So how much impact can studying abroad have on your employment prospects? According to a 2012 study of recent graduates, 84% of graduates report that their study abroad experience was effective in building job related skills and almost 80% felt that studying abroad helped them develop confidence to deal with new skills required for their first job.
Studying abroad builds an almost endless list of benefits and translatable skills. While living in another country, you are exposed to a variety of people global ideas. And although it’s great to learn how to effectively navigate around cultural and communication barriers, you need to know how to articulate those experiences on your résumé and in interviews. Focus not only on your successes but on what challenges you may have faced and what steps you took to overcome obstacles.
Employers and graduate schools will want to know what you did while abroad and will be curious to know if you volunteered, worked, or studied. Go with the mindset that you demonstrate commitment to gain cross-cultural understanding, foreign language skills, and will return with a global focus. Come in to the Center for Career Development to learn how to demonstrate these skills on your résumé, CV, and in interview and networking settings.
