International Business Jobs in the United States

International Business Jobs Overview

Have you always felt like a global citizen? It might be time to turn that dream into your career. With international business jobs you’ll spearhead a multinational company’s strategies or work for a government regulatory agency. This field offers many opportunities around the world, but you can also drive a company’s global efforts from a U.S. office. Regardless of where you’re based, it’s likely that travel will be some part of this job.

International business refers to transactions between companies, organizations, or government agencies across national borders. There are a wide range of international business jobs. You might focus on finance, sales, marketing, business development, regulations and standards, or importing and exporting. A job in international business can also lead to an executive job, although you’ll likely need significant work experience first.

These are some examples of jobs in this field:

• CEO
• COO
• importer
• account executive
• business analyst
• economist
• logistics manager jobs
• supply chain management
• accountant
• vice president of operations

How Much Do International Business Jobs Pay?

Salaries vary greatly in international business careers, with pay for high-level executive and management jobs at the top. Entry-level jobs will pay less, but in general international business jobs include generous salaries and often benefit packages as well.

Use our Salary Tools to compare pay for different professions and locations. These are some examples of common job titles and median salaries:

• chief financial officer: $ $114,650
• supply chain director: $112,650
• business / systems analyst: $89,050
• procurement / sourcing manager: $82,713
• business development specialist: $60,016

Some of the highest-paying locations include New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston.

How to Find International Business Jobs That Fit You

Working in international business doesn’t necessarily mean travelling to other countries, although it’s common that jobs involve some travelling. When choosing career paths, you should decide if travelling for work is an important perk for you, or if it’s more of a hassle you want to avoid. This can help you choose between different career paths.

Jobs that are more likely to involve travel include executive jobs and management jobs supervising the supply chain and logistics departments. Jobs less likely to involve travel are more analytical jobs such as business analyst, accountant, and economist.

Other factors to consider when choosing between different jobs in international business include:

• Your strengths: Are you a people-person skilled in communication and interpersonal relations? Consider an executive job, a sales job, or a job in management. If you prefer a more solitary role, consider a more analytical job such as business analyst, accountant, or financial analyst.
• Compensation preferences: Do you feel incentivized by getting paid based on performance? Then a job in sales or management might be right for you.
• Your career goals: If you want to advance in your career, choose a job with a clear path for advancement. A logistics manager, for example, can move up to a job as a vice president of operations or supply chain vice president.

How to Apply to International Business Jobs

Just like in business, knowing your market is essential during the job search. Your application should target your industry, the employer, and the position you’re applying to. If you’re a recent graduate, see how you can list your coursework, internships, and volunteer work on our MBA resume sample. Get some advice on how to effectively showcase your accomplishments in our example of a business analyst cover letter.

Get a Resume or Cover Letter That’s Tailored to You

Need more help with your cover letter and resume? Sign up with Monster’s professional writing services to get help from an industry expert. You’ll get a customized resume with keywords essential to your industry, and a unique value proposition for your cover letter.

Join Monster to Apply to Jobs in International Business

Then create a map for your job search by joining Monster for free. Upload your resume, make it visible to recruiters, and start applying to international business jobs today. This enables you to track all your job applications in one place and get notifications of new job openings.

How to Follow up With an Employer

Persistence pays off in most international business jobs, so following up on your job application can help put you ahead of the game. Prepare a brief sales pitch for yourself, whether you choose to follow up by email or over the phone. Make sure to deliver it to the right person by contacting the company to find out who’s interviewing for the position.

Craft a compelling follow-up message with some help from this article on how to on how to follow up on a job application. It’s wise to follow up if it’s been over a week since you submitted your application.

Map Out Your Job Interview Plan

Get ready for your job interview by practicing answers to common interview questions. Also take the time to prepare for questions specific to your field, for example:

• How do you keep up with new regulations and standards in different markets?
• How do you manage working with a team in different time zones and countries?
• How do you prepare for an international trip?
• What would you change about our company’s global strategy?

There are several other essential steps to take before you have your interview. Make sure to research the company, choose the right clothes according to the industry dress code, and find out the names and titles of the people you’ll be interviewing with. Addressing the interviewers by their names, and even practicing a steady handshake in advance, show that you know how to prepare for business meetings.

Follow up with a unique, personal thank-you message to each person who was present at the interview, as well as the person who reached out to you to set up the interview.

What to Do When You Get an Offer

Negotiation is common in business jobs, so once you get a job offer, the employer might expect you to negotiate it. Be prepared for the discussion by already knowing what salary to ask for when you get that call. Researching the median salary for the job, while taking into consideration the location and your experience, can give you an idea of what to ask for.

Other aspects of the job that may be negotiable include benefits, commissions, and bonuses.

Before you negotiate, make sure to express your enthusiasm and gratitude for the job offer. You want to communicate that you’re excited about the opportunity and really see a future with the company.

Offers for business jobs, especially senior-level ones, can include lengthy non-disclosure agreements, non-compete-agreements, and other hiring terms. Take the time to review the paperwork but communicate with the employer by letting them know when you expect to make a decision or asking them what their deadline is.

International Business Career Paths

International business jobs vary from entry-level positions to executive jobs. Before you decide what career path to take, have an end goal in mind. Decide what position you’d like to aim for in the future so you can take the best way there. These are some common career paths in international business:

• Executive jobs: At the top of the ladder are executive jobs such as vice president of operations, president, and CEO. To prepare for a career in a leadership role, obtain a degree in international business, preferably an MBA or higher. It’s likely that you’ll take on several other roles, such as in business operations, before getting an executive job.
• Finance jobs: Finance jobs include accounting, financial manager, investment banker, and financial analyst. To become an expert on international finance you’ll need a solid background and education in financial affairs.
• Supply chain and logistics jobs:Supply chain managers and logistics managers need a degree in logistics, business administration, economics, or a related field.
• Business operations: Business operations is an umbrella term for a variety of jobs, so the career paths will vary depending on the job. Some examples of job titles are business analyst and business consultant. It’s common for business operations staff to hold a degree in business administration or operations management.

See an example of a typical career path for jobs in international business in our article on how to become a business analyst. You can also see some examples of what business professionals do in our job description for a business development director.

Factors That Can Set You Apart as a Candidate for Jobs in International Business

As our economy becomes more global and the business world more interconnected, jobs in this field will continue to grow. An increase in virtual meetings and remote work will also impact international business jobs. Even though remote meetings are replacing some real-world interactions, having cultural competence is becoming increasingly important to conducting international business.

Networking continues to be important as well; many jobs in this field are not advertised but candidates are recruited through connections or recruiting firms. Learning foreign languages will also put you ahead of the curve.

As both customers and employees become more socially aware, corporations increasingly must focus on corporate social responsibility and other similar factors. Having corporate experience in these fields can help you get ahead of the game.

Similar Occupations

Take a look at other jobs on Monster to see if anything related to international business interests you as well. These are some examples of similar job titles:

• hotel manager
• executive assistant
• bank examiner