By Cindy Krischer Goodman
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
MIAMI, Fla. — Only 28, Carla da Silva has discovered what many successful business people already know: Work experience in another country can give you a huge boost in clout.
Although da Silva speaks Portuguese, using the language for business seemed difficult to her. Based in Miami, da Silva, a senior associate with professional services firm KPMG, asked to do a global rotation for two months in Brazil. She worked with clients in Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro, some larger than her previous clients in the United States. After two months, she returned to Miami with new language skills, adaptability and business connections in Brazil.
"I feel like I can handle challenges better now,” da Silva said.
Today, the interest in global rotations is gaining momentum, pushed forward by the millennial generation. The Institute of International Education recently reported that 223,000 U.S. students studied abroad in the 2005-06 academic year, up 8.5 percent from the year before. And a recent KPMG survey found that 61 percent of university students believe that overseas rotations are important in the business world, and 47 percent indicated they would like to work abroad for an extended period.
Can businesses satisfy the demand?
The question is: Are businesses satisfying the appetite of young professionals to work abroad? Certainly corporate America is increasing global rotations. The Society of Human Resource Management reported that 69 percent of large companies will increase their percentage of American workers abroad, up from 48 percent in 2006 and 21 percent in 2005.
Aidan Walsh, KPMG partner in charge international, says they have become part of career development at his large accounting firm. "At the time a performance evaluation is done, there's an action point to discuss how a global opportunity might help someone in their professional life.”
At KPMG, rotations can last from two months to three years. In 2007, the firm had more than 550 professionals outside the country on rotations, and more than 400 who came on rotation to the United States. (KPMG even sent 25 interns overseas this summer and plans to send 90 in the next two intern rotations.) The firm has offices in 140 countries. Walsh says more males seek these global stints than females. However, there is a big increase in interest from women, especially younger women.
The benefits seem clear
Students want them, too, Walsh says. He finds that these rotations are crucial to recruiting. "When we're on campus, there's an expectation that there's an opportunity to do a global assignment. If we said no, they would go elsewhere.”
Walsh says his firm sees clear benefits. "By immersing in a foreign culture, it allows someone to enhance their managerial skills and build up a wealth of experience.” The challenges to the firm are integrating the professionals back into their home offices when they return and adjusting compensation.
Michal Hoita, 30, has been on an international rotation in Miami for nearly two years. It is her first experience leaving Tel Aviv and living abroad. It also is her first time conducting business in English. "It has been challenging both professionally and personally,” she says.
Hoita had worked at KPMG in Israel for about three and a half years before deciding that gaining business expertise in the United States would be helpful. "The experience will help me deal with anything new in a much easier way,” she says.
The firm chose the U.S. office she would work from and helped her find housing in Miami. For her part, she must stay in touch with managers in her home office.
Stacie Berdan, author of "Getting Ahead by Going Abroad,” insists that international experience like Hoita's is the best way to get ahead faster in today's global economy.
