Using Your International Experience To Get a Job

By Kim Gradel

You've probably heard from someone along the way that studying abroad will help you get a job later. (For instance last month's newsletter article said exactly that!) But given that you're probably not going to go into the international education field where everyone already understands the benefits of studying abroad, how are you going to communicate the value of your experiences to prospective employers in your field?

Your Résumé
How and where you incorporate your study abroad experience into your résumé is very important. Consider including it in your educational background section rather than your activities or interests. Similarly if you interned abroad, include this under your work experience section. Even if you worked abroad and it was not an internship, you can still focus on the global and cross-cultural nature of that work experience. Being a cashier abroad potentially presents some very different challenges than the same job in your local college town.

The idea is to highlight the relevance of your experience abroad and how you integrated it into your educational or work background in a way that makes you a more impressive candidate than the person that stayed on campus for four years.

If you have a "skills" section, highlight the cross-cultural global competencies you acquired abroad. The University of Minnesota offers an excellent "Résumé Tips" handout that highlights many of these skills. Here are just a few of the skills highlighted on that sheet:

• Enhanced cultural awareness and sensitivity to customs and cultural differences
• Increased confidence, initiative, and independence
• Travel skills
• Problem solving and crisis management
• Improved communication skills
• Foreign language proficiency
• Adaptability

And the list goes on...

Cover Letter
As with any cover letter, this is the time where you can draw connections for prospective employers. You can help an employer see how your specific skills, background, and interests make you uniquely qualified for the position being offered.

Your international experience is one of those differentiating factors that is great to highlight in a cover letter. For example, "Working in cross-cultural teams in the international city of London has given me insight into the communication styles and adaptability necessary in this type of position." Some other examples of this type of statement are available from the University of Minnesota.

Interviewing
After you send an employer your terrific cover letter and résumé highlighting the benefits of your international experience, hopefully you'll have the opportunity to interview for the position you want. It's important to keep in mind all the issues we've explored when going for the interview.

Discuss your international experience in terms of how it will help you in the position you're applying for! Think ahead of time about the unique experiences you had while abroad and be prepared to discuss those in context of how they make you uniquely qualified.

Studying abroad is a wonderful, enlightening, growing experience. It's up to you to help a prospective employer understand the direct implications of your experience and how they make you the best candidate for the job. Best wishes on your search!

Has studying abroad helped your career? If you have a story, email us and we'll feature you on IIEPassport.org.

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