The 5 key skills for success in international trade

Travel the world as part of your job in international trade is a dream for many people. However, to make this dream a reality, it is essential to have knowledge, skills, and qualities related to international trade... but that's not all. Here are the five essential skills you need to embark on a successful career in international trade!

1. Language skills 

To work internationally, it is essential to be fluent in several foreign languages, ideally two, including English. You will be required to communicate and negotiate with people from all over the world, mostly in the language of Shakespeare, as English is the international language of reference, regardless of the country you are working in. Do you speak a rare language? This is a real asset, so don't hesitate to highlight it. In concrete terms, the more foreign languages you speak, the more opportunities you will have. It is therefore crucial to choose a course in international trade that emphasizes learning or improving foreign languages, including English, of course.

2. Sales skills

Business means negotiation and sales. Commercial skills are therefore essential if you want to succeed in international trade. Negotiating and concluding agreements are an integral part of the job of an international sales representative. To understand the interests of business partners and offer them tailored solutions, you need to develop both technical and commercial skills, including: 

• Leverage customer and supplier data.
• Manage international business relationships.
• Communicate with partners from different cultures.
• Manage a professional network.
• Organize and monitor the execution of an international contract.
• Evaluate supplier offers and service provision.
• Analyze information about a target market.
• Determine market deployment strategies.
• Participate in the international development of a brand (adaptation strategies, etc.).
• Participate in sales prospecting.
• …

3. Political and legal skills

When working in international trade, you are forced to adapt to the specific standards and legal frameworks of different countries and cultures. To best assess the risks and opportunities of international markets, it is therefore necessary to rely on up-to-date geopolitical, legal, and cultural data. Before entering into commercial partnerships, you must consider the various commercial regulations, social and environmental standards, compliance requirements, etc. This requires careful and systematic regulatory monitoring. As you can see, if you do not have the right skills—particularly in geopolitics and law—it will be difficult to succeed in international trade. 

4. Digital and technological skills

In a world marked by the digitization of processes and technological advances, including AI, it is imperative for any international sales representative to master a number of digital tools and be open to new technological trends. In international trade, new technologies make it possible to digitize relationships with partners around the world and implement new, more efficient and profitable processes. Salespeople can, for example, take advantage of social media and digital communication—email, videoconferencing, and instant messaging such as Slack, WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.—to prospect differently and more effectively. A thorough mastery of these various digital tools is therefore particularly recommended for a career in international trade.

5. Skills in responsible business

Finally, as ecological transition is now an essential development in the business world, it seems wise to master the concepts of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and sustainable development in order to succeed in international trade. The goal? To promote responsible international trade that encourages the development of an ethical, non-discriminatory, sustainable, and fair trading system so that global production is optimally distributed among all trading partners.  International trade has a key role to play in the ecological transition. Ethical sales or responsible trade not only contribute to preserving the environment, but also have a positive impact on society and international trade. Some schools even offer specialized training in ethical and responsible international trade to prepare students for the international trade of tomorrow.

How can you develop your skills in international trade?

International trade skills cannot be improvised. They can be acquired through various training programs available after high school. Examples include: the BTS (Advanced Technician's Certificate) in international trade, the professional bachelor's degree in "international trade professions," and degrees from management and business schools. It is also entirely possible to train in international trade by enrolling in business schools. 

Tolma Business School, located on The Land campus in Rennes is a business school offering several training programs:

• Bachelor's Degree in Management
• MSC Financial Expert
• MSC Business Lawyer.

These three courses offered by Tolma School on The Land campus focus on internationalization (study trips, internships abroad, international exchanges) and enable students to develop essential skills in international business: business law, financial expertise, and management. Business English is also taught, as is CSR (for the MSC Business Lawyer). At the end of the program, graduates can choose to enter the workforce or continue their studies toward a specialized master's degree or an MBA, for example. There are many career opportunities in international business, regardless of the program chosen. 

Succeeding in international trade: essential qualities

While technical skills are essential for a career in international trade, behavioral skills are just as important. Obviously, you need to enjoy traveling and be able to work in different cultural contexts. In addition to these prerequisites, you also need to have the following qualities: 

• Knowing how to make decisions quickly when an important contract is at stake.
• Be independent.
• Have a sense of responsibility.
• Know how to negotiate.
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate adaptability in response to the work rhythms of foreign counterparts, their negotiating habits, etc.

In summary, it is highly recommended to pursue appropriate training in international trade in order to develop the skills and abilities necessary to excel in this exciting profession!