What Can I Do With a Masters in International Business?

Common jobs for people with an International Business Masters include business development manager, management consultant, trader, auditor and marketing executive. International business graduates earn a median annual salary of £50,400 five years after graduation.

Businesses aren’t limited to a single region anymore and neither should your skillset. That’s where a Masters in International Business comes in — designed to equip you with the skills you need to thrive in a global job market. You’ll gain an understanding of international trade, commerce and how businesses enter and compete in new markets.

Along with developing international business acumen, a Masters in International Business opens doors to internationally competitive jobs and attractive salaries. In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the jobs you can do as an International Business graduate and the salaries you can expect for different roles. I’ll also help you identify some of the skills you’ll gain that will set you apart in a competitive job market.

International trader

Average salary: £54,000 per year

Responsibilities: Identifying trade opportunities, managing transactions, navigating regulations and negotiating with stakeholders.

Supply chain manager

Average salary: £52,000 per year

Responsibilities: Planning, forecasting, overseeing logistics, managing inventory and co-ordinating with other departments.

Sales manager

Average salary: £43,000 per year

Responsibilities: Leading a team to achieve sales targets, shaping the sales strategy, monitoring performance and managing customer relationships.

Business development manager

Average salary: £41,000 per year

Responsibilities: Identifying new business opportunities, creating a sales strategy, managing relationships with clients and conducting market and competitor analysis.

Management analyst/consultant

Average salary: £39,000 per year

Responsibilities: Examining existing procedures, identifying areas of improvement, recommending solutions and creating reports and presentations.

 Auditor

Average salary: £35,000 per year

Responsibilities: Examining financial statements and records, conducting risk assessments, reviewing regulations and reporting findings.

Marketing executive

Average salary: £30,000 per year

Responsibilities: Planning and executing marketing campaigns, creating content, managing social media and conducting market research.

If you study a Masters in International Business, you’ll gain a range of transferrable skills to help you succeed in a multinational context. As well as ‘soft’ skills like communication, negotiation and problem-solving, you could have the chance to specialise in commercial areas such as:

• Customs compliance
• Cross-cultural communications
• Globalisation
• International arbitration
• International currencies
• International markets and entry strategies
• International tax law
• International trade
• Tariffs

You may even be able to complete a work placement abroad, giving you the opportunity to experience how international companies handle particular business problems.

#1 Leverage the ‘international’ in international business

If you’re pursuing an international degree, use it. Don’t narrow your search to your comfort zone. Maybe, apply for roles abroad and really showcase those ‘global’ skills you’ll gain.

#2 It doesn’t need to be perfect

Your first job after graduation doesn’t have to be ‘the one’. What matters more is where it leads. A role that offers mentorship and exposure to global operations will often pay more dividends long-term than one with a shiny title and narrow scope.

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