Selling Your Experience Abroad - Career Resources
Travel is a great way to set yourself apart in the job market. Your experiences with diverse cultures and ideas can give you an edge over other candidates. Now that you have returned from abroad, it is important to consider how you will talk about your experiences with a potential employer. This guide will assist you in demonstrating your experiences through your application materials (résumés, cover letters) as well as online and in interviews.
Résumés
You will want to be strategic in the placement of your experience abroad depending on the organization or position for which you are applying.
examples
Example
Study programs can be listed under the Education section of your résumé. However, a separate International Experience or Education Abroad Experience section could also be used if the position or organization you are applying for highly values work abroad:
Education
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, May 20xx
Major: Management; GPA: #.##/4.00
Oxford University, Oxford, England
Nebraska at Oxford Program, Summer 20xx
Example
International internships or work experience can be included under a Relevant Experience or International Experience section:
International Experience
Banque Tarnaud (Private Bank), Poitiers, France
Teller, Summer 20xx
- Bullet statement #1
- Bullet statement #2
Work experience that is not directly related to your career goals can be listed under an Experience or International Experience section. Your bullet statements should focus on cross-cultural skills.
Cover Letters
Cover Letters
When writing a cover letter, you can create an effective story that allows you to highlight your transferable skills. Use the following questions to guide you when including your international experience:
- How does your international experience relate to your intended career field?
- What transferable skills did you obtain?
- How will your international experience benefit the employer?
Example
My experience in Brazil provided me with a greater understanding of cultural differences and how they could influence consumer spending and markets around the world. Because of my experience abroad, I am prepared to contribute to the international marketing initiatives your organization is launching.
Interviews
Interviews
Successful interviews often happen when a candidate effectively describes how they handled past experiences and why that makes them the ideal person for the role to which they are applying. By telling stories that efficiently depict your experiences, you can give tangible examples of your skill set.
- When preparing for an interview, reflect on your experiences and consider the following questions:
- What skills/knowledge did you enhance or gain during your experience abroad?
- How did you effectively communicate with people? How will this make you a better professional and/or team member?
- How did you adjust socially, academically, and/or professionally to the culture?
- What skills did you develop when resolving conflicts while abroad?
- What was the most important thing you learned during your time abroad?
Your responses should tell stories that highlight your growth related to the following transferable skills:
- Independence
- Cross-cultural communication
- Openness
- Cultural awareness
- Adaptability
- Teamwork
- Resilience
- Empathy
Example
Interviewer: Tell me about a time when you were push out of your comfort zone.
Interviewee: I completed a semester abroad in Spain during the fall of my junior year in college. It was my first time outside of the country. I was completely immersed in the culture and was not fluent in Spanish at the time. In order to learn the language faster, I became a conversation partner with two local students. Not only did they help me become fluent in Spanish, but they taught me aspects of the culture that I would not have otherwise known about. I know that the knowledge I gained and my ability to adapt to an unfamiliar environment will help me be a better account manager.
| 2-3 transferable skills developed abroad | Experiences that demonstrate those skills | FINAL PRODUCT Tie it all together. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Résumé | |||
| Cover Letter | |||
| Online | |||
| Interviews | |||
| Networking |