For those looking to further an agricultural career abroad in the agri-food space, Chinese and Spanish are the languages they need to learn, the Agri Careers Expo heard on Thursday.

Business is all about relationships

“While English is officially the language of business, having a local language helps to develop relationships. And business is all about relationships,” said Karen Coyle, who has just moved back to Ireland from the Bord Bia office in New York.

Students are advised to learn a language while they are in college to further their opportunities in the working world.

“In school I learnt enough French to order food but not to do business,” said Mark O’Meara, who works in the European market with John Deere.

He regularly travels to Germany in his role. “If I want to progress, I need to learn a language,” he said.

Why work abroad?

The panel agreed that working abroad is not for everybody, but that it gives you the opportunity to propel your career and, in the longer term, develops leaders of the future for the agri-food industry in Ireland when they return home.

“Somebody should look to travel to further a career and propel it.

"Don’t go abroad and pick the career just to travel,” said Karen Coyle.

Career choice

John Murray from Kerry Foods advised that you should look at what stage you are at in life and know what you want from your career before making the decision to go abroad.

“In the long term, we want to bring that talent back.

"As we become a more globalised culture, it is important to have that broad experience,” he said.

“As an industry, we are trying to make strides and expose ourselves to more markets.

"Travel is not mandatory, but the opportunity to expand your knowledge is through travel."

Graduate places

Bord Bia has 70 graduate places available that give people the opportunity to spend 18 months abroad while gaining a further qualification.

“Living in these markets complements the team in Dublin,” Karen Coyle said.

“In order to really identify the opportunities, you need to understand the culture.

"But most importantly, you are out in the market working on products for Irish food companies with the Bord Bia network behind you.

"It’s a good opportunity to see if working abroad suits you.”

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