How to prepare for an international career

With lockdowns and border closures, the prevailing health and economic crisis is hindering overseas career opportunities for young graduates interested in an international career. Yet there can be no doubt that the appeal of gaining experience abroad is such that intrepid graduates will leave these shores once again as soon as the borders re-open. When that time comes, those who have made the most of this period to prepare properly will be at an advantage. That’s why EDHEC Alumni and the Career Centre for Life decided to address the issue of international careers, an aspiration that must be prepared and allowed to mature in the long term.

What are the skills and knowledge one must develop at EDHEC to consider an international career?

Essentially open-mindedness, adaptability, interpersonal skills and the capacity to learn. Naturally, fluency in English is indispensable and if possible in the host country’s language. Resilience, flexibility, curiosity, the ability to manage stress and uncertainty and take a step back, and the capacity to anticipate unforeseen circumstances in times of crisis and establish social connections are all important skills for any international career.

Lastly, it is also important to develop your knowledge of the host country so you can better understand your interlocutors, particularly its history, religion, geography, political institutions, regulatory framework, practices on the labour market, workplace codes of conduct and communication style.

Are internships, extra-professional activities and research projects important when considering an international career?

It’s important to adapt your CV to the recruitment practices in the host country. In some countries like Germany and the United Kingdom, it’s important to provide a lot of detail about your previous work experience. This is a chance to provide enough information to bring your skills and achievements to the fore with precision and rigorous detail. At the beginning of your career, it’s preferable to include in your international CV any experience that might make a difference: internships, research projects and anything else linked to experiences in associations or extra-professional activities. These are indicators of your personality and interests and are a way to highlight some of your skills. This information can reveal key dimensions so you can “stand out from the crowd” and get ahead, especially in very competitive cities where you might find yourself up against international candidates from all around the world.

Is the French international voluntary scheme a good way to get started?

Absolutely! According to a study by the NewGen Talent Centre, “Le V.I.E, l’exception française accélérateur de carrière”, 98% of participants recommend the VIE scheme to young graduates.

Taking part in the VIE means opting for your first international work experience in a favourable environment. Professional appeal and optimising one’s career are the primary motivations for heading overseas on this scheme. The secure environment it offers is an opportunity for young graduates to head off more easily and take up long missions to develop their professional skills.

It is a French scheme but open to all European citizens and one that many other countries would like to emulate. The VIE is a fantastic career springboard. It’s a fast track, a French-style graduate programme that is particularly well-suited to the demanding aspirations of younger generations eager to experience international adventures without compromising on the quality of their work experience.

The 3 main objectives of young graduates taking part in the VIE scheme are:

• boosting their career,
• working abroad with an international perspective,
• learning and developing quickly.

What’s the best way to make the most of your international experience when returning to your home country or switching countries?

You will need to convert that experience into “acquired skills”. It is also useful to identify companies that might be interested in your profile because of the knowledge you have gained of a particular sector, the local market or a specific clientele, or because of skills that may be transferable to a new sector.

Your international skills will be among the primary factors of your employability, especially in major international firms or multicultural staff teams mandated to develop overseas business.

How can I build up an international network?

International networking is built up through professional training overseas as well as by developing your work and personal experiences in different countries.

The key to building up an international network lies in adapting to the local culture. To do this, you need to have a good understanding of the country in terms of culture, history, religion, institutions, geography, education, organizations and hierarchies, and have the right approach when it comes to communication and workplace codes of conduct. For example, networking approaches in “Anglo-Saxon” countries are more direct, practical and informal than in France.

What’s the best way to find a job abroad? Should I target certain countries more than others?

To find a job abroad you need to get information upstream about job opportunities on the labour market in the host country, visa constraints, the health of its economy and current affairs so you can determine whether the climate on the job market is favourable and conducive to finding work.

Local recruitment agencies as well as professional networks on site are invaluable sources of information about job opportunities on local markets. They will also be able to provide you with information about recruitment websites, the developing industries and benchmark firms in the country or those rapidly expanding.

You are recommended to adapt your job application tools to the country in which you are applying, since best practices in terms of CVs and application letters differ considerably from one country to the next.

All information relating to salaries, expenses and living conditions is also crucial when choosing your target country, as well as any cultural aspects that might determine your management style, communication approach or work practices.

The EDHEC Career Centre for Life provides all alumni with free access to many international job offer platforms and GoinGlobal in particular, a careers and jobs database broken down country-by-country, with a table displaying job offers around the world and more than 30,000 pages of constantly updated information on more than 120 locations worldwide.

What are the 5 pieces of advice you would give to alumni starting out in an international career?

1. make a firm start in your international career with the specific and enriching schemes available such as VIE and the “Graduate programme”, career springboards that are highly formative
2. pay close attention to the situation on the local job market in the country you’ve chosen (especially in times of crisis like the one we are going through) so your choice enables you to enjoy a fulfilling experience abroad while at the same time correctly evaluating the risks
3. think how to make the most of your experience when you return to your home country or move to a new one
4. nurture your international vocation so you can continue to develop your career with a multicultural and inter-regional dimension
5. enhance your “international toolbox” by learning new languages, developing new perspectives and benefiting from the wealth of immersion in different cultures, while continuing to work on the soft skills needed for any international experience, such as resilience, interpersonal skills, curiosity, open-mindedness and the capacity to learn.

Having an international career is a fantastic life experience, both on a professional and personal level. To orient and support alumni on this career path, the Career Centre for Life and EDHEC Alumni make a wide range of tools and services available, as well as local alumni networks all around the globe. These international clubs and the EDHEC Country Managers give you the chance to maintain your links with others from EDHEC but also to welcome new arrivals to these countries and cities.