A few months later, I received a call from one of them about a great job opportunity. I had always had international ambitions, but in a conversation a year or two earlier with my employer, the LA office of a global advertising agency, I was told that the plum jobs—in London, Paris, or Milan—were reserved for senior agency executives. I had not given any thought to emerging markets. I agreed to the interview, knowing that I would have to fly at my own expense. Read the rest of this entry »
• Volunteer for a global project. The fastest way to build your network internally is to work on a global project. You can build relationships through common work product, conference calls, and if you’re lucky, a visit to the overseas site. You can also use this experience to build relationships with the local organization by helping the people there succeed. Read the rest of this entry »
Making It Real
I networked internally at Citibank, getting to know as many people internationally as possible. When I was transferred to another position, I let this new supervisor know that I was interested in working abroad. Within one year, he offered me the opportunity to work in Singapore, where I worked for five years. From there I went to London for Barclays, a much easier move because I’d already become an international professional. —Sheila, Barclays Bank Read the rest of this entry »
The importance of networking cannot be overstated. Relationships remain critical in most places around the world. Who you know is just as important as what you know—and it certainly increases your chances of “getting lucky,” as you are more likely to hear about possible opportunities or be at the top of someone’s mind when positions arise if you are well-known among those in the know. Read the rest of this entry »
