Travelling habits of high-flying professionals: Why graduates with MBAs are the most likely to work abroad

As he tees off at an exclusive Hong Kong golf course, Avijit Choudhury has come a long way since he quit his job in relationship management for a financial trading software company in London.

Now he's the Asia Pacific business manager for Bloomberg, the financial services information network, a job that gives him valuable insight into Asian markets and an enviable network of contacts.

The UK-born Choudhury says working abroad was not on his radar when he enrolled on an Executive MBA at Cass Business School in London. "A year into the course, I decided with Claire, my partner, that we wanted to explore opportunities in Asia, as that was the most emergent and growing region," he says.

An MBA can give people the motivation to explore opportunities abroad, according to the Hydrogen Group, the specialist recruitment company. Graduates with MBAs are the most likely to be found working abroad, according to the 2010 Hydrogen "Global Professionals on the Move" report. It found 35 per cent of professionals surveyed were already abroad, compared with 33 per cent of those with Masters qualifications and 27 per cent educated up to first-degree level.

Looking at the careers of high-flying professionals, it found 94 per cent of respondents either working abroad or interested in moving overseas. The main reason for wanting an international experience was to fast-track their careers and boost personal development. Greater earning potential was not picked out as a top priority.

Temporary periods abroad were more popular than permanent relocation, with 64 per cent willing to work in another country for up to five years. The most-preferred countries were the US, the UK and Australia.

An interesting gender difference was highlighted by the survey: while more men than women say they would definitely move to another country, fewer were actually in jobs abroad. The survey found 34 per cent of women already working abroad, compared with 26 per cent of men.

High-flyers are already on good salaries, so a post overseas has to have the right fit with their career plan to be worth the move, says Tim Smeaton, Hydrogen's chief executive officer. "We've seen a dramatic increase in our clients looking to hire candidates who already have international experience and can give the company a competitive advantage as they break into new countries and markets."

The move to Hong Kong was the right decision for Choudhury. "As well as amazing career opportunities, we are enjoying life outside of work: new people, new places, low taxes and holiday destinations such as Bali, Thailand and China," he says.

Working inside a different culture and time zone can be frustrating but it encourages you to think differently. "Emotional intelligence is the key to success. You have to be in tune with the new environment. Ideas of how people, markets and cultures interact which are drawn from the West cannot be directly imported to the East. Emotional intelligence starts with looking at one's own feelings, fears and motivations and then listening and considering those of other people."