London is one of the world’s most international cities, not only because of the sheer amount of multinational corporations with either their headquarters or large offices in the city, but also because of its cosmopolitan working population. It has a unique professional culture and has a central importance in international markets.
Gaining experience in this fast-paced and exciting environment is extremely important for anyone who wants to pursue a career in the world of international business.
The best way to understand how London works is to spend time living and working there. Researching the UK’s demographics and the market will benefit you, but there is nothing better than experiencing it first hand.
The type of company you intern in can give you completely different experiences of London. Whether you’re in a huge multinational or a boutique start-up, work experience in London will take you further in your career.
London has a unique working culture. London is truly a cultural melting pot and this is noticeable after spending only a day in London. As you walk down the street you are likely to hear more than three different languages being spoken at any one time.
London is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities with people from 270 different countries choosing to make it their home. You can find classic Georgian houses alongside cutting edge modern architecture and stepping from one borough to another can be like entering a different world.
London is also an extremely competitive city. Despite the questionable climate, it’s attractive skyline, international reputation and high level of opportunity attracts the best and brightest to the city. This makes the job market an international hot-spot.
During the recent economic recovery, 80% of all new jobs in the UK were created in an around London. Good work experience is a must if you are looking for a placement in this competitive market.
Obtaining an internship in London will show future employers that you’ve got what it takes to be successful. Employers in other cities around the world will be impressed by your international experience, especially if it’s in one of the most business orientated cities in the world.
Nowadays, many businesses aspire to operate on an international level. Gaining experience in international business will prepare you for an employment market that is hungry for people with international experience. Companies’ global expansion and the natural international accessibility of online businesses means that new graduates should all be prepared to do business on the larger, global scale.
Hands-on experience is the best way to show that you are committed to learning about international business and gives you a greater advantage in the increasingly competitive job market.
International Business can be a broad title. For more information on specific sectors within London, you should read some of our other blog posts such as Finance in London, Marketing in London, Law in London.
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Sources:
Photo 1. based on Stocksnap.io, by Verne Ho, CC0 1.0
Photo 2. based on London Underground, by Nikos Koutoulas, CC-by-2.0