International

The international career development process can pose some specific challenges. HBS Alumni Career and Professional Development compiled resources specifically for international alumni to assist during the career development process.

• Coaching

  Alumni Career and Professional Development offers individual counseling appointments designed to assist HBS alumni with all aspects of the career development process, including:

  • Direction and decision-making
  • Positioning
  • Self-assessment
  • Job search
  • Evaluation
  • Negotiation

  Professional career counselors are available for 45-minute telephone appointments. Please note we have introduced a new scheduling system that allows you to schedule your own coaching sessions. To begin the process please click here. This service is free of charge to HBS Alumni.

  In addition, it might be helpful to contact a club in your area to get advice and recommendations from them.

• Self-Assessment

  Review your education, career history, and accomplishments. What are your strengths, weaknesses, personal preferences, and motivations? Think about who you are and what you want for the next phase of your career.

  CareerLeader—developed by HBS Director of MBA Career Development Programs Dr. Timothy Butler and his colleague Dr. James Waldroop—is an interactive tool that can help you identify your interests, values, and abilities and match them with career opportunities. CareerLeader will also help you identify your "Achilles' heel" and learn what you need to do to avoid the career pitfalls most associated with your profile. This service is available to HBS alumni for a discounted fee of $75.

  Also, the following print resources might help you with your reflection.

  • Self Assessment and Career Development (3rd edition), James G. Clawson, John P. Kotter, Victor Faux, Charles C. McArthur, Prentice Hall, 1991.
  • The Career Adventure: Your Guide to Personal Assessment, Career Exploration, and Decision Making (4th Edition), Susan M. Johnston, Prentice Hall, 2005.
  • Using Assessment Results for Career Development, Debra S. Osborn and Vernon G. Zunker
• Research

  Information is critical to success. The following resources support research at different points in the career development process. Contact Mallory Stark, career information librarian at the Baker Library|Bloomberg Center, if you need further assistance.

  eBaker

  eBaker
  A suite of authoritative business research databases packaged exclusively for HBS alumni.

  Please click here to see a list of eBaker resources that are particularly relevant for international research.

  This presentation (pdf) given at the Alumni Reunion, May 23, 2009, can also help to get you started with your research.

  Retained Executive Search Firms

  Please click here (pdf) for a list of Retained Executive Search Firms identified by Career and Professional Development and a ranking by HBS alumni employed.

  Employment Law Firms

  Please click here (pdf) for a list of Employment Law Firms as identified by Workforce Management.

  Outplacement Firms

  Please click here (pdf) for a list of Outplacement Firms as identified by Career and Professional Development and Jim Stroud of The Recruiters Lounge, 2008.

  HBS Working Knowledge

  A weekly online magazine devoted to the emerging research and ideas of HBS faculty, designed for alumni and business practitioners.

  Bridgestar

  A portal for HBS students and alumni interested in exploring the nonprofit sector, Bridgestar offers job postings, nonprofit board matching, and executive search services. Membership is free to HBS alumni. Although most job postings are in the US, some international jobs can be found using the selection "international."

• Job Search

  There are multiple resources available that can help you search for opportunities. The resources listed below get you in touch with recruiters who are targeting candidates like you.

  Exclusive Alumni Resources

  HBS Alumni Job Bank
  Jobs are posted each month from employers and executive search firms, exclusively for HBS alumni. This application allows you to search jobs by industry, functional area, geographic location, salary range, keyword, type of position and post date.

  Reciprocity Agreements
  HBS has arranged for HBS alumni to access job listings via the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Stanford School of Business, and INSEAD.

  Other Online Job Boards

  MBA-Direct
  MBA-Direct.com is a global leader for MBA jobs, providing a professional online community for MBA alumni, students, executive recruiters, and the world's leading business schools.

  Owned by the Financial Times, MBA-Direct.com specializes in advertising genuine, international, executive MBA job opportunities across the global recruitment marketplace and provides an innovative and effective method for recruitment.

  MBA Global Career Forum
  For years, the MBA Global Career Forum has enabled employers from around the world to virtually interact with and recruit talented MBAs, students and recent alumni. Learn about global companies through online presentations, webcasts, etc. Search and apply for jobs.

  Global Workplace
  Global Workplace is a membership-only platform providing lifelong career opportunities to MBAs and Masters of the world's leading business schools.

• Resumes

  The resume is an opportunity to market yourself to a prospective employer. It should be succinct, target an employer's needs, and distinguish you from your competitors.

  Please click here to see some general advice on how to write a more effective resume.

  In addition, the following online resources can provide you with advice on how to specifically structure your international resume:

  International Resume Writing

  Eurograduate.com — Europe
  Country-by-country guide for most of Europe with suggestions for how best to present and tailor your CV for employment in each country. Free sample CVs for most countries in Europe available.

  iAgora.com — France, Germany, Spain, Sweden
  Tips on writing your CV and cover letters in selected countries and on the internet including detailed dos and don'ts and sample CVs.

  International University of Japan — Japan
  Overview of the complexities and cultural factors that must be considered when pursuing international employment with specific suggestions for preparing a CV/resume for a position in Japan.

  JobWeb — Canada, Spain, Japan, UK, France
  Short tips for writing your international resume for selected countries.

  American Evaluation Association (AEA) — Worldwide
  The AEA is an international professional organization. Although most of the resumes have been placed online by individuals seeking employment in the United States, there are many resumes placed by non-US based individuals and US-based job seekers looking for positions abroad. Worth browsing to get a sense of how others put together an international resume/CV.

• Other Online Resources

  The following resources may also guide you in your international job search. Please also check here for links to more general online career resources.

  Global Research Centers — Worldwide
  To facilitate faculty research and case development on an international scale, the Harvard Business School has furthered its global impact by establishing six Global Research Centers in key regions. Search for a Global Research Center in your region.

  Expatexchange.com — Worldwide
  An on-line community for English-speaking expatriates.

  GoinGlobal — Worldwide
  Links to "sample" passages from country guides sold by GoinGlobal. Accessible samples available through this page are very abbreviated and of little functional value. Some of the individual country pages, however, do link to other, more complete articles and resources. Worth browsing by country of interest. In addition, some of the guides are provided through the database ABI/ProQuest on eBaker.

  How to:

  • Click on "More search options" in the Basic Search Screen.
  • Type "going global" in the publication title field. If you now search for the country you are interested in, guides from Going Global will appear. Typical topics are "Cultural Advice," "Work Permits and Visa," "Professional Resources" or "Job Application Guidelines."

  Additional Online Job Boards

  Check the following online Job Boards for positions that might fit your needs:

  • The Financial Times — Worldwide
  • The Economist — Worldwide
  • The Guardian — Mainly US and UK
  • The Telegraph — Mainly US and UK
  • Bumeran.com — Latin America