The new South Carolina International Business Career Guide aims to change that by introducing students and emerging professionals to internationally focused careers across the state. Developed through a partnership between the University of South Carolina’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) and Global Careers Hub, the guide connects students with industries, employers and professionals involved in global business throughout South Carolina.
“The guide was created to help students and emerging professionals better understand the wide range of international business careers available, especially in South Carolina,” said Dr. Marki Jones, director of CIBER and clinical assistant professor of international business. “While many people associate global careers with working abroad, our state is home to numerous companies and organizations engaged in international trade, foreign direct investment, global supply chains, logistics, consulting and cross-cultural business operations.”
The guide was led by Ruth Amanuel, founder and CEO of Vireo LLC and Global Careers Hub, with collaboration from professionals across the public and private sectors. Amy Thomson, director of the Folks Center for International Business, also helped connect several of the professionals featured in the guide.
For Amanuel, developing the resource was an opportunity to challenge a common assumption among students that pursuing an international career requires leaving South Carolina or the United States altogether.
“I consider myself a global citizen, and I am passionate about global education,” Amanuel said. “Students often assume an international career means moving far from home. I wanted to help them see the global opportunities in their own backyard.”
South Carolina’s international business presence provides opportunities across multiple industries including manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, logistics and supply chain management, international trade, port operations, economic development, consulting and government.
Although major international employers such as Boeing, BMW, Volvo and Michelin may be among the first companies students associate with global business in the state, Amanuel emphasized that the opportunities extend well beyond those organizations.
“Global business also creates opportunities in logistics, finance, agriculture, government, manufacturing and many other fields,” she said. “The range of opportunities is much broader than any one company or job title.”
The guide is designed to make those possibilities easier for students to identify. Available digitally, it allows students to explore career pathways, learn about globally connected industries, identify skills employers value and discover organizations involved in international business.The free digital guide is available through USC CIBER and Global Careers Hub on the University of South Carolina’s Gateway to Global Careers webpage.
“Career exploration starts with awareness,” Amanuel said. “The guide gives students a practical way to discover global careers available within South Carolina.”
Career spotlights featuring professionals from both the public and private sectors give students an inside look at what different international careers involve and the paths professionals took to reach them. Jones said those examples demonstrate “the many ways individuals can build globally focused careers while living and working in South Carolina.”
The resource also encourages students to think more broadly about what defines an international career. A position does not necessarily need “international” or “global” in its title to involve international business.
“I hope students realize that an international career does not always have ‘global’ in the job title,” Amanuel said. “They can start with a sector that interests them, then look for its international connections and the people working in those roles.”
Students can also begin preparing for these careers before entering the workforce. While studying abroad can provide valuable international experience, Amanuel encourages students to develop global competence in other ways, including learning about different cultures and economies, building relationships and understanding different ways of working.
“Be creative in your job search and start building global competence early,” she said. “Stay curious, build relationships and look for the international dimension in the field that interests you.”
Ultimately, the guide is intended to move students from simply learning about international careers to actively pursuing them. Along with the career guide, Global Careers Hub offers digital tools students can use to search for employment opportunities in South Carolina.
For Jones, the guide’s primary goal is to provide students with both greater awareness and a practical resource for career exploration and workforce development. For Amanuel, its message can be summarized by the opportunities already surrounding South Carolina students.
“South Carolina may be a small state, but it has a substantial global presence,” Amanuel said. “Students can choose to explore the world or stay here and still build a rewarding international career.”
Through the guide, USC CIBER and Global Careers Hub hope to strengthen the pipeline of globally competent talent while helping students recognize that international careers are not only accessible, but thriving throughout South Carolina.