To play a part in shaping our future in today's ever changing world, we need to recognise the need to have a flexible and adaptable attitude. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the world of business. With the onset of globalisation and the development of e-commerce, it is crucial that we embrace these changes to develop and adapt to new ways of thinking and working.

Professional services organisations, such as Price Waterhouse Coopers, are concerned with just that. Working across the globe, they are committed to helping clients solve complex business problems and measurably enhance their ability to build value, manage risk and improve their performance in an Internet-enabled world.

Most firms are diverse and multicultural organisations, where being able to operate across borders and cultures is a necessary part of everyday life. They recognise that to provide such diverse services to their clients, in whatever country they operate, they need workers to be of the same mind-set as clients: forward-thinking, bright, committed and flexible individuals, who can bring with them invaluable experience and knowledge, and prove to be a great asset to any organisation.

Good businessmen and women thrive in a collaborative culture which fosters fresh thinking and inspires visionary solutions to client problems. It is collaboration that crosses both national boundaries and traditional boundaries between professional services. For you, this means the chance to become involved in a truly integrated approach to multidimensional problems, and gain experience of local cultures, customs and working styles.

There will be many opportunities for international travel, both before graduation and throughout your career. These will vary, depending on your location and the stage of your career, but could include internships for undergraduates which last from six to twelve weeks, business events lasting a few days, or short and long-term secondments. All of these are an ideal way to experience different countries and specialist areas within a global firm.

Snehal Shah, an Economics graduate beginning his second year at Price Waterhouse Coopers in the UK, says: "I work with people from Australia, New Zealand and the US, as well as those from different backgrounds, experiences and specialist areas. It is a way of learning that has helped me become more commercially aware, more disciplined and more able to build productive client relationships. Now I am keen to build on the other networking possibilities offered, and take up a secondment before I take my professional exams. After I qualify, I'd like to take up a longer secondment overseas, perhaps to the USA."

Author:
Jackie Alexander
Head of Recruitment, UK
Price Waterhouse Coopers
www.pwc.com