How to Work as an International Trade Consultant

An international trade consultant overseas trade between organizations in different countries. He provides advice on rules and regulations, as well as solutions to common problems. In the end, his job is to facilitate trade and investment and make business transactions between nations easier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Earn a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university. This is the first step toward a career in international trade. A degree in international trade, finance, marketing, logistics/operations management or political science can lay the groundwork for your career as an international trade consultant.
2. Earn a graduate or post-graduate degree in a related field. A career as an international trade consultant can be lucrative, and competition for such positions is cutthroat. A graduate degree in international trade is quickly becoming a standard requirement, and for top positions, most candidates will possess post-graduate degrees.
3. Gain relevant work experience. Get internship and study-abroad experience. Having these things on your resume may improve your chances of getting a job as an international trade consultant.
4. Gain work experience in the private sector. A good place to work to prepare yourself for a career as an international trade consultant is with a reputable import/export firm. This will give you considerable practical experience dealing with the everyday details of trade between nations.
5. Get an internship with the International Trade Division of the Department of Commerce. It is not uncommon for interns to get hired as international trade consultants following graduation.
6. Contact the hiring managers at consulting firms in your area. Some consulting firms are almost exclusively devoted to international trade issues while others include such activities as part of the total services they provide.
7. Post your resume on one of the big job-search websites, like Monster.com (see Resources below). This gets your resume out to the widest possible audience and enables you to keep current on developments in the field.
8. Contact a recruiter who has experience placing international trade consultants. She may be able to help you find a job faster than you could secure one alone.

Tips & Warnings

• Take at least 2 years of a foreign language in college. Foreign-language proficiency is a very marketable job skill for an international trade consultant.