GSteed

How about the commercial world? Hertz, Avis, Marriott and on and on...Airlines, shipping companies. Find out what they are looking for. .Travel services always need tour guides with language skills.

ira

Hi Mb,

You are a quick study. Your second post was much better than your first.

Much good advice above.

I have had some experience in advising undergrduates.

There are many US-based corporations that have extensive foreign operations - eg, oil, automobiles, agriculture, chemicals.... These offer more opportunities for employment abroad than the Foreign Service.

As noted, being fluent in at least one language other than English will be very useful, although not absolutely required.

A BS degree in Business, Economics, Foreign Languages and Lit, or History can all lead to the sort of job you want.

Advanced degrees in Econ, Law and Business will be very helpful.

What is of major importance is that you pursue a program that allows you to demonstrate that: given a set of data (whether numbers, pictures or words) you can organize it, analyze it and communicate to someone else what that set of data means with reference to your client's or employer's interests.

Best of luck to you in your endeavors.

gambader

Great second post, following a great first post! It's clear you're serious about this. Lots of people wish and dream - it is a seductive part of the world! The difference is that you are doing something about it.

I gave you some thought last night after I wrote. I suppose it's a little bit of vicarious living - I can tell you that at your stage in life, I didn't even know what I wanted to do with myself, never mind where I wanted to do it. The only reason I fell into international business was that I went to a good college and I spoke several languages, so that I was sent on all the international assignments in my early 20s. Had I benefitted from your forethought and deliberation, the sky would have been the limit!

So 2 thoughts for your consideration: first, explore a language that's in demand. One way to differentiate yourself once over there is not as much to speak what everyone else does -but to offer something unique. Arabic is good because even though the current environment is not desirable, sooner or later it will be, and many multinationals that deal in the Middle East are based in Europe. Chinese is of course wonderful in the long run, but you might just end up in China at some point -- which would be a great feather in one's cap on the road to Europe.

The second suggestion I have is to go ahead and contact some of the graduate schools that you might consider. I have taught business school level courses, and I for one would have been delighted - and extremely helpful - had I received a call from someone such as you. YOu might have to go through a few people - but even contacting the alumni office and asking for some graduates to talk to would be interesting. The more networking you do, the better. That has always been my weakness. I can talk in front of 1,000 people but can't cold call strangers to save my life. If you have a thick skin and can handle some possible nonresponse, go for it.

Anyway, I am so impressed with your initiative and wish you the best.

LoveItaly

Hello Mbfr, I too am impressed with your initiative. You sound like a bright and thoughtful young man. Most people I know do not even have an idea of what they want to do with their life after they have been in university for a year or so.

I truly hope you will stay in touch with us here on Fodors. I believe a lot of us would enjoy following your progress through these coming years.

You have received a lot of good information which I am sure you will put to good use. My very best wishes to you!