According to the National
Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), studying abroad is considered one
of the top 5 ways to gain experiential learning. Experiential learning is an
essential component of a college education because it significantly increases a
student’s career readiness. Career readiness, as defined by NACE, is the
“attainment and demonstration of requisite competencies that broadly prepare
college graduates for a successful transition.” These competencies include
critical thinking, communication skills, digital technology, collaboration,
leadership, and global fluency. These capabilities can all be further developed
within a study abroad experience.
Often employers will look upon an
international experience with a positive attitude. This is supported by NACE’s
research where “49% of the general population of recent graduates finds a job within 12 months of
graduation, compared to 97% of study abroad alumni. In
addition, IES Abroad conducted research on their graduates, and determined that
of those who completed the program over 78% felt they increased their
communication skills, self-confidence, adaptability, and cultural
understanding.
I always encourage students to put
their study abroad experience on their resumes because it demonstrates how they
are able to work within a diverse population. In addition, it shows
perseverance, and cultural acceptance. If you are unsure how to word your bullet
points, think of the STAR method. STAR stands for Situation/ Task Action and
Results. Think of your experience and what transferrable skills you were able
to gain. For example:
- Adapted to an unfamiliar environment and embraced cultural differences
- Organized numerous educational opportunities for up to 10 students to increase knowledge of country’s history, including a trip to Pompeii, Athens, and Greece
- Handled monetary transactions in numerous currencies for up to 10 students
If you have any questions or
concerns about how to properly articulate your experience, please do not
hesitate to visit the Career Center, where a counselor will be more than happy
to assist.
~ Have a wonderful Fall Semester and Winter Break ~
Kristi Riecker
Graduate Assistant
Hofstra Career Center
Hofstra Career Center
References
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