An Analysis of Advertisements for Positions in International Business

Conventional wisdom holds that every academic discipline should undergo continuous evaluation regarding curriculum, course content, and research focus. Many inputs could be used for such purposes: opinions of specialists (e.g., as revealed by surveys of university courses), consulting experience and research on international business problems. This note presents data on one input–the demand for higher level personnel in international business as reflected by advertisements. The methodology involved clipping advertisements of “positions available” in international business from The Wall Street Journal during the eighteen month period, October 1973 through March 1975. Then they were classified according to the qualifications specified. It should be noted that such advertisements tend to be for experienced persons rather than for newly graduated students. They do not indicate what the market looks for when recruiting students with training in International Business. Rather, such advertisements suggest what qualifications will be needed for advancement in the international activities of firms so long as future business requirements continue the same as at present. In other words, an analysis of advertisements provides information on only one dimension, albeit an important one, of the market for persons trained for international business. Attention also should be given to trends in international business problems and activities that, in the future, may create a demand for different skills than at present. One can list other methodologies needed.© 1975 JIBS. Journal of International Business Studies (1975) 6, 75–78