Posted on April 21, 2011
Jim Key - Director of Global Marketing at Intrax Internships Abroad
Today’s guest post is brought to you by Jim Key, Director of Global Marketing at Intrax Internships Abroad. Last year, Jim took us through the international job searching funnel starting by preparing for a job abroad, researching potential employers and turning those findings into potential interviews. Now that you know the process, it’s time to narrow down your focus and chose your industry. In this guest post, Jim will teach you about the fascinating world of entrepreneurship and what you can expect working in that field.
In last fall’s series of guest blog posts, we went through how to find an internship overseas and turn it into a job. This winter and spring we will look at a few different categories and why you might consider them for an international internship.
Photo courtesy of Jim Key
Our second category is Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs start businesses in industries ranging from high tech, consulting, freelance marketing work, HR placement & outsourcing, to any other industry you can imagine. I’ve met entrepreneurs who manage art galleries, who produce & distribute wine, and who run incubators (office complexes)…for other entrepreneurs. I’ve also met quite a few who have created and run social enterprises, which are for-profit businesses with a social mission.
So what do entrepreneurs do?
Students often think in terms of majors – is entrepreneurship more like management or accounting or finance or marketing or management information systems? Entrepreneurship is pretty much all of the above, but faster and more unpredictable because entrepreneurship is business in its rawest essence. While an intern in finance or marketing with a large organization may look for a harmonious stream of projects related to that one function, an entrepreneur (and by extension, the intern) can expect a more staccato flow of operations, sales, marketing, product development, crisis management, HR, program execution, finance, and a few more things to be determined on the fly. Students are often taught to think in terms of a Fortune 500 company – an organization that grew from the chaos of a few people working out of a garage to a mature company with a brand, a recognized logo, an office building or a campus as a headquarters, and unique departments for the different functions staffed in proportion to the amount of workflow of each function: Product Development, Engineering, Manufacturing, New Business Sales, Account Management, Marketing, Finance/Accounting, IT, HR, etc. When there are 3 or 8 or even 20 people, everyone does everything and the flow of work is often driven by specific events – a product launch, a large customer’s needs, or a conference that brings together most of your target market. For example, last time I saw one tech startup in the UK, everyone was focused on a weekend music festival (the customer) using their mobile phone app, which had been designed specifically for that festival. Since hundreds of thousands of music lovers would be attending, this firm had a lot riding on getting it right.
Why do students choose to intern with entrepreneurs?
1) Passion – in an entrepreneurial firm, you will be exposed to the zeal of the founder. The founder created the firm and the vision, so they believe in what they are doing with a passion that you rarely see in larger, more mature businesses. The business is much more personal and meaningful to the whole team. Take that passion and double it with the social enterprises – all the mission orientation of a non-profit with the passion (and urgency) of an entrepreneurial founder.
2) Real experience even, if you don’t speak the language – the entrepreneurs that I have met tend to be well-connected, internationally-oriented people. They are often targeting their product or service to a global or at least Europe-wide market. As such, they have great opportunities for interns to do meaningful work and add value even if they are not fluent in the local language, because much cross-border business is done in English. Of course each national culture (and company culture) approaches the challenge of the business environment differently, so you are still getting cultural immersion, but you can often do it even if your French needs some work.
3) Exposure to a variety of functions helps students figure out their strengths – many students are not really sure what they want to do. They often choose a major by the intro class that they liked or what others (parents, teachers, advisors) have suggested that they should do. As an entrepreneurship intern, students get to see operations, finance, sales, marketing, and put out a fire in account management – sometimes all in one day. With that experience, students can identify and gravitate towards what they enjoy and do well.
4) Understanding how organizations work – the flip side of the point above (figuring out what work you like best) is that students see the dynamic of how different functions interact in a small business. Most business classes provide a sense of how finance or marketing or accounting work on their own, but not necessarily together. Unless students take an entrepreneurship classes or discuss the interworking of functions in a strategy or case method class, it is easy to miss the bigger picture of how organizations really work internally.
5) Fast moving environment – there are some who love the structure of a larger organization and the certainty of knowing what they will be doing months before they do it. Others get bored and wonder if the research project they are working on will really impact the company or be read at all. Working for an entrepreneur, the intern often sees a more frenetic pace as she works on varied assignments that are almost always directly related to the success of a firm. Obviously every company is different, but being small often means that they are working close to the margin. What happens today means either a) success & growth or b) closing up shop at the end of the year (especially in this economy), so there is no time to drift. As one student said, “this company has the personality of its founder and its founder is definitely ADD – just like me.”
6) Job Opportunities – we have seen students get job offers and get hired by their internship company in several countries, almost always with small businesses. Why? They can make decisions. Back in the 90’s when I interned abroad in Germany with Opel (GM Europe), my boss liked me and wanted to hire me, his boss liked me and wanted to hire me, but… it was General Motors. It takes about 18 people to agree to make a decision like hiring someone, plus another five to justify hiring a foreigner (requiring all the extra paperwork). When the Founder/CEO of a small firm says “He’s doing a good job, let’s hire him,” it gets done.
In summary, working as an entrepreneur is unstructured because you are creating something new. Students who embrace that challenge can gain meaningful work experience in a dynamic environment, learn more about themselves, and get a better sense of what they want to do.
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Posted by: Olga at Going Global
Posted on November 2, 2010
Jim Key - Director of Global Marketing at Intrax Internships Abroad
Today’s guest post is brought to you by Jim Key, Director of Global Marketing at Intrax Internships Abroad. Learn about his suggestions to land an international job.
You want to work abroad, but you are studying here in the US or Canada. You probably figure the place to start your research is scanning job sites overseas. Sure, go ahead and scan them. There is no harm in finding out what jobs are out there. Just keep this in mind, unless they are actively looking for someone from abroad, you will start at a huge disadvantage vs. local applicants that only starts with the legal/paperwork challenge of getting a visa. This is why few (if any) organizations actively seek employees from abroad for entry level skilled work unless their country is at full employment. Recognizing this mean knowing that employers won’t look for (or find) you, so you better find them through a thoughtful strategy.
1) Where do you want to go? You speak Spanish, you studied in Spain, seems like Spain is the obvious choice. Right? Determine the markets that are best (or least bad) for you. Most students that I talk to have a top choice and are flexible about where they might want to go. Let’s say you want to go to Europe. I’ve got a copy of The Economist right here – Spain’s unemployment rate is 20.5% and Norway’s is 3.3%. Outside of Europe, South Africa is at 25.3% unemployment while Thailand is at 0.9%. Not trying to say all unemployment is created equal – every country has its own definition of unemployment. Context matters – Japan’s 5.1% is high by their standards while Germany’s 7.5% is historically low, so the business confidence is higher in Germany. Still, all things being equal, do you like your chances better in a place where 20% of the locals (and 44% of 18-25 yr olds) can’t find a job? Big caveat to this: of course all things aren’t necessarily equal. If your expertise and/or connections point to a certain location, that changes things. Likewise, some places are positively welcoming with their visas (Australia comes to mind) while others are more restrictive. Putting it together, think about where you want to go in broader terms than where you studied or where you enjoyed visiting.
2) Who do you know? If you have lots of local contacts and people vouching for you somewhere, that makes a huge difference in getting your foot in the door. A frequent source of frustration among students I speak with is that they do not know enough people. If you have not already gotten going on LinkedIn, start now. Connect with your friends, people you’ve worked with at internships, professors and Career Services people who you know, and so on. LinkedIn is designed to help you see through the people you know to their contacts so that you can make a more personal connection. You can take a look at our video or many other videos and articles on the topic to learn how to make LinkedIn a tool for you to make that connection. While we’re on social media, why not use Facebook updates to let your friends know you seek a job in China (and you’re open to suggestions)?
3) Figure out your skills who might need them: Let’s say you’re four (or five) years into a Bachelors degree and you have been immersed in North American culture most of your life. What do you know that others don’t? Think strategically and broadly about your interests and education. Talk with someone at your school’s career center. A company in London needed a student comfortable with mobile phone applications. Another company in Berlin is looking to develop Facebook marketing strategies. Do you know anyone who has logged hours on Facebook, (seemingly every day), developing their knowledge? You see where this is going. Usually it relates to newer technology, but you may have a skill set that has a market and stands out more overseas than at home.
4) Dig: It’s easy to put together your dream list of organizations that you (and many other people) want to work for: from Apple, the United Nations, and Lonely Planet to Goldman Sachs and Google. Those household names are popular so the jobs at those companies are pretty competitive. There are fewer people reaching out to and applying to that 10-person mobile phone app company in London or that 50-person social media marketing agency in Berlin. Search for companies doing what you want to do in places where you want to work. You’ll find the big names, but specifically look for startups and smaller firms that could want your skill set. Generally, smaller firms can make faster decisions too. In addition to Googling, look at lists from Chambers of Commerce, industry lists, entrepreneur incubators, and even venture capitalists. Every country is different, so be resourceful here.
In two weeks, we’ll put this together. If you’ve gone this far, you have found the right country, leveraged your connections, targeted the right industry for your skill set, and uncovered some hidden gem companies that are not bombarded with thousands of resumes daily. Needless to say, the outreach needs to be thoughtful too.
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Posted by: Olga at Going Global
Posted on September 14, 2010
What's your 'secret sauce'? Photo attribution to urtica.
Is there a ‘secret sauce’ for getting an internship abroad? Why does it seem so easy for some people? There are a variety of reasons, but one of the main one’s is that they have someone, like a mentor, guiding them through the process.
We realize that finding a mentor takes time. That’s why we decided to host, Jim Key, the Director of Global Marketing at Intrax Internships Abroad. Every other Tuesday he will be a resident mentor, guest blogging and sharing insights about interning and working abroad.
Through his job, he has the privilege to meet and discuss international internships with companies that host American students in London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, and Berlin. He has first hand knowledge of what these companies are looking for in their international interns.
Jim Key - Director of Global Marketing
Jim joined Intrax after 15 years of sales & marketing in the world of advertising, publishing, and consumer insights. He studied abroad in Cologne, Germany and did a six-month internship with Opel near Frankfurt, Germany in grad school while getting his Master’s of International Business Studies. His wife is Bulgarian and he even did a two-month tour of Australia – just him and his toddler! He speaks German, Spanish, and Bulgarian and embodies much of what we do here at Goinglobal Blog – bringing his passion for all things international into his working life.
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Posted by: Olga at Going Global
Posted on July 13, 2010
Even cookie monster is saving his money this summer
The number one reason that people don’t work, study or travel abroad is because of their fear of not having enough money. “I could never afford that.” “I don’t have enough money saved up.” “How can I afford to work abroad when I need to pay my bills now?” The reality is that it is never too early or too late to start saving for your trip abroad.
The biggest mistake is to think that you are wasting your money. On the contrary, you are investing in your future, especially if your end goal is to have an international career. Having enough money for these international opportunities has more to do with how you spend your money rather than how much money you have in this present moment.
We have outlined a 5-step process to get you on saving for that dream international opportunity. With the right planning and making slight adjustments to your everyday spending habits, that dream will turn into a reality.
1. Get organized
Sounds simple right? Well it is. Start by looking at how much money you have at your disposal today. Sort out your expenses and what you need to leave covered for your temporary hiatus.
2. Figure out how much you need (comfort is not expensive)
How much money do you need to cover your expenses abroad based on what you are making at your international job? Your expenses will be pretty straight forward (e.g. accommodation, food, entertainment, transportation & travel). Calculate your monthly cost of living and make that your magical ‘savings number’.
3. Go on a spending diet
There are two best spending diets to go on…before you leave and while you are there. Before you leave, cut the extra spending areas that are unnecessary. Whether it is the Starbucks, the late night partying or Netflix, the long-term international reward will be higher. On the other spectrum, the best way to cut spending while abroad is to eat in, stay with roommates and use public transportation.
4. Get a job
With your magic number in mind, the next step is to start making money. The type of job is irrelevant to your long term The two essential elements here…what is your timeline and how much are you setting aside every week? Essential number 1: Timeline – How much time do you to work in your home country to reach your magic number? Essential number 2: Setting money aside: No matter what, stick to a weekly plan to set money aside (even if it is only $20). If you only save $20 a week for 4 months, you have already saved $320.
5. Track your progress
Your plan is set. You know your goal and are working to get there. Now it’s time to watch your savings grow. As you start gaining traction and realizing that your trip is a reality, it will motivate you to keep saving more and more. From my experience, I started little and as my pot of gold became larger, I saved more.
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Posted by: Olga at Going Global
Posted on March 25, 2010
Photo Attribution to Cayusa on Flickr
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), only 0.3 percent of U.S. college students study abroad. “How can I possibly afford to go study abroad? I don’t have enough money.” That complaint is synonymous with students and young people who don’t take the opportunity to study abroad in college. In their minds, it boils down to money.
The interesting thing is that an increasing number of universities, international companies and the government encourage students to study abroad and have implemented scholarships to help fund their experience. There is the Fulbright Program, the Institute of International Education and the IES Abroad programs that are filled with opportunities and scholarships for students who have the ambition to study abroad.
The government in particular is a huge advocate of cultural and educational exchanges. In 2009, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Roger Wicker introduced the Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act and unanimously won the House of Representative vote. The Foundation will act as a study abroad program hub for undergraduate students would otherwise not have the financial ability pursue an international opportunity. Their aim is to build global leaders, foster international understanding and fund study abroad programs in non-traditional locations. According to Senator Wicker, we need to cultivate “the future leaders of our nation [and enable them to] have a higher level of foreign language proficiency and international and cultural knowledge.”
The money from these programs, agencies and foundations is out there for the taking. So how do you as a student take these scholarship opportunities into your own hands? The only solution is to start applying now. Below is just a sample of the financial resources that are available. Remember that the more high profile a scholarship is, the more competition there will be for those awards. Always think local as a strategy for scholarships. Your chances will always be higher.
Here are some examples of scholarships available:
IES Abroad Merit-Based Scholarship for International Relations, Cross-Cultural & Comparative Studies, and Leadership & Community Involvement.
Hispanic Study Abroad Scholars (HSAS) – Scholarships specifically geared for Hispanics study abroad.
National Flagship Language Program – Encouraging the development of specialists in languages critical to U.S. security interests.
Do you know of any scholarships that should be included in this list? Let us know and we will add them to our list.
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Posted by: Olga at Going Global
Posted on January 28, 2010
Photo courtesy of Lucas Franchi
One of the biggest lessons that we have learned from our guests, Erin Bream (Fulbright Scholar in Colombia), James Norris (Young Professional in Singapore), Michael Pearsun (Winner of a Study Abroad in Korea) and Alan Perlman (Cost-of-living surveyor) is that there is no such thing as a cookie-cutter international experience.
So what happens when you decide to take ‘the road less traveled’? You open yourself to a world of possibilities, literally. That is our lesson from our guest this week, Lucas Franchi. He decided rather than to follow the normal trajectory for a recent college grad, he was going to explore his ‘road less traveled’. He ventured out to combine his love for languages and culture as an ESL teacher in Asia. His one-year adventure has turned into a three-year career that he hopes to continue building in other countries as well. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
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Posted by: Olga at Going Global
Posted on January 26, 2010
Photo attribution to TheGoogly on Flickr
The time has officially come. It’s resume time. Writing a resume is often correlated to a painful and dreadful experience. You know you have to but it takes so much time! Well not to fear. It doesn’t have to be that way. Your resume is the single most important document that you will ever write in your career. That being said, it doesn’t have to be perfect the first time. You will go through many, many iterations of your resume.
The goal for this week is to start and complete your first resume. If you already have a resume, spend this week polishing it up. Remember to include any relevant experience that has to do with international topics. That encompasses language abilities, international clubs, international volunteering, gap year travel, etc. Your resume is your international calling card and must convey your international aptitudes.
Generally in our Must Do Monday posts, we give a 5-day breakdown of how to achieve the goal for the week. This week we are going to tweak that slightly. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
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Posted by: Olga at Going Global
