Gaining insight to how business is conducted around the globe and how culture, language and politics impact day-to-day business operations are crucial to understanding globalization and its impact on our economy and the economies of countries around the world. At no other time in the history of global business has there been more opportunity for multinational firms and individuals seeking international careers.
 
Today’s business student often asks, “How can I find a job in international business that allows me to travel the globe and experience different cultures?” The answer is not always one they want to hear: “First, find the company that has an international presence; work hard and get recognized by your management as someone who gets the job done; don’t expect your first assignment to take you to that faraway place of your dreams.”
 
Students also learn their chances of being eligible for an international assignment are greatly enhanced if they are fluent in a second language. Good communication skills and being a student of different cultures also improve one’s chances of getting that first overseas assignment.
 
Internships with multinational companies are another path to potential international careers. All UNCW Cameron School of Business students are encouraged to seek out and secure internships during their summer breaks and the academic semester. Internships introduce the student to the real world of business. The internship also allows the student to determine if he or she has an interest in a particular career and create a network of contacts. Some internships have the added benefit of being paid, thus helping the student with school expenses.
 
Entrepreneurial students often find another avenue to international business through the construction of online business websites that cater to customers around the globe. A successful online business introduces the entrepreneur to the complexities of running a business and often tests their resolve and business skills. Entrepreneurs who master the challenges of fundraising and management of financial, human resources and legal matters will find the world of international business is at their doorstep.
 
Robert T. Burrus, Jr., Ph.D., is the dean of the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, named in June 2015. Burrus joined the UNCW faculty in 1998. Prior to his current position, Burrus was interim dean, associate dean of undergraduate studies and the chair of the department of economics and finance. Burrus earned a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economics from Wake Forest University. The Cameron School of Business has approximately 60 full-time faculty members and 20 administrative and staff members. The AACSB-accredited business school currently enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate students in three degree programs and 200 graduate students in four degree programs. The school also houses the prestigious Cameron Executive Network, a group of more than 200 retired and practicing executives that provide one-on-one mentoring for Cameron students. To learn more about the Cameron School of Business, please visit http://csb.uncw.edu/. Questions and comments can be sent to [email protected].