We live in a global world and companies everywhere are looking for new markets to increase and expand their businesses. Working environments are getting more and more international. I have interviewed people of different nationalities working in different sectors to explore to what extent an international background is an advantage or requirement when searching for a job today.
Is there, in your opinion, a benefit to studying abroad? Does it help you to find a job?
Dominik Stuckmann: Studying abroad has positive effects on future job opportunities because employers set a high value on experiences abroad and sometimes even make them into a prerequisite.
Marco Valentini: It also helps you open your mind to other cultures, habits, and ways of living. It is extremely helpful for future career development since it increases your flexibility and shows potential employers that you know what it means to work in a multicultural environment.
Tamagno Pesqueira: Studying abroad helps us step out of our comfort zone and adapt to a new reality. It also exposes you to new ways of thinking and novel strategies for problem-solving. Furthermore, you meet and interact with many people with whom you become friends.
Maxime Rossato: I agree, studying abroad shows that one is open-minded, ready to move, adaptable, not afraid of going outside a zone of comfort.
How international is your work environment? Do you also speak in English at work?
Marco Valentini: As an employee of an EU Agency, my work environment is highly international and English is the working language.
Sara Tortorella: Although the employees are all Italian, the majority of our clients and partners are international, so I speak English most of the time.
Tamagno Pesqueira: For us, Portuguese is the working language, but the research laboratory has become quite international and during meetings or lunch breaks, we communicate in English.
Dominik Stuckmann: Working for an international company, English is very important to communicate with colleagues and clients.
Maxime Rossato: And already at university it is important. I was involved in the EYCN (European Young Chemist Network) while studying at the university and we had conference calls in English.
Why is speaking another language or having good English skills important?
Tamagno Pesqueira: Language is the most effective way to communicate. Learning new languages makes us more sociable.
Dominik Stuckmann: I think good English skills are important because in every country there are people who can speak English. It allows you to communicate all over the world and communication has a very high value.
Sara Tortorella: In my opinion, knowing English is crucial in the scientific world as customers, scientists, and collaborators share their knowledge in English.
Tamagno Pesqueira: The demand for practicing and expanding English knowledge is increasing and possibilities to do so are becoming more common and also more accessible.
Maxime Rossato: I also think it is important to have good English skills, but I also think that speaking another language can be useful or interesting since it can be seen as an advantage or an asset in an international environment. But it is not mandatory and can be compensated by higher expertise.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this article.
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Maxime Rossato is a VIE Associate Scientist for Sanofi Pasteur in Toronto, Canada. He completed his Master’s degree at Claude-Bernard Lyon 1 University and his Ph.D. at Montpellier University, both in France. |
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Sara Tortorella is a Senior Data Strategist and Project Manager for Molecular Horizon, an Italian start-up based in Perugia. She completed her Master’s degree and Ph.D. at the University of Perugia, Italy. |
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Tamagno Pesqueira is a Research Fellow at COMPASS Research Group, CICECO at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. He completed his Master’s degree at the University of Minho, Portugal. |
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Dominik Stuckmann is a Market Analyst & Marketing Communication Coordinator for Weylchem International in Frankfurt, Germany. He completed his Master’s degree at TU Darmstadt, Germany. |
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Marco Valentini is a Scientific Officer and Team Leader for the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki, Finland. He completed his first Master’s degree at the University of Pisa, Italy, and his second Master’s degree at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He also completed an EU Master at the University of Milan, Italy. |
Also of Interest
- Open-Minded and Adaptable – Working in an International Environment,
Alice Missio,
ChemViews Mag. 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1002/chemv.20190007
Also of Interest
- Chemistry Students Abroad – Many Paths to International Experience,
Alice Missio,
ChemViews Mag. 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1002/chemv.201900075 - The Ins and Outs of a Ph.D. Across Continents,
Torsten John,
ChemViews Mag. 2018.
https://doi.org/10.1002/chemv.201800011
Why would someone do a joint Ph.D. project across continents? What are advantages and challenges?
