advance in your career? The reality is that in today’s intensely competitive business landscape, a master’s degree with a global view can give any aspiring business leader a critical inside edge.

Like learning a new language, taking an international business degree provides the key to unlocking whole new worlds. It gives you the tools to adapt and excel in changing markets and to connect at the top level with professionals across the field. And these tools and skills can be applied across a wide range of potential careers and business opportunities.

Here’s a closer look at seven examples of fields where an international business degree can help you level up, along with one program primed to position you for success. 

1. Accounting and Finance

Some people are drawn towards the business world by numbers. Accounting and finance roles are a challenging way to scratch that itch. Working as a financial analyst, it will be your responsibility to track, analyze, and review business accounts and balance them against the broader economic outlook. You will advise company directors and investors on matters of tax, shares, and the daily financial running of the business. And you may be involved closely with mergers, acquisitions, and other major financial events that are critical to the survival and success of your company.

Accounting and finance is an area of high responsibility that requires meticulous attention to detail and a strong ethical backbone. Those who are up for the challenge can lay the foundations with a master’s degree and then fine-tune their skills and understanding with further courses as they work (perhaps helped by further, more specialized in-work qualifications, which can be paid for by employers).

2. Supply Chain Management

Working at the operations end of the business is an exciting alternative to finance-oriented roles. It is a fast-developing area of business due to rapidly diversifying methods of inventory and distribution. As such, companies are keen to fill available roles with bright, engaged graduates who will bring imagination and a fresh sense of strategy to the position.

A business can thrive or fail on its ability to source and co-operate with reliable vendors across a range of markets and territories. Timing, storage variables, and stock-flow are critical to keeping a business’ overheads manageable. You will need to ensure that customers, clients, and the factory floor are never left wanting for whatever it is your job to supply.

3. Retail and Sales

Business graduates with a keen sense of customer service and the shifting preferences and desires of the buying public may find their natural home in a leadership position in retail and sales. At a shop, in an office, or on the road, sales leaders must listen, research, and analyze their market.

You will need to hold together multiple strings — supply chain, marketing, location management, customer service – to keep those all-important sales happening and seek out areas for streamlining or expansion.

4. Media and Communications

Entertainment isn’t what it used to be! The way we listen to music, read the news, and watch films and TV has changed enormously in recent years. And it continues to evolve at a rapid pace. The industry is looking towards growing markets such as India and China; the growing number of big players in digital distribution; and – as ever – the ‘next big thing,’ be it a break-out genre or the rise of virtual and augmented reality. This works in favor of international business grads, who may find it more straightforward to find work with a modern ‘tech entertainment’ company than within longer-established organizations.

Today’s business graduates “are uniquely prepared to tackle business challenges that rely on big data, analytics, and an entrepreneurial mindset,” according to the Financial Times. But the traditional tech giants are catching up, too, which means there are a variety of opportunities available for entrepreneurs with a penchant for showbusiness. Media and communications jobs for business graduates include roles in corporate strategy, marketing, finance, and film distribution. A business education may also even lead you to a high-flying career as a film or TV producer.

5. Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations 

The PR world needs critical thinkers with a solid understanding of how business works and a well-honed instinct for getting the numbers to sing. Budgeting, analysis, and strategy are all fundamental elements of a PR team’s work. If you come from a liberal arts background and already work in advertising, returning to study in international business might be the foot-up you need to take your career to the next level. 

But even if you’re purely business-oriented, there is a place for you within an industry that depends on communication, forecasting growth, and understanding how a company’s various cogs affect each other. In other words, just what you will learn at a business school. This is also why MBAs interested in marketing may be more likely to work on the corporate end of things than at an agency.

6. Human Resources

HR is another area where international business graduates have an advantage. Human resources professionals with a solid business background are in a very strong position to discuss and coordinate the needs of corporate management and the regular, ground-level team. Doug Stirling, an employee development consultant at DecisionOne Corp., a provider of technology services, says learning about “financial processes, basic economics, forecasting, marketing, statistical analysis, labor relations, organizational design and development, and strategic planning” helped to round out his professional skills on the way to his top HR position.

7. Higher Education Management

The higher education sector is evolving as fast as any other. Higher education management professionals need to balance the changing expectations of today’s students with increasing economic pressures. Schools need to be run like businesses – customer-first, like any other – but without sacrificing the human element that makes academia special. Marketing, finance, recruitment, and analysis are among the driving factors for a flourishing institution. Universities can only benefit from the knowledge and critical thinking a business graduate can apply to these areas.

The EMIB Advantage

The Executive Master in International Business (EMIB) at ESCP Europe Business School is a triple-accredited online Executive Master with an opportunity to attend on-site seminars. The program is ideal for experienced professionals who are already working and want to develop their managerial skills further and expand their international network while studying at their own pace and on their own schedule. 

ESCP Europe is the world’s oldest business school, with campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin, and Warsaw. These firm foundations equip the school to innovate for tomorrow’s business graduate. Online and hybrid courses, fresh educational techniques, and a diverse alumni network of 55,000 members working for today’s most exciting companies make it a monument on the international business education landscape.

Eric Kouessi Sossou is an EMIB graduate who is now Head of Corporate Banking Department at BAIC in Benin, West Africa. He was particularly impressed by the faculty, which is made up of the same professors who teach ESCP’s top campus programs.  “The quality of EMIB Faculty is unbeatable,” says Sossou. “All of them are very experienced professionals and experts in diverse areas.”

This flexibility makes the course particularly appropriate for professionals with technical backgrounds who are rising to perform managerial or business unit management responsibilities. The EMIB program operates ‘learning through doing,’ which means students can immediately apply lessons learned to their job.

“Being a part of EMIB has influenced a lot my daily work,” Sossou adds. “I’ve gained a lot of new knowledge and tools in terms of Management, Finance, Strategy, Business planning, and many other aspects. My way of thinking has also changed: I am now a critical thinker, who has a new way of planning my activities and seeing things in a more strategical way. I see big now!”

Meanwhile, Margaux Chave, Communication Africa Advisor at multinational energy firm Total S.A., said when she was studying on the programme, “I choose the EMIB programme because I wanted to make sure I can focus on my career and work, keeping all the flexibility with high quality studies. Since I started the programme I definitely feel I am evolving because I can widen all of the projects I am currently doing. I can go in depth into issues and have better and adapted conversations with the different fields. The level of professorship at ESCP Europe is very high. Not only we do have to work a lot with the quizzes, handing papers, but the professors are very available for us by email or calls and they also enjoy sending us newspapers to give the extra mile for us to better understand our courses.”

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