{"id":31331,"date":"2021-06-21T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-21T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/?p=31331"},"modified":"2025-08-06T13:27:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T11:27:29","slug":"what-skills-do-you-need-for-a-career-in-international-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euruni.edu\/blog\/what-skills-do-you-need-for-a-career-in-international-business\/","title":{"rendered":"What Skills Do You Need for a Career in International Business?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You need more than \u201chard skills\u201d<\/a> to succeed in an international business management role. In addition to your degree, and perhaps some knowledge of a second language (which is invaluable in this context), you need to be communicative, flexible, motivated, and empathetic. These are considered \u201csoft skills\u201d<\/a>, because they are non-technical, based on attitude and how you relate to people rather than specific skills you learn in a classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

International businesspeople need the right balance of both in order to survive the volatile, uncertain, and complex environment that is the global recruitment market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenges you will face as part of an international team can include language barriers, irregular working patterns, remote management, and problems that occur hundreds of miles away from where you are located.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is imperative, if you are considering a career in international business, that you have the right blend of hard and soft skills to manage all of the above\u2014and more. Let\u2019s look at the top three skills that are important for success in international business, and learn how you can develop them further to increase your chances of securing a role in this field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Communication<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Effective communication, in all its forms, is the most important skill for any businessperson to develop. You need to know how to reach people, both in person and on paper, and learn when it\u2019s better to listen than to talk. But this is especially important in international business, because you are commonly working with distanced teams where there might be a language barrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowledge of a second language, while not always a requirement for a role in international business, will often be an advantage. It allows you to communicate with diverse teams more effectively, and is an attractive skill to hiring managers in global organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But remember, not all communication is verbal. In addition to maintaining good eye contact and displaying positive body language\u2014which is important in any professional setting\u2014international businesses are staffed by people from different countries, whose cultures may be different from your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye contact is a very good example of this, because while it is polite to look someone in the eye while you are talking to them in Europe and the USA, in parts of Asia, South America, and Africa, it is considered rude to look at someone in this way for too long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always be mindful of the traditions of the places you\u2019re working in and the people you are working with. Otherwise, you risk alienating your colleagues or an important client.<\/p>\n\n\n

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2. Emotional Intelligence<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Emotional intelligence<\/a> (also referred to as your Emotional Quotient, EQ) is defined by an individual\u2019s ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions. Someone with a high EQ is well suited to a career in international business because their ability to manage their emotions allows them to respond calmly in high-pressure situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, having a high EQ enables excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills, which will allow you to work effectively and form strong connections with people\u2014both extremely important skills in international business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are some hallmarks of people with high levels of emotional intelligence?<\/p>\n\n\n\n