International Business - Overview

If you've ever traveled or had a friend from another country, you noticed little things in everyday life that were different...it may have been something as simple as what types of food they ate for breakfast, or it may have been more significant such as how to properly greet one another. Each culture throughout the world has certain aspects that define it, and while this can cause difficulties just when visiting a different culture, talking and conducting business adds a whole additional set of challenges.

As companies look to create and maintain foreign relationships, they need professionals who understand the possible obstacles that can take place. These obstacles may be political, religious, social, or linguistic in nature (among others), depending on the culture in a particular region. In essence, it's not about where lines are drawn on a globe—it's about the various groups of people (and their differing cultures) that exist within those borders.

For example, a company that wants to ship products on Saturdays when shipping is cheaper won’t be able to if the other culture is very strict about not working on Saturdays. Furthermore, the mistakes listed below could ruin a company’s reputation indefinitely:

• A business lunch that contains a certain type of meat might greatly offend individuals from a particular culture
• A product ad that shows a woman's knees could be seen as disgraceful and offensive in parts of the world

If you love to travel and meet new people, this career offers plenty of it.
A career in International Business may be a good choice for you if you:

• Are interested in business or a particular aspect of the business field
• Enjoy travel
• Can be away from home often and/or for extended periods of time
• Like learning about people and cultures
• Have very strong communication skills
• Are open-minded and non-judgmental of people's beliefs