The Results-Oriented International Workplace

International jobs, whether finance, operations or human resources, are involved in a lot of detail. When international people are so engrossed in the details of their jobs, it's easy for them, for anyone actually, to lose sight of the job's major contribution.

A Results-Oriented International Job Description is different from a traditional job description because it focuses an employee on the several job results that answer the question: What results must this international affairs job accomplish for the organization?

International Job Standards added to job expectations tighten management controls by clarifying how well and when results must be accomplished.

International Job Objectives establish management and employee plans by highlighting important current and future results needed.

Job-specific International Employee Management Forms maintain consistent and legally sound management actions by basing manager-employee interactions on job results.

The Purpose of International Jobs

Stated in a results-oriented, three-line style, international affairs jobs--

PROVIDE INTERNATIONAL CONTINUITY TO ORGANIZATION OPERATIONS by

identifying organization operational requirements in foreign locations; establishing policies and procedures for accomplishing foreign requirements; studying financial requirements in each country; complying with resident laws and regulations; analyzing foreign markets.

Types of International Jobs

Some international jobs operate in the foreign environment conducting various functional operations. Other jobs remain in the host country and coordinate operations. Jobs exist in most every functional areas of an organization. Of course, somebody has to manage and supervise the international people and processes.

International Job Management Tools

Here are actual job examples of how international affairs job actions can be focused on results and kept on track using each of our job management tools:

Results-Oriented International Job Descriptions form the foundation of all job management tools. Our uniquely structured job descriptions focus on the result to be accomplished first and prominently, followed by the duties performed in order to accomplish the result. For example,

RECOMMENDS INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

International Job Standards sharpen employee attention and management control by defining and communicating how well the international affairs results must be accomplished and what benchmarks will be used to measure job results. For example, for the job result above, the job standards might be:

• International situations are correctly understood.
• All options are identified and evaluated.
• International recommendations are ready when needed.

International Job Objectives point the direction for employee actions by focusing job efforts on current and future international affairs issues. Job objectives are written in the three-line, results-oriented structure. For example, for the job result above, a job objective might be:

SPEED-UP DECISION MAKING by

reducing time to deliver international affairs recommendations by 10% by (date).

International Employee Management Forms tied specifically to each international affairs job description are more helpful (and legal) than generic forms used for all different kinds of jobs. Job-specific forms are used to state job qualifications, guide job interview questions, orient new employees, plan job training, and appraise job performance.

International Job Qualifications are stated in the same terms used in the job description. They are not translated into generic (typically behavioral) terms. For example:

RECOMMENDS INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

International Job Interview guide questions are inserted directly below each job result in the job description: For example:

• "What specific job responsibilities have you had in this area?"
• "Where did you have these job responsibilities?"
• "When did you have these job responsibilities?"
• "How did you go about accomplishing these responsibilities?"
• "What accomplishment in this area gave you the most pride?"
• "In this area, what were some of your biggest challenges?"
• "How did you overcome the challenges?"

The International Job Orientation guide reformats the job description sequence so that job explanations, policies, protocols, processes, and procedures are logical and complete and can easily be checked off. For example:

RECOMMENDS INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

The manager might say: "Here's the procedure and format we use to analyze and present international affairs recommendations."

The International Job Training plan guides a thorough examination of actual job knowledge, skills, and abilities as described in the job description that need improvement or that might be enhanced. For example:

RECOMMENDS INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

The manager might say: "Analytical skills would be improved by enrolling in a statistical analysis class."

The International Job Performance Appraisal guide is a job-specific form. It is not a universal form used for all jobs. The guide adds an appraisal scale below each job result in the job description so that attention can be drawn to each job requirement and expectation. For example:

RECOMMENDS INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

__ Great! Just want we wanted.
__ We have a problem.
__ Improvement is needed.
__ Much, much more than we asked for.

Comments: _________________

International Résumé Template

Potential employers want to know what a job applicant has accomplished in his/her international affairs work career. They don't want to be bored with minor details. Our Résumé Template provides:

• an outline to help assemble personal background information.
• a Results-Oriented Job Description to provide the international affairs job language-focused on results-needed to write an effective résumé.
• International Job Objectives to orient thinking in terms of accomplishments.
• instructions on how to use a Results-Oriented International Job Description and International Job Objectives to express job accomplishments.

Use the international affairs job description responsibility statement as a base:

RECOMMENDS INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS by

analyzing system controls.

Select the international affairs job objective that fits your experience:

REDUCE COSTS 10% by

improving international affairs processes.

Combine the two into a résumé statement:

Reduced costs 10% by analyzing, identifying, and recommending new international affairs system controls.

International Career Links

InternationalJobs.org

International Career Employment Weekly, Access to critical job openings, profiles of major employers. Membership is open to anyone interested in international jobs.

Transitions Abroad, Work Abroad

Articles, portals, professions, books and resources, job listings, internships, international living.

Western Kentucky University, International Careers

What's an international career? Preparing for one, Resources to help, International job sites, International news flash, Résumé and interviewing advice, and International information sites.

University of California, Berkeley, Career Center, International

Professional associations, career paths/occupational information and resources, links.

Duke University, International Careers Page

Qualifying for an international opportunity, short-term work abroad, internships, meetings, conferences, forums, resources on the Internet, graduate school programs.

Federation of International Trade Associations, Career Headquarters

Global trade portal, free résumé posting, international career opportunities.

U.S. Department of State, Employment Opportunities in the UN and other Organizations

Employment opportunities in the U.S. and abroad.

CareerOverview.com, International Marketing Careers, Jobs and Training Information

Non-commercial website dedicated to providing aspiring career professionals and students with relevant, reliable and up-to-date career and job information whereby helping them to make better, more informed career choices.