Answers to Questions About First Jobs in International Business

Undergraduate students contemplating a career in international business often ask questions such as: Are certain majors preferred? What about language training requirements, on‐the‐job training programs, and new job responsibilities? Experience indicates that academic advisors and faculty frequently cannot provide students with appropriate information regarding these topics. Thus the above questions and others were posed to top level executives at 100 large U.S. multinational firms. This article discusses what respondents believe to be important academic requirements and what graduating seniors can expect in entry‐level jobs. Special attention is given to strategies that students can follow to gain a competitive edge when competing for their first job in international business.