How Studying Abroad Can Boost Job Prospects
Studying abroad can significantly enhance your job search, especially when you’re fresh out of college with limited work experience. Experts and students agree that having international experience can make your resume stand out.
Living in a foreign country shows employers that you have a broad range of experiences that have shaped your character.
Moriah Baxevane-Connell, who studied at the University of East Anglia in the UK for six months, emphasized her time abroad on her resume. “When I was looking for my first job after college, studying abroad helped me demonstrate my curiosity, willingness to explore new things, and open-mindedness,” she says.
During job interviews, she could confidently answer questions like, “Can you thrive in a new environment?” She responded, “Absolutely. I flew 4,000 miles away from everyone I knew, spent six months abroad, and had a great time.”
After working for a tech firm in the U.S., Baxevane-Connell returned to the UK to earn an MBA at the University of Oxford. She now works as a strategy and operations manager for Google in London.
The pandemic highlighted the value of studying abroad, according to Samantha Brandauer, associate provost at Dickinson College. It taught students to handle uncertainty and adapt to new situations, skills that are valuable in any workplace.
At Dickinson College, about 65% of students study abroad. Brandauer notes that employers often view international experience favorably. According to a 2016 QS Global Employer Survey, six out of 10 employers worldwide give extra credit to job applicants with study abroad experience, and more than 80% actively seek graduates who have studied overseas.
