International Relations is a branch of both Social Sciences and Political Sciences. Its primary focus lies in studying foreign relations between sovereign nations on political, economic, and diplomatic matters. It also concerns issues regarding the role of international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational corporations in these affairs.

International Relations Specialists, broadly speaking, use their research skills and knowledge of foreign affairs to provide government officials or international organizations with advice regarding foreign policies. Professionals working in this field may be employed by government offices and agencies working abroad or in embassies analyzing and interpreting foreign policies. They may also be employed in international organizations, foundations, and industries in their Public Relations departments, liaising between the company’s activities and the international law entities regulating them.

Some of the areas of interest for professionals working in the field of International Relations include globalization, ecology, sustainable development, terrorism, economic development, international finances, and human rights, just to name a few.

International Relations Specialists have a few common personality traits that help them succeed in their job. Here are a few of them:

Personality of an International Relations Specialist

• They are very intelligent

International Relations Specialists are usually knowledgeable and level-headed. They need to be able to understand complex political situations and make sound decisions based on that information.

• They are language-savvy

International Relations Specialists are pros at communication. They explain their ideas to others clearly and sometimes convince them to see things their way. Their work also often requires them to be multilingual. English is a must, and speaking one or more of the other languages widely used in international affairs like French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese, will be a plus for any aspiring professional in this field.  

• They are detail-oriented 

International Relations Specialists know how to pay attention to detail. They need to pay attention to the minor points to ensure that they are assessing all the relevant data or facts in a given scenario.