International Business

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Undergraduate Major

Faculty of Business and Law

Description

This major provides an opportunity to develop the skills needed to operate in a rapidly changing, increasingly global market place. Areas of study include crosscultural management and communications, international and geopolitical risk and global trade and finance. Specialisation in international business is increasingly popular with employers as more organisations require staff that can understand and negotiate the intricacies of conducting business with stakeholders in other countries where political, social, cultural and religious factors influence business practices. The understanding of global markets developed in this major is also highly valued in sectors such as finance, manufacturing, IT, energy and resources.

Industry Experience:

The Business Project elective is available to Bachelor of Business students which involves working on a real world organisational issue with a local business.

 

View our Bachelor of Business in the Program Handbook and the online prospectus What Can I Study?.

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Honours:
Some jobs require additional qualifications at Honours level. Honours is a one year stand-alone program, completed after successfully fulfilling the requirements of the undergraduate degree. View Bachelor of Business (Honours).

Postgraduate Study

Some occupations require a higher level of completed study than an undergraduate degree, and for this reason it is worthwhile considering the range of postgraduate study options available. Postgraduate study may also be useful for specialising in a particular area, or to stimulate career change. Some of the postgraduate study options following the Bachelor of Business include:

Research:

Masters
PhD

Coursework:

Postgraduate coursework programs can add further specialisations in areas including business, safety, quality assurance and teaching. To explore such options please visit the Postgraduate Handbook at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/program/postgraduate/

View our Bachelor of Business in the Program Handbook and the online prospectus What Can I Study?.

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Sample Jobs

The sample job titles listed include a range of opportunities for graduates at degree, honours and postgraduate study levels.


The following diagram links career opportunities with prior professional experience and level of qualifications. When interpreting this information remember that "level of professional experience" is not simply the length of time spent employed within a particular industry; rather it is a combination of both quantity and of quality- factors such as the size and complexity of an organisation, individual role within it, the type of work performed and the things achieved. When considering career opportunities available to you, you should consider how formal qualifications and your current level of experience combined prepare you for a role.

Getting the Edge

Most employers seek to recruit people who have relevant work experience and an appreciation for their industry. Here is a check list of ideas about gaining experience and industry knowledge.

  1. Check the type of experience most employers in your field of interest expect. Don’t overlook the part time work you may be currently doing. Most employers understand that the skills are transferrable even if the work is not in their industry.
  2. Check your academic program for any courses that involve a placement or the opportunity to undertake an industry based project.
  3. Check your school for Summer Scholarships for research opportunities.
  4. Check vacancy sites for advertised traineeships, part time employment and vacation work opportunities in your field.
  5. Source and approach organisations directly about possible work shadowing or information interview opportunities.
  6. Source and approach organisations directly for paid work opportunities.
  7. Consider volunteering.

Note: Gaining experience may be important but not at the expense of your studies. Make sure you do not overload your timetable with unrealistic work commitments.

 

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Sample Employers

International Business employment opportunities exist in a wide variety of industries within small, medium and large organisations. Below is an example of some major organisations which formally target graduates with qualifications in International Business.

Recruitment Timing

Some large organisations have specific graduate recruitment programs designed to employ the pick of graduates each year. You must be in your final year of study or recently completed to apply for these programs. The timing of these recruitment drives varies and may occur at any point in the academic year, in some cases starting as early as the first few weeks of the first semester or trimester.

Find out if employers in your area/s of interest have graduate programs, when they typically recruit and what recruitment methods they use. Check with the Careers Service .

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Societies and Associations

Associations and societies often provide relevant and up to date information about a variety of issues relating to specific industry sectors. These can be a good starting point to learn more about occupations through profiles, industry news, links to academic journals and information on research developments. Many also offer student membership, conference and professional development activities, newsletters and the opportunity to participate in projects.

Associations and societies often provide relevant and up to date information about a variety of issues relating to specific industry sectors. These can be a good starting point to learn more about careers through profiles, industry news, links to academic journals and information on research developments. Many also offer student membership, conference information, newsletters and the opportunity to participate in projects.

Below are links to a variety of international business related societies and associations that you might find interesting:


Don’t overlook student societies and associations. As well as student chapters of professional associations, some faculties or schools have discipline based student associations. Check your school or faculty web site; perhaps you might start one if one doesn’t exist.

Some academic disciplines run Seminar Programs that involve regular seminars presented by University of Newcastle academics, visiting academics and postgraduate students. Check your schools website for the timetable.

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Job Search Sites

Searching job sites is a good way to gain an understanding of: industries recruiting professionals in this field; types of roles and the requirements or expectations of employers for these roles. There are many online job search sites, here are a few to start with:

Australian and International

  • CareerHub: the University of Newcastle Careers Service careers and job search site for enrolled students and graduates.

Australian

  • CareerOne: Australia wide job listings, all levels and industries including executive positions
  • MyCareer: Australian and international listings
  • Seek: comprehensive Australian job listings, also includes New Zealand and UK listings
  • The Big Chair: Management and Executive Jobs

International

Graduate Attributes and Employability

Graduate attributes for the Bachelor of Business are the skills, abilities and knowledge that are highly sought after by a broad range of employers. Below is the complete list of attributes that graduates will have demonstrated upon the completion of the degree.

Graduate Attributes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Business will demonstrate:

  • A fundamental knowledge of accounting, financial management, economics, organisational theory, information technology and value chains, business law, marketing, the political environment, and strategy.
  • Advanced specialized knowledge in at least one of the disciplines: supply chain management, human resource management, international business, management, marketing, or tourism.
  • Specialised professional skills in their chosen discipline, informed by the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise both quantitative and qualitative information.
  • The ability to work autonomously or collaboratively in a manner that is sensitive to and tolerant of diversity, and informed by critical and adaptive thinking.
  •  Awareness of social and cultural issues within local, national, and international spheres of business operations.
  • Awareness of the standards necessary for appropriate professional practice and ethical conduct and an understanding of how to implement such standards.
  • A capability for life-long, self-directed learning, informed by exposure to different paradigms and experiences.
  • The capacity to contribute positively to the development of organisations through the process of research and inquiry.
  • Effective written and verbal communication of their specialised knowledge.

You will recognise these attributes in the selection criteria listed in the following job ads.

Sample Job Ads & Tips

Job ads provide useful information about the job and the required skills, experience and qualifications. Information like this is useful in career planning. Below is a small sample of job ads with tips on planning and job applications; explore further to gather more useful information for your planning.

Please note: the job ads listed on this page are not current and were sourced from a variety of websites in 2010.

 

Sample Job Ad 1
Sample Job Ad 2
Sample Job Ad 3
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