I want to be an international HR manager

I have worked in sales and training in a large international IT Company for six years. A year ago I changed career path and joined the International Assignments Group within the Regional HR Department. I'm really enjoying it and would like to know which qualification would be most advantageous to help me become an international HR manager. I think I have one distinctive advantage - I live and work in an expatriate environment. I originally come from Eastern Europe to work in the UK 2 ½ years ago.

Margaret Malpas, joint managing director at Malpas Flexible Learning, writes:

This is exciting! I agree with you that your experience of working here is a very valuable asset when it comes to being considered potentially successful as an expat (after all that is exactly what you have been doing successfully).

Having worked on projects in Central and Eastern Europe I can also say that there are many opportunities for those with good HR experience in the region too. There is a shortage of people with both local knowledge and HR skills/experience, so the package you could command would be excellent.

The CIPD programme is increasingly sought overseas. You could also do a top up Masters degree - some of them have an international elective, so I would recommend this as a qualification.

Allison Sheard, consultant at Chiumento Consulting Group, writes:

There are a number of options open, depending on what level of qualification you already have. If you have a degree then a Masters in HR which includes an international element could be useful. If it also qualifies you for CIPD that would be a bonus. The alternative would be an MBA, taking the international and HR options. Either could be done on a part-time or full-time basis. However it is worth researching the various MBA courses as the choice of college or university is important- there is a perceived hierarchy. There is a lot of written material available to help you make your choice as well as the annual MBA fairs.