The Secret to Becoming an Excellent International Business Specialist

What is an international business specialist?

An international business specialist is a person directly deploying trade activities between nations, from finding customers to managing import-export orders. This position plays an important role in boosting revenue and expanding the global market for the enterprise.

A key role in the global supply chain

The international business specialist plays the role of an indispensable link, helping connect sellers and buyers across borders effectively. They do not stop at connecting supply – demand but also directly participate in the transport-optimisation process by coordinating with the Logistics department, supervising the warehouse process and multimodal transport.

In particular, the responsibility of handling customs procedures and documents such as invoices, bills of lading or certificates of origin (C/O) requires absolute meticulousness to ensure the flow of goods is always continuous and lawful.

The position plays a key role in ensuring the international supply chain operates smoothly and effectively

>>>> SEE NOW: International linkage programme: The roadmap to owning an international degree

Distinguishing international business and domestic business

Criteria	Domestic business	International business
Scope of operation	Takes place within one country, with a familiar market and partners	Expands to many countries, regions with diverse markets and partners
Business environment	Culture and consumer behaviour relatively uniform	Differences in culture, consumer needs and a high level of competition
Law	Complying with a relatively unified national legal system	Must meet many legal systems, regulations and international trade agreements
Exchange-rate risk	Almost unaffected by foreign-currency fluctuations	Greatly impacted by exchange-rate fluctuations, affecting costs and profits
Growth opportunity	Limited to the domestic market	The opportunity to expand the market and grow at a larger scale

Career prospects booming in 2026

According to data published by the General Statistics Office and the Ministry of Planning and Investment on 6 January 2025, import-export activities growing continuously create a big boost. In 2024 alone, Vietnam’s total trade turnover exceeded the 786 billion USD mark, showing the market scale increasingly expanding and job opportunities increasingly diverse.

Stepping into 2025, import-export turnover continued to maintain its growth momentum as it exceeded 839 billion USD in the first 11 months of the year. This trend boosts recruitment demand in many fields such as international trade, logistics, global marketing and supply-chain management at multinational enterprises and corporations.

The strongly growing import-export turnover is expanding career opportunities for international business specialists

5 secrets to becoming an excellent international business specialist

To be promoted and affirm your position in this industry, personnel need to converge enough factors of professional knowledge, reputation and reliability.

The ability of subtle multicultural communication and negotiation

This is considered the survival skill of the profession. Understanding and respecting cultural differences helps the specialist avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, thereby building firm trust with partners. An excellent specialist is a person who knows how to negotiate to reach the most beneficial agreements on price while still maintaining a friendly, long-term cooperation relationship.

Data-analysis thinking and market savviness

In the digital era, making decisions based on feelings has become outdated. The international business specialist needs the ability to collect and process information to grasp global consumer trends. In particular, applying AI and data-analysis tools helps forecast market potential and identify risks accurately.

Data-analysis ability helps make accurate and timely business decisions

>>>> SEE MORE: International student-exchange programmes: Study-abroad opportunities

Understanding international law and payment methods

Solid knowledge of commercial law and economic agreements is the “shield” protecting the enterprise against legal risks. Besides, being proficient in international payment methods such as L/C (Letter of Credit) or T/T (Telegraphic Transfer) is a mandatory requirement to ensure financial safety and optimise tariff costs in cross-national transactions.

Proficiency in specialised foreign languages and digital technology

A foreign language, especially business English, is not only a communication tool but also the key to accessing specialised materials and drafting contracts. Possessing an additional second foreign language will be an absolute competitive advantage helping you expand the market. At the same time, the specialist needs to be proficient in modern technologies such as CRM, supply-chain management software and e-commerce platforms to optimise the work process.

Foreign languages and technology are the foundation to work effectively in a global business environment

Continuously learning and expanding the relationship network

About 80% of business opportunities come from quality relationships. Actively participating in fairs and international events not only helps you update the latest trends but is also an occasion to build a large partner network. A learning spirit will help you quickly adapt to the constant fluctuation of the challenging global economy.

Studying International Business at HUFLIT

Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages – Information Technology (HUFLIT) is proud to be a leading training unit for the International Business discipline, where students are prepared with a roadmap to become practical experts right while still at school.

A training programme with 100% specialised foreign languages

At HUFLIT, students study in a truly international environment. Specialised subjects are taught entirely in a foreign language, helping students get familiar with professional terminology and economic thinking in English. This is an important stepping stone for them to confidently work at any multinational corporation after graduation.

The lecturer team consists of experts rich in practical experience

HUFLIT’s strength lies in a team of dedicated lecturers, many of whom have more than 30 years of practical experience and were methodically trained abroad. The lessons are not only in books but are hard-won experiences, real challenges the lecturers share, helping students have a multidimensional and more savvy view of the profession.

Giảng viên HUFLIT giàu kinh nghiệm thực tế

Lecturers rich in practical experience help students access knowledge close to the enterprise environment

Wide-open internship and enterprise-connection opportunities in HCMC

Located in the most dynamic economic centre of the country, HUFLIT brings outstanding enterprise-connection advantages. Students are regularly able to participate in seminars, real projects and have the opportunity to intern at the school’s strategic partners. This helps them accumulate experience, expand networking and easily find a job even before receiving their graduation degree.

>>>> CLICK NOW: Will auditing be replaced by AI and the skills to survive

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the international business discipline

What is the starting salary of an international business specialist?

The salary in this industry is very attractive. Newly graduated students can receive from 9 – 15 million VND/month. For personnel with 3 – 5 years of experience, the income usually ranges from 15 – 25 million VND. In senior management positions at multinational companies, the salary can reach hundreds of millions of VND.

To be an international business specialist, is it mandatory to be good at English?

Yes, this is a prerequisite requirement. English is the common language in international transactions. Good foreign-language ability not only helps you negotiate successfully but is also the key to promotion into leadership positions.

What additional skills should students in this discipline study to stand out?

Besides professional knowledge, you should cultivate data-analysis skills, using AI and CRM tools. In particular, multicultural-communication skills and the ability to solve problems under high pressure will help you score points in the eyes of recruiters.

The international business specialist is a potential profession with wide-open job opportunities in the integration era. This discipline suits dynamic young people who are good at foreign languages and love the global business environment. At HUFLIT, students are equipped with expertise, foreign languages and market skills to confidently develop an international career.

>>>> CONTINUE READING THE RELATED ARTICLES:

Should you choose block A or block B? Advice from experts

Should you choose block A1 or D? [2026] detailed analysis

Proud to be HUFLITers #07 | M.A. Tran My Uyen – A lectern where a teacher wishes only to “watch her children grow up”

At the HUFLIT Faculty of Foreign Languages, M.A. Tran My Uyen (Vice Dean) goes by many names. Some call her “Ms My”; her students call her “mother”. Colleagues often compare her to Mother Au Co with a hundred children. Yet to become the “mother” of the lecture hall she is today, she went through a profound shift in thinking that completely changed a teaching philosophy built over more than 30 years.

Read more
New Cybersecurity Regulations: Opportunities for the Cybersecurity Field in the Digital Era

The new cybersecurity regulations taking effect on 1 July 2026 not only help complete the legal framework but also drive demand for talent in cybersecurity. This is also the moment when the discipline becomes a promising choice for young people who love technology and information security.

Read more
“GenZ Major Insights 2026” – Episode 9: Boundless Journeys with HUFLIT’s Tourism and Hospitality Programs

Many students choose the Tourism and Hospitality field simply because they love to travel. But passion alone is not enough to pursue this field in the long run. What matters more is understanding the nature of the discipline, its professional requirements, and the qualities needed to grow in a professional service environment.

Read more