10 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Going Global

Looking to launch your global career? Read on for ten practical strategies professionals can use to expand their global opportunities, from building cross-cultural skills to seeking out international experiences. It highlights simple, proactive steps anyone can take to become more globally ready.

I give a fair number of speeches and participate in many career conferences and panels across the country — both on campuses and within organizations — and almost always the question comes up: What can I do to increase my odds of working globally? The answer is to understand what skills employers value and start marketing yourself as an international leader.

Whether your goal is to relocate abroad or to pursue a career with a global focus, it’s important to demonstrate not only the desire and technical skills but also the soft skills needed to succeed. Soft skills are the personal attributes and interpersonal abilities that define how you work and interact with others. In Get Ahead By Going Abroad, I identified five critical skills that have helped people thrive in a global career:

Flexibility/Adaptability

Ability to listen and communicate well

Skill at building teams and relationships

Patience and persistence

Curiosity and open-mindedness

In June 2025, 60% of employers said that soft skills were more important today than five years ago. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 noted that businesses see “creative thinking to be growing in importance slightly more rapidly than analytical thinking.” Employers are particularly focused on employees who show resilience, flexibility, and self-awareness.

Researching for my latest book, A Family Guide to Study Abroad, I found that studying abroad not only developed these same skills but that “the long-term benefits of studying abroad include higher earning potential, better job opportunities, and personal growth and development.” A new Harvard Business Review survey noted that “[soft] skills—like collaboration, mathematical thinking, and adaptability—may prove much more important for both individuals and companies.” They found that employees who had advanced soft skills earned higher salaries throughout their careers, were promoted to more advanced roles, and were better able to navigate industry change. As you engage in global learning or work, you’re developing in-demand soft skills that will position you as a successful leader. Find opportunities to showcase these skills while you continue to deliver in your current job and actively seek interesting international projects or assignments.

Once you know how to market yourself for global work, my “10 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Going Global” tips will help flesh out your strategy. This list evolved from hundreds of interviews with professionals who had landed international assignments themselves.

Perform your current duties with excellence.
Make your international desires known often and broadly. Incorporate talk of an international assignment into your formal performance reviews — and other informal career conversations.
Find a mentor to advocate for you, especially one with an international network.
Learn and/or practice a foreign language.
Research those countries you might be transferred to so you can make an informed decision.
Demonstrate your cultural awareness and sensitivity while still in your home market.
Point out ways you can make a difference for your organization overseas.
Package yourself and your accomplishments in a non-self-serving way that demonstrates your potential value.
Volunteer for special projects involving international work.
If you believe that an organization will not transfer you, move to the country of your choice on your own.

These are some tried-and-true methods, but there are many other ways to increase your chances of going global. What else has worked for you?

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