Putting Your Study Abroad Experience to Work on Your Resume
Welcome back to campus! We hope you had a wonderful experience studying and living in another country.
How does it feel to be back? Are you finding that coming home is more difficult than you anticipated, or have
you made the transition back with ease? Reentry can be just as difficult as adjusting to another culture when
you went abroad, and for some students it may be even more challenging.
You still may be trying to figure out how you can incorporate everything you’ve learned abroad into your life
here. Maybe you’ve decided that you’d like to capitalize on your study abroad experience in your job search.
Studying abroad usually provides additional opportunities for you to hone various transferable skills, as well
as key competencies such as leadership and the ability to deal with ambiguity.!Make time after the study-
abroad experience to take an inventory of the skills you possess. How were your existing strengths enhanced
by your time overseas, and what new additions might you have made to your skill set?
MARKETING YOUR STUDY-ABROAD EXPERIENCE TO EMPLOYERS
After spending time overseas where you learned about a different culture, adapted to new ideas and cultural
expectations, you now need to apply these new skills to finding a job. Many students describe their study-abroad
experiences as “wonderful” and “life-changing.” In addition to sharing your study-abroad stories with friends,
family, and advisers, you will also need to reflect on your experience and be ready to speak intelligently about it
to potential employers.
Some students have difficulties communicating the value of their overseas experience. The fact that you spent
time overseas is not the key point for employers. You must be able to articulate how your study-abroad
experience relates to and benefits them. Through written materials or in conversations, employers need you to
clearly and thoughtfully convey how your study-abroad experience has prepared you to be a strong candidate
for their organization.
POSSIBLE SKILLS GAINED WHILE STUDYING ABROAD
During your time abroad, you most likely developed or honed a variety of skills and competencies that might be
cross-cultural, industry-specific, or transferable. The list below includes qualities and abilities which students
studying abroad frequently develop. In preparation for a job interview, you may want to think of concrete
examples from your experience abroad that demonstrate your development of some of these characteristics.
Ability to establish rapport quickly
Achieving goals despite obstacles
Adaptability
Applying information to new contexts
Assertiveness
Awareness of global economic and political issues
Cross-cultural communication
Conveying ideas verbally
Critical thinking skills
Enhanced cultural awareness and sensitivity
Flexibility
Foreign language proficiency
Independence
Self-reliance
Inquisitiveness
Open-mindedness
Patience
Perseverance
Problem solving
Self-Confidence
Taking initiative
Time management
Career Center
503-768-7114
Career Center
Templeton Campus Center • go.lclark.edu/career_center • careers@lclark.edu
503-768-7114 • @piocareers
Reflect upon your experience and the career-related strengths you may have gained. For example, did you:
• Work on group projects with students from different cultures?
• Initiate meetings with professionals at local organizations to gain insights into corporate and industry
culture?
• Actively participate in a student organization?
Through experiences within and outside of the classroom, studying abroad may have improved your abilities to:
• Creatively solve problems by applying familiar concepts to unfamiliar situations
• Look at a project or situation from different perspectives
• Maintain self-confidence while listening and learning from people whose value systems may be
different
• Be flexible and adaptable to rapidly changing situations and new environments
• Imagine, forecast, analyze or address business situations from a different cultural frame of reference
• Develop an understanding of global issues in your industry of interest
PUTTING IT ON YOUR RESUME
You can incorporate your study-abroad experience into your resume in a variety of ways:
• List the name of the program/institution in the “education” section of your resume, just as you list Lewis
& Clark College.
• Consider listing coursework if it is related to your internship/job search.
• You might describe relevant projects or any work, intern, or volunteer experience you had during your
time abroad.
• Depending on the level of detail you want to include, you can list these study-abroad-related experiences
in the “education” section, the “related experience” section, or perhaps in an “international experience”
section, if you plan on conducting a search with an international focus.
If you are unsure about where to best highlight your program and additional international experiences, bring a
copy of your resume to drop-in hours to schedule an appointment with a Career Center staff member.
RESUME EXAMPLES
International Education Exchange, Bangkok, Thailand August 2018 – December 2018
• Studied Thailand’s history, customs, traditions, politics, and religion
• Performed research regarding public opinion of foreign media influence on national culture
• Participated in volunteer activities at local orphanages, homeless shelters, and elementary schools
• Wrote a 10-page paper to summarize the experience
Institute of Economic and Social Research, University of Zambia January 2019 – May 2019
Study abroad experience through Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE)
• Conducted fieldwork and research with Zambian citizens and the health education community!
• Developed cross-cultural communication skills through collaboration with Zambian students!
• Enhanced global perspective through increased understanding of political, economic, and cultural issues
faced by local populations !
!
International Business Seminar, London/Brussels/Paris January 2019 – May 2019
• Observed social trends and corporate cultures in London, Brussels and Paris
• Interacted and built rapport with professionals at businesses in each city
• Overcame language barriers through independent travel
