International security refers to measures and actions being taken by governments, nation states and different organisations, to assure mutual survival and safety. There are different examples of these methods, such as mutual treaties, preventative action, capacity building and pre-emptive military action. Here are some different ways to get into a career in the field:
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Strong understanding of history, politics and international relations - understanding the backgrounds and cultures of different regions is key to understanding underlying causes and factors which may potentially cause conflicts and tensions, and with this knowledge international security experts are better equipped in dealing with the different issues and can find realistic, viable solutions guided not only by data and experience but also appropriated to the context of the region
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Staying up to date with developments around the world - this is important as you’d constantly be aware of different situations and you’d become more acquainted to how they arise, escalate and are resolved
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Learning foreign languages - this is greatly beneficial and will be of great use, and could strengthen your chances of being assigned to different regions
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Writing relevant literature - writing for and contributing to different blogs, journals and newspapers shows initiative and give potential future employers insights into your thought process
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Attending conferences, seminars and workshops - you can gain many insights and ideas from professionals in the field, and can also network and make connections
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Doing relevant voluntary work, internships, apprenticeships or graduate schemes - this is really useful to do due to the highly valuable experience that will be gained and the direct work in the field
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Doing a relevant masters degree - numerous universities offer masters degrees in international security, providing a strong foundation in the domain, where you’d also be able to apply prior skills and expand them with a focus on international security