Career Trends—Why Employers Are Looking for Global Engagement

We live and work in uncertain times. Divisiveness and anger in American politics, and their ripple effects around the world, have altered the outlook of career paths that once seemed stable and secure.  Professionals in government, foreign service, and diplomacy face an unpredictable future; business people, journalists, even scientists grappling with climate change must deal with shifting policies and shrinking budgets. Given this ever-changing landscape, it’s no surprise that students pursuing a globally focused career might be having second thoughts.

In many respects, though, there has never been a better time to pursue a degree that emphasizes global engagement and cultural awareness. The skills and commitment involved have never been more crucial for professional success.

In fact, success in our interconnected world requires an in-depth understanding of the forces, trends, and processes that impact life and work on many levels—community, state, national, and international—because these levels have never been more tightly interwoven. This is why employers value the ability to work effectively across cultures and in diverse organizational settings. Research by the British Council shows that employers of all kinds look for these critical skills and prioritize them in their hiring decisions.

As a recent article in Foreign Policy explains:
We desperately need not only answers but new ways of thinking about, framing, and analyzing the most important global questions. And this applies not only to government but also employers in the private and nonprofit sector. As Google, Facebook, Twitter, and other large technology companies no doubt now recognize, no amount of training in computer science or marketing can fully prepare a global corporation for the challenges of operating in a deeply politicized, complex, and often counterintuitive international environment.

Whether you work in healthcare, social work, education, or law enforcement, the ability to approach your work with an informed global perspective and to leverage the potential of a diverse workforce will set you apart in your field. It will empower you to:

• Navigate the impact of contemporary political and diplomatic discord on working globally
• Develop strategies for resolving conflict in multicultural teams
• Propose community-based approaches to address the challenges and opportunities that shifting populations might bring to businesses, organizations, and individuals.

It’s an exciting time to earn a master’s degree or graduate certificate in Global Community Engagement.  Please check out our offerings and contact Enrollment Manager Chris Heriza with any questions you might have.