Shopping for a job in the international marketplace

Wednesday, May 6, 1998

Shopping for a job in the international marketplace

CAREERS: Opportunities abroad, in U.S. for grads with global
perspectives

By Teresa Jun

Daily Bruin Contributor

For those who are still searching for that perfect job after
graduation, there may be one place left to explore – the global
arena.

UCLA’s first International Career Forum will take place Thursday
evening, and will feature a variety of career opportunities in
international fields.

Employers from diverse fields such as law, advertising,
entertainment, education and global communications are eager to
meet and potentially recruit qualified UCLA students.

International career opportunities, though perhaps little-known
among students, in fact help constitute the full range of potential
jobs available upon graduation.

"A lot of people don’t realize that the world is bigger than
California or the United States," said Josh Spiegelman, a
fourth-year Spanish literature major, who is the sole organizer of
this career forum. "We live in a global economy, and it’s important
to prepare students for that type of environment."

One of the reasons for organizing this forum was to address the
need for students to be aware of these international
opportunities.

"There are many job opportunities in international fields,"
Spiegelman said. "However, many qualified students remain unaware
of these possibilities."

Opportunities in the international arena are not limited to jobs
that require living outside the United States. Multilingual skills
and knowledge can also open up job opportunities in the domestic
workplace.

"You can use your skills and knowledge of other nations or
languages and apply them to a job here in the U.S.," Spiegelman
said, making a reference to the L.A. Unified School District, one
of the employers expected at tomorrow’s conference.

"In working with bilingual education, you are dealing with the
multi-lingual aspect without being international and working
outside the U.S.," he said.

At least one employer attending tomorrow’s event is excited.
"(International work) is a fascinating area to be involved in,"
said Edward Vaill, who works for an international law firm, Shaub
& Williams, located in West L.A. He especially encouraged
students who grew up in a bilingual environment.

"It’s important to use that second language that you know so
well," Vaill said.

Whether or not one can speak a second language, Spiegelman
encourages anyone who is at all interested in international careers
to attend Thursday’s forum.

"It will provide students with an opportunity to interact with
employers of international organizations and allow them to learn
more about working in a multicultural, multilingual environment,"
he said.