International business

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

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Arbitrator
• Business development manager
• Data scientist
• External auditor
• Financial trader
• Human resources officer
• Logistics and distribution manager
• Marketing 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
• Transport planner
• Warehouse manager

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, diverse career, with opportunities across many 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.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

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).

Find information on employers in accountancy, banking and finance, business, consulting and management and marketing, advertising and PR.

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.

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)

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in international business.

What do international business graduates do?

Advertising and marketing associate professionals (8%), business sales executives (5%), HR officers (5%), finance and investment analysts and advisers (4%) and sales accounts and business development managers (3%) are the top five jobs held by international business graduates.

Find out what other graduates are doing after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.