A stable career abroad or in a large, international corporation is the dream of many young, ambitious Poles. Finding yourself in a multicultural team, however, is a challenge that you need to be well prepared for. Young people place their hopes in universities, looking for a field of studies that will prepare them for such endeavor. But will the range of available courses be able to satisfy their expectations?
One of frequent choices when students plan a career in foreign establishments, is international relations. Most Polish universities have this course in their portfolio, along with specializations such as European integration, international economy or how to run a business on international market. Through type of studies, you can better understand the economic situation of foreign countries, learn about their politics, and find out what mechanisms govern Europe’s and global economy. An important feature of the course is the interdisciplinarity, which for some will prove to be an advantage, but for others may be
insufficient amount of practical, so called “hands-on” knowledge.
Some students are also discouraged by a great emphasis on subjects such as history, philosophy or consular law.
As part of international relation studies, students have the opportunity to significantly increase their knowledge about the world, as well as develop skills in foreign languages. However, there is lack of specialization within areas such as business and cultural communication, which makes this field more attractive for people who intend to work within EU, consulates, other governmental structures or simply, broaden their horizons.
What kind of studies should you choose if you are interested working in international companies?
An interesting option for people who dream of a career in transnational organizations may be intercultural communication. Vast majority of public universities offer lectures within this area, but it is not always possible to find an entire course. Those are more often held as part of one of the specializations such as journalism or cultural studies. Hence,
students wishing to acquire competences in this particular field get a lot of subjects in the package that are not necessarily useful to them.
International business is another keenly chosen field or specialization. The name itself may indicate that it is the most accurate option for people who see their future in multicultural teams. However, it is worth considering whether the knowledge passed on here does not remain too high-level. As part of international business, students attend classes within areas of marketing, logistics, economics, finance, economic analysis, law, culture or business negotiations.
Very varied, but not… too varied?
Studies and work abroad or in a global company
The question that arises then is whether a better solution would be to choose and focus on one single area, instead of learning the basics of everything related to business. If so, after graduation or during the studies, it is worth looking into available courses or training focused on business and international culture, which will complement the knowledge missed out on. This kind of course prepares you to work in multicultural teams, provides practical knowledge about how to approach different, often crisis related situations, and teaches you to build a fruitful, professional relationships with representatives of foreign nations and cultures. Additionally, it increases significantly the attractiveness of a candidate in the eyes of a future employer.