How to talk to
Employers about
Study Abroad

Hey
World EXplorer,
Adventurer,
(Possible) Future expat,
Culture lover,
Job seeker...

Want to impress
Employers with your
Study Abroad
experience?

Of course you do.

Let’s talk about how
It starts with collecting the skills employers
want while abroad and then translating
your study abroad experience into a
language an employer understands.

But first, some Perspective
on Your Job Search

304,467# students who studied abroad in 2013/14
2%# of resumes selected to move to the interview stage
200+# of applications submitted to a job opening

The takeaway
Your job search is competitive.
You can’t assume your study abroad
experience will make you stand out.

So don’t assume.
Collect skills instead.

HERE ARE THE SKILLS EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR
among job seekers like you
Leadership Problem-solving
Communication
(Verbal)
Teamwork Communication
(Written)

To impress employers
Find or create experiences outside the
academic classroom to develop new skills
and grow professionally while abroad.

#STUDYABROADSKILLS
Your skills are like passport stamps. Collect them all.

How to Build skills and get experience
that Employers Value while Abroad
Plan ReflectAct Create

Plan
Make a list of activities outside of the classroom
that build the skills employers desire.

Possible Activities
Lead an orientation?
Tutor students in English?
Design promotional materials?
Conduct a research project abroad?
Plan an event?
Translate materials?
Work on a group project?
Write a blog post for your university while abroad?
Lead a group tour?
Help a professor?

ACT
While abroad take on activities that build the
skills employers want. Challenge a friend to do
the same to keep yourself accountable.

Leadership
✖ Start a new club on your host-campus
✖ Lead an orientation
✖ Design and lead a tour in a neighboring
city
✖ Launch a small speaker series with local
speakers

Communication
✖ Write a blog post or travel guide for your
home university
✖ Create a video for your host university
✖ Tutor other students in English or your
favorite subject
✖ Translate a website or email marketing
materials
✖ Create a training and give a presentation
that helps others

Problem-solving
✖ Conduct a short-term research project and
publish your data or findings online
✖ Investigate ways to improve the student
abroad experience or increase access
✖ Complete a virtual project through
Mindsumo
✖ Volunteer with local startups or nonprofits
organizations

Teamwork
✖ Plan an small event that brings diverse
people together
✖ Build a committee to plan and host an
international conference
✖ Help the host country staff with a new
project
✖ Work on a remote project through QLC.io

Reflect
Reflect on what you learned and
accomplished from those activities.

Reflect
How have those activities prepared you for
a future job?
What did you accomplish while abroad?
What did you learn during your time
abroad?
What do you want employers to know about
your study abroad experience? Avoid “It
was incredible/amazing/life changing”.

Create
Create a professional story that summarizes your
activities and what you achieved while abroad. Add
one bullet point about your experience to your resume
and LinkedIn profile.

Translate Your New
skills into a
language employers
Understand

Employers look for candidates
who show, not tell.

The difference between Show and Tell
Candidate #1: “My study abroad experience was
amazing and life changing. I grew so much,
personally and professionally. I’m more adaptable
and independent now. I also developed a global
mindset so I’m prepared to work across cultures.”

The difference between Show and Tell
Candidate #2: “While studying abroad in Siena, I
designed and led an architecture tour for my
classmates. The experience taught me how to respond
to unexpected problems. One morning we missed the
bus to our next destination. As the leader I was
responsible for our group’s transport and arrival.
Instead of panicking I grabbed a bunch of snacks and
water to keep people happy. I communicated when
the next bus would arrive to set group expectations.
Then I rebooked everyone’s tickets using my basic
Italian skills. It was stressful but also hilarious trying
to communicate the error in broken Italian. In the
end a crisis was averted and everyone enjoyed the
trip.”

Which candidate would
impress you?
(hello candidate #2, you’re hired.)

Tl;Dr
Your job search is competitive.
Don’t assume your study abroad will make you
stand out.
Collect skills instead.
Show off your new skills to future employers.

Want more help talking to employers
about your study abroad experience?
There’s a free course for that.
http://courses.globalmingleparty.com/p/job-hunting-after-study-abroad
👆
@globalmecourse
#studyabroadskills

About me:
I am Nicolle.
I’m a study abroad alum with a global career.
I help people build rad global careers.
Think of me as your study abroad career adviser.
You can find me at:
@pdxnicolle
www.linkedin.com/in/nicollmerrill