Working Internationally: The New Aspirations of Gen Z

Between the search for meaning, cultural openness, and the desire to act differently

Working abroad is no longer just an extra line on a résumé. For much of Gen Z, it has become a concrete goal, a strong desire—even a necessity. Whether it is to learn differently, live an intense human experience, or pursue a different lifestyle, today’s young people no longer dream exclusively of a vertical career path, but of open trajectories connected to the world.

At KEOS, we see this every day: many students join us with a clear desire to embrace international opportunities. Not to escape, but to understand. To understand other cultures, other ways of working, other visions of business. In an increasingly interconnected world, where professional boundaries are fading, this thirst for new horizons has become a skill in itself: mobility, adaptability, curiosity.

New generations are not just looking for a position in an international company. They want something tangible: contributing to impactful projects, collaborating with multicultural teams, learning by doing, immersing themselves in local realities. International experience is no longer seen as a break or a parenthesis, but as a true lever for both personal and professional growth.

Destinations are no longer chosen for prestige, but for meaning. Some leave to discover innovation in Asia, others to support an NGO in Africa, or to join a startup in Latin America. What matters is not the distance, but the quality of the experience, the richness of the exchanges, and the ability to grow through contact with others.

That is why KEOS places international exposure at the heart of its pedagogy—through Learning Expeditions, intercultural projects, and internship opportunities abroad. We want every student to experience at least one strong immersion outside their usual environment, to learn how to reinvent themselves, to listen, to adapt. Because these soft skills are exactly what companies around the world are looking for today.

Working internationally no longer necessarily means spending ten years in a subsidiary on the other side of the globe. It can take a thousand forms: teleworking for a foreign company, creating a cross-border project, joining a global community of entrepreneurs. Professional mobility is being reinvented, and Gen Z is on the front line of this transition. Professional mobility is being reinvented, and Gen Z is on the front line of this transition.

This desire for openness is a real strength. And at KEOS, we do everything to ensure it is not just a dream, but a concrete, structured, and profoundly human reality.

The world is open. It is up to this generation to turn it into a playground of purpose, engagement, and meaning.