15 job roles after a Master in International Business Management

The importance of international business is greater than ever, whether it be a company thinking about selling abroad, following other organisations that are internationalising or cross-border mergers and acquisitions. It’s hard to think of any small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are not involved in international business…

Harminder Singh, a senior teacher at Warwick Business School

With Globalisation, international business courses have become increasingly popular – and for good reason. For example, with a MSc International Business Management, students can develop a better understanding of the global business mindset and where it’s heading. Furthermore, students gain deeper insights into how people and businesses are interconnected, despite geographical boundaries. If you are thinking about pursuing a master’s in international business management, this blog sheds light on career options and what they entail.

Master in International Business syllabus

The syllabus for a MSc IBM includes wide-ranging management topics that are studied from an international point of view. The focus of this course is mainly on the skills and knowledge that students can learn, which will help them in their future corporate careers. Fundamental management principles and techniques are taught from an international perspective to help students understand concepts from a global viewpoint. Some sample modules include economics and finance, innovation and technology management, international management, foreign languages, accounting, research methodology and more. For a full overview of the syllabus, you can view the programme structure of the MSc International Business Management course offered at Gisma  here.

Here, we have almost 37 nationalities and that has taught me how to cope with the intercultural management that I will be facing in my future career…

Akhil from India, MIB student at Gisma

What are some of the major job roles available after completing a Masters in International Business?

Earning a masters degree in this field can open up a lot of avenues and job opportunities. Some potential job roles include:

International marketing director

• This is one of the most lucrative job roles students can get after completing a Master in International Business. International marketing directors are accountable for increasing their organisation’s share and profits in the global markets. They must have an idea of global trends and standards so they can assist in developing products according to these standards and trends. They also play a key role in formulating competitive pricing strategies. Graduates should opt for this role if they are competitive, critical thinkers, creative and decisive. Being able to speak multiple languages would be an additional benefit. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS), the demand for this role is expected to grow at an annual rate of 9% until 2024, along with the international business salary prospects. 

Financial controller or manager

• Financial managers or controllers manage the financial aspect of an organisation or individual. In an organisation, they handle the accounts, transactions, payroll and taxation. Some of the responsibilities of a financial controller include organising and maintaining the firm’s accounting system, evaluating the firm’s financial decisions and ensuring the firm’s financial practices are in accordance with the statutory rules and regulations.

International economist

• Economists study and analyse market trends and the production of goods and services in order to make projections. International economists study global issues such as international trade, international markets and consumer demand.
• International economists may be employed by corporate firms, research think tanks and international organisations like the United Nations (UN), World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The responsibilities of an international economist usually include analysing and forecasting trends in international markets, conducting surveys and collecting information to examine international data, as well as developing policies and providing suggestions to solve global economic issues.

Business development manager

• This post is a combination of sales and marketing. This role involves the growing of a business and developing and maintaining relationships with clients and customers. Business development managers also have to improve profitability through strategic organisation and planning. Business development directors or managers usually focus on two types of business models: business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C). Responsibilities of a business development manager include identifying new business opportunities worldwide, and attending relevant seminars/conferences to understand new concepts in order to implement them in the organisation.

International trade and customs manager

• An international trade and customs manager takes care of customs compliance, supply chain management and global logistics. These managers must have a Master in International Business and certification from the International Import Export Institute (IIEI). These managers are responsible for several tasks, such as analysing existing trade flows worldwide, handling queries with regards to internal and external audits, and reading up on foreign trade agreements (FTAs) to ensure compliance with the statutory rules and regulations of various countries.

Policy advisor or analyst

• These advisors analyse and offer solutions to difficult issues such as politics, security, healthcare and the environment. They conduct research on governmental issues, political issues and other such problems, and then come up with a comprehensive public policy to counteract these issues. Global policy advisors usually focus on areas like international economics, international trade, law, global business policies and national security. 

Management analyst

• Management analysts are better known as management consultants. Their main responsibility is to enhance company performance by solving organisational issues. These consultants help organisations to solve problems related to international markets. Management analysts or consultants have several responsibilities including analysis and study of organisational data, suggesting new policies and changes across the organisation to increase efficiency, and evaluating new prospects such as expansion programmes or operations strategy.
• Consultants work in public and private sectors including governmental organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and consultancy agencies or corporations. The big four consultancy firms in the world are Deloitte, KPMG, Ernst & Young (E&Y), and PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

Marketing manager

• This role is meant for creatives who are capable of developing a comprehensive business strategy. These managers work in tandem with art directors, public relations managers, product team and business development managers to create appealing marketing campaigns, whether traditional or digital. A marketing manager job description includes planning marketing campaigns worldwide based on region, demographics, gender, income, and social behaviour, as well as overseeing content development for digital marketing and advertising campaigns.

Human resources officer or manager

• Human resources officers and managers recruit new employees, discuss organisational goals and objectives, and implement policies for increased employee efficiency in the organisation. Human resources managers must ensure that they are hiring the correct personnel in terms of knowledge and skill, and that training opportunities are available to the employees to help improve their performance. The job description for a human resources officer includes liaising between management and employees to ensure the smooth functioning of the organisation, coordinating with employees to inform and educate them about benefit programmes, and developing and implementing work policies and staff handbooks.

Public relations (PR) account executive

• PR account executives handle communications between B2Bs, individual clients, or the public as a whole. This is done in order to promote the organisation or its products. This is usually done through live videos on social networks, news articles, press releases and product placements. PR account executives aim to influence public opinion or behaviour without using paid advertising as a tool. Other responsibilities of a PR account executive include monitoring print, television and social media channels for opportunities to promote clients, analysing and evaluating media coverage, and resolving any PR issues that occur.

Sales executive

• Sales executives sell their firm’s product or services. These sales may be domestic or international in nature. A sales executive job description might include conducting market research to understand how to effectively sell a particular product, responding to any queries regarding the firm’s services and products, and creating detailed proposals for formal bidding processes.

Compliance officer

• Risk and compliance are gaining great importance, leading to a rise in demand for compliance officers. Compliance officers work in a variety of industries such as accountancy, charity, financial services, technology and pharmaceutical. Compliance officer’s typically conduct risk assessments, document and publish risk and compliance performance, as well as review and study official documents (such as marketing materials and website content to ensure compliance with statutory requirements).

Digital marketer

• The key aspects of digital marketing are social media marketing, search engine optimisation (SEO), affiliate marketing, mobile marketing, display ads and pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns. Someone in this role may be responsible for creating email campaigns, developing various types of content (such as written articles or blogs, videos and so on), and analysing data to calculate the effectiveness of the firm’s digital marketing campaigns.

Financial trader

• Financial traders purchase and sell shares, bonds and assets. Financial traders can be divided into three types: proprietary traders (traders who trade on behalf of banks); flow traders (those who trade on behalf of the bank’s clients); and sales traders (those who trade on behalf of clients themselves). Some key responsibilities of financial traders are executing trades over the phone or electronically, forecasting market trends and conditions, and informing clients about any relevant trades conducted.

Media planner

• The main role of a media planner is to ascertain which media platform is most suitable for promoting his/her firm and its products. Media planners must have excellent communication skills as they have to interact with clients and different media platforms such as the press, social media, internet and television. Media planners work and coordinate with clients to understand their demands and requirements, coordinate with the creatives team to develop media campaigns/strategies, identify the respective target audience for a variety of products, among other responsibilities.

If you are interested in pursuing an international business career, Gisma University of Applied Sciences offer the  MSc in International Business Management.

GISMA’s mission is to empower management professionals to respond to the special challenges and stringent demands of today’s highly global business environment. Germany is recognised for its high-quality education, and you can experience this at Gisma University of Applied Sciences, with sites based in Potsdam,  Berlin and London.