Essential Skills for a Career in International Relations

 Communication. International relations professionals must maintain

excellent communication skills which includes face-to-face conversational
skills like body language, proper listening, and assertive expression as well
as ensuring that messages are delivered clearly and concisely through
measured and astute speech.
 Cross-Cultural Management. Professionals in international relations
must develop an understanding of cultural differences in the areas they
work and how individuals in these cultures might respond to certain actions
or communication efforts in order to facilitate successful negotiations.
 Flexibility. Professional concerns that are most likely to require flexibility
are collaborative efforts that demand a compromise between different
communities, organizations or governments because agreements made
without proper consideration risk damaging relationships.
 Teamwork. International relations professionals among governments
must collaborate with foreign policymakers to identify the most reasonable
regulations to place upon a particular area of international trade.
 Analysis. Areas of analysis that can most benefit someone working in an
international relations capacity is creativity, data analysis, and critical
thinking.
 Autonomy. The nature of these careers all demands that an individual be
able to quickly make choices without needing constant direct supervision.