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Globalization Spawning Hot Careers at Home
By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer
Most of what Americans hear about the globalization of our labor economy is bad news: More US jobs are being sent offshore. But select occupations in a variety of industries are actually growing in response to the expansion of international trade and other global dynamics. Here’s a sampling of diverse professional careers that will welcome internationally savvy professionals.
The Job: International Logistics Manager
Logistics managers ensure that raw materials and finished goods are transported on time, intact and within budget. When the job is international, logistics gurus negotiate freight rates with air and ocean carriers, navigate the regulations and business practices of multiple national governments and even manage claims for cargo lost at sea.
Why It’s Hot: The worldwide movement of goods is accelerating and becoming more complex as more countries engage in global commerce. “We see global trade growing 8 to 9 percent a year for the next several years, faster than the overall global economy,” says Ken Bloom, CEO of INTTRA, which makes software for international shipping operations.
Requirements and Pay: To go international, you may need a few years of domestic logistics experience and a bachelor’s or master’s in business. In addition, “You’ve got to be willing and able to fluently speak the language of the customer,” Bloom says. Logistics managers’ median pay is about $85,200, according to the Salary Wizard.
The Job: International Marketing Manager
To market to the world, all you must do is understand and communicate with billions of people via thousands of languages and cultures, reinvent your product offerings to appeal to different cultures and generate profits in each of many global regions.
Why It’s Hot: International marketing is hot, because companies can’t afford to ignore markets that could give them an edge, wherever they may be. In what industries is international marketing on fire? “Look at the US product categories where exports are growing,” says Daniel Bello, editor of the Journal of International Marketing and a professor of marketing at Georgia State University.
Requirements and Pay: A bachelor’s in marketing can launch your international career, but you must be willing to relocate to New York or another major international city, Bello says. “We see people in our MBA program who don’t want to move out of Atlanta, and they’re shooting themselves in the foot,” he says. Marketing managers earn median salaries of about $78,000, according to the Salary Wizard.
The Job: Carbon Management Consultant
The global effort to reduce the carbon emissions that contribute to global warming is driving demand for business and technology consultants who can help corporations and governments reduce the impact of their energy consumption. Carbon management consultants, especially experts on tradable carbon credits, caps and other tools for the financial management of emissions, are on a roll.
Why It’s Hot: This job is hot, because our planet is getting hotter and organizations at many levels feel compelled to act. “These jobs are coming to the United States because of new requirements on carbon-
Requirements and Pay: “These consultants will come from a finance and management background, say, a business school or firms like Deloitte or Booz Allen Hamilton,” Doyle says. A master’s degree in business, science or energy engineering suffices for many of these jobs. Carbon management specialists typically start close to $60,000 and can eventually earn $100,000 or more, according to Doyle.
The Job: Water Quality Specialist
These multidisciplinary technocrats help allocate and manage one of our most fundamental resources: Water. “Water quality specialists do watershed analysis to create the technological, legal and financial arrangements to find enough water for people, industry and wildlife,” Doyle says.
Why It’s Hot: With both world population and per-
Requirements and Pay: Successful candidates typically have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in hydrology or civil engineering. “With a bachelor’s degree, you start at around $40,000, and the median pay for water quality specialists is $70,000,” Doyle says.