International Experience Can Advance Your Security Career

Most job descriptions for senior level security roles express either a preference or a requirement for international experience. The global nature of business drives this, and organizations increasingly favor candidates who are knowledgeable and effective in diverse cultural settings.

There are a variety of ways to gain skills at any stage of your career that will set you up to be successful on an international stage and help advance your security career to the senior-most level.

If you are just starting out, you can choose to work for public sector agencies that offer training and the opportunity to relocate to other parts of the world. Many private sector security professionals have transitioned from these roles and much of their success can be directly attributed to their global experience.

If you are already in the private sector, you can pursue education options geared towards international business. Universities and colleges offer a multitude of choices as do continuing education programs through relevant industry associations. Many multinational corporations support ongoing education, and you can leverage this benefit to better position yourself as an organizational asset across regions in which the company operates.

Also critical is the ability to be fluent in multiple languages. This cannot be understated in today’s world. To be successful in diverse settings you must be able to communicate and build rapport through language. Building upon earlier language skill sets or targeting languages specific to the region in which you would like to live and work are smart choices.

The type of company you choose to work for may also afford you more opportunities than another. For instance, multinational corporations with security, risk and resilience functions around the world are often the type of company you should consider. Look for those…

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