INQUIRY

Career Map
Prospect for Success Paper #2

Submitted to
Dr. Daryl L. Kerr
Department of Manager
Belk College of Business
UNC Charlotte

Submitted by
Andres F. Salgado
BUSN 1101-001
November 23, 2015

Inquiry PSF Paper # 2

Choosing a career after attending college is one of the most important life decisions a
person can make. Research and careful examination are required when deciding what career field
best fits you. There are many careers that correlate with business majors, so having the
knowledge of different career fields can prove very effective when applying for jobs. A career is
a long-term commitment that takes motivation and dedication, and one that peaks your interest is
key to a successful and enjoyable business life. Its essential to research the working conditions,
responsibilities, employment outlook, advancement earning, qualifications and training needed
for a career. All of these play a great factor when deciding on a lifelong commitment such as a
career.
For my career I chose to research and analyze the requirements of an international trade
specialist. There a many qualifications needed to become an international trade specialist. This
career requires a bachelors degree in some sort of business major such as international business,
global public policy, international trade, business administration, or economics. Most
international careers highly recommend a minor or knowledge of a different language in order to
communicate and relate to important clients from nations such as Germany, Japan and Spain.
Another key factor in becoming an international trade specialist is having several years of
experience in international trade. Lastly, some larger corporations might require a Certified
International Trade Professional (CITP) certification.
International trade specialist responsibilities and duties depend on the size of the
company. In larger corporations, international trade specialists usually have fewer
responsibilities and duties because they specialize in one specific task. In smaller businesses,

international trade specialists have more responsibilities because there are fewer workers to
accomplish all of the necessary tasks. Overall, an international trade specialists main
responsibility is to examine and oversee the importing and exporting of goods all over the world.
They also revise all the paper work dealing with international trade to ensure it is completed in a
timely manner and meets all the requirements under trade laws. International trade specialists
may act as an advisor on certain matters such as federal and foreign regulations.
For most people, salary and employment outlook play an important part in deciding
whether a career looks prosperous or not. An international trade specialists salary depends on
many factors; location, level of education, years of experience, performance, and personal
connections. The median salary in the United States, including bonuses, ranges from $60,000 to
$70, 000. A recent college graduate in the international trade specialist field can make
approximately $50,000 while someone with 20 plus years makes an average of $75,000.
Furthermore, the employment outlook for my selected career is above average, as it is expected
to grow 14% between 2013 and 2022. Globalization is inevitable, so businesses need to stay
connected across the globe in order to expand, making international trade specialists important in
the workplace.
An important part of choosing a career is researching the working conditions of the career
field. A career might come with a high salary and great benefits, but have a large quantity of
work and stressful working conditions. International trade specialists operate in a professional
work environment that requires employees to dress in professional attire. Employees are required
to be able to handle large amounts of tedious work and be able to sit behind a desk for an
extended period of time. With every international career field, employees must be comfortable
with working with people from different cultures, air travel and consistently being on the move.
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Investing the time to research a career field is critical in making a lifelong decision and
has helped me to focus my search for a career. Knowing the small details and the real life
experiences of something you will be doing for the rest of your life is paramount for a successful,
fulfilling and enjoyable life. Analyzing the working conditions, responsibilities, employment
outlook, advancement earning, qualifications and training needed for a career all help make the
right choice for you.

Reference page
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