Studying abroad is an enriching, transformative experience. But beyond the memories and friends you make, you can also use your experience to significantly enhance your resume and make yourself appealing in the global workplace.
Studying abroad shows you are adaptable, have cross-cultural communication skills, and can probably speak another language. These are valuable skills for employers. Add them to your resume so your SAF study abroad experience helps you really stand out from the crowd and land your dream job.
Here’s how to showcase your international education on your resume to make the most of your time abroad:
The education section
The first place to list your international experience is in the education section. It should sit under your main degree, formatted as you format your degree and given the weight and respect it deserves.
- Name of the host institution
- Location (city and country)
- Dates of attendance
- Relevant coursework or research projects
- GPA (if noteworthy)
This is a brief section, so resist the urge to add too much detail.
The experience section
Next, add any experience relevant to the position you’re applying for. If you had volunteer experience, undertook an internship, worked on a significant project or piece of coursework, or enjoyed particular success that would appeal to a potential employer, include it in the experience section.
- List it like any other work experience
- Emphasize cross-cultural skills
- Share specific examples in a bullet points
Keep your explanation to two or three concise, impactful sentences and tailor them to the role you’re applying for.
The skills section
By spending so much time away from home, you grow personally and professionally. Many of the things you learn happen without you even realizing. Cooking for yourself, commuting from your accommodation to lectures, speaking with strangers to build new friendships: these are significant even in your own language. Doing it in another language or a different culture give you soft skills that will last a lifetime, like:
- Language proficiency if you studied in another language
- Cross-cultural communication
- Adaptability
- Problem-solving in diverse environments
- Global perspective
Remember skills are hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills, like language skills and technical skills, are specific to the job you’re applying for. Soft skills are behaviors: your organizational skills, productivity, creativity, and ability to communicate and interact with different kinds of people. In studying abroad, you will have fast-tracked your soft skills, so highlight them. They are extremely transferable and appealing.
Putting it all together
Of course, you must tailor your resume and experience to the job you’re applying for. Keep your study abroad experience in the front of your mind as you craft your resume—slot your learnings alongside those you gained in other areas of your life. Include work courses, work experience, and skills you gained in your home country alongside those you developed during that profoundly transformative time abroad.
Every part of your experience studying abroad helped you grow. You developed immensely transferable skills that make you an impressive candidate and a valuable employee—use them effectively and you will stand out from any crowd.