Marketing Your International Experience to Employers: How to Transfer Skills and Knowledge from Abroad

Whether planned or unplanned, studying abroad is likely to make you more attractive to future employers. The skills and experiences you gain overseas can seamlessly translate into valuable workplace competencies. However, you must be able to demonstrate how your international experience aligns with the specific skills a company or organization values in order to really set yourself apart from other candidates.

Identifying Your International Experiences and Competencies

Here are some questions to help you identify the skills, knowledge, and experiences you may have acquired abroad. Reflect on your responses to these:

• Flexibility: How did you develop a greater tolerance for ambiguity? Did you become a more effective team player?
• Cultural Adaptability: What cross-cultural skills, sensitivity, and awareness did you gain?
• Global Perspective: How did your understanding of international affairs and global issues deepen?
• Language Proficiency: How did you improve your fluency in a primary, secondary, or tertiary language?
• Leadership: How did you grow in your ability to motivate others, develop new visions, and acquire core leadership skills?

These broad skills are highly transferable and can be essential to your job search. Employers value them whether you’re seeking a position in the U.S. with a domestic company, working with an international organization, or applying for jobs abroad.

Essential Qualities Gained from Studying Abroad

To better prepare for job interviews or networking opportunities, think about specific examples from your study abroad experience that demonstrate your growth in these areas:

• Independence and self-reliance
• Increased self-awareness and self-confidence
• Flexibility and perseverance
• Ability to cope with stress and rejection
• Assertiveness and inquisitiveness
• Awareness of lifestyle choices and their global impacts
• Adaptability to new environments and appreciation for diversity
• Quick rapport-building skills
• Open-mindedness and the ability to understand and appreciate diverse perspectives
• Enhanced global awareness, including knowledge of international issues and politics
• Ability to function amid ambiguity and achieve goals despite obstacles
• Strong initiative-taking and risk-management abilities
• Time management and communication skills, especially in overcoming language or cultural barriers

By reflecting on these attributes, you can effectively market yourself as a globally competent candidate. Employers are likely to value skills such as:

• A diverse and informed worldview
• Understanding the international dimensions of your academic field
• Cross-cultural communication skills, including proficiency in another language
• Sensitivity and adaptability in navigating different cultures

How to Effectively Showcase Your International Experience

To maximize the impact of your study abroad experience in your job search, incorporate these attributes into your resume, cover letter, and interview talking points. Here’s how to get started:

• Update Your Resume: After returning to your home institution, visit a career advisor to help you revise and reframe your resume to highlight your international experience.
• Engage in Campus and Community Programs: Look for opportunities to share what you’ve learned abroad, particularly in terms of intercultural and professional skills.
• Practice Articulating Your Experience: Reflect on overcoming challenges, such as adjusting to a new culture, learning a second language, or becoming more open-minded and self-confident. Reviewing your experiences will help you communicate them more effectively during interviews.

Effectively marketing your international experience can significantly enhance your appeal to potential employers. By clearly articulating the skills and insights you’ve gained, you position yourself as a well-rounded candidate ready to thrive in diverse professional environments!

How to Highlight Your Study Abroad Experience in a Cover Letter

Every employer seeks something unique in a candidate, and each applicant offers their strengths. So, how can you set yourself apart from the competition? One powerful way is to highlight study abroad experience in your cover letter. This showcases your global perspective and demonstrates personal growth and adaptability. However, choosing the right aspects of your study abroad journey to focus on can be challenging. So, what do employers find most relevant?

Use Specific Examples

There’s no universal answer to what employers want. The key is to tailor your experiences to the job and company you’re applying to. Provide specific examples that illustrate what you gained from your time abroad.

For example, if you’re applying for a job on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., you could mention an internship with a Member of Parliament (MP) in London. Consider phrasing it like this:

“During my semester in London, I gained valuable insight into the British government while interning with MP Rosie Cooper. I had the opportunity to attend her meetings, including a key conference with the United States Ambassador. This experience allowed me to observe firsthand how our two countries interact politically. I’m eager to apply these insights in my work on Capitol Hill and help strengthen the Special Relationship from the U.S. side.”

When Specifics Aren’t Necessary

Sometimes, you may not have had an internship or job abroad, and that’s perfectly fine. Even without specific work experience, you can still convey the independence and cultural awareness you developed overseas. For instance, if you were applying for an assistant position at a travel agency, you could focus on broader aspects of your experience:

“I’m driven by a passion for learning and making connections across various subjects. This curiosity naturally fuels my love for travel. During my junior year, I had the privilege of studying abroad in London. I took advantage of my location and traveled throughout the UK, Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. From navigating airports to finding hidden local treasures, I gained valuable insights into the world of travel—from planes to trains, and hostels to hotels.”

Final Tips

When including study abroad in your cover letter, here are a few additional points to consider highlighting:

• Your interactions with diverse cultures
• Adaptability to new environments and challenges
• Organizational skills (e.g., planning trips, managing logistics)
• Financial management in a foreign currency
• Independence and self-reliance
• Communicating across language barriers
• Any relevant coursework or research projects

Some people view study abroad as an extended vacation, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a rich learning experience that fosters both personal and professional growth. By presenting your experiences in a professional context, you’ll show employers just how much you gained—and how that makes you a stronger candidate!

How to Properly Showcase Your Study Abroad Experience on a Resume

Studying abroad is a transformative experience that often leaves students with new skills, insights, and a more global perspective. However, when articulating these experiences on a resume, many struggle to convey how impactful their time abroad has been. If you’ve returned from studying in a foreign country, you may feel more independent and worldly, but how do you put that into words for future employers? Highlighting your study abroad experience effectively can set you apart in a competitive job market.

Key Strategies for Highlighting Study Abroad on Your Resume

One of the easiest ways to integrate your study abroad experience is through your resume’s “Education” and “Skills” sections. A semester or year abroad can enhance your qualifications, especially if you’re applying for positions that value cross-cultural experiences, adaptability, or language skills. Employers look for adaptable, communicative, and comfortable applicants in unfamiliar situations—skills you likely honed while abroad.

When you return from your semester abroad, people may ask, “So… how have you changed?” It’s a great question, but one that isn’t easy to answer. Studying abroad inevitably shapes you, but pinpointing those changes can be tricky. Sure, you become more independent and gain a global perspective, but how do you translate that into meaningful explanations for potential employers?

Below are some resume examples that can help you articulate your study abroad experience in a way that grabs attention:

Education Section Example:

EDUCATION

University of Maryland — Graduated May 2010
B.S. in Geography, GPA 3.90 – cum laude

• Awarded the Presidential Scholarship
• Semester Academic Honors for all semesters
• College Park Scholars Arts Citation
• Semester Study Abroad in London

In the “Skills” section, highlight the countries you’ve visited, especially for travel-related roles or global industries.

Skills Section Example:

SKILLS

• Intermediate Spanish
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Final Cut Pro, and Photoshop
• International Travel Experience: Canada, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Australia

When listing countries, be careful not to sound like you’re bragging. The intention should be to catch an employer’s eye without overshadowing the rest of your relevant experience. For example, this can be valuable when applying for roles in customer service or global companies, where interacting with people from different cultures is an asset.

How to Use Your Study Abroad Experience to Ace a Job Interview

Studying abroad isn’t just an exciting adventure—it’s also a valuable asset when landing a job. Employers are always looking for candidates who can adapt, embrace new challenges, and thrive in diverse environments, all of which are qualities you gain while studying internationally. In your job interview, leveraging your study abroad experience can set you apart from other candidates and show you’re well-rounded and capable of handling new and unfamiliar situations.

Study Abroad Interview Questions: How to Showcase Your International Experience

You’ve made it through the resume stage and past the cover letter—congratulations on landing the interview! But now what?

Don’t panic. Take a deep breath and start by re-reading your resume and cover letter. Remember, you must have done something right if the company called you for an interview! Review what you’ve written, especially since the interviewer will likely have gone through the same information. Ensure you’re familiar with the key points that stand out—perhaps the section about your study abroad experience is one of them.

If your experience does stand out, that’s a great place to begin! Studying abroad is valuable to highlight during your interview, as it demonstrates your ability to adapt, embrace new cultures, and handle challenges in unfamiliar environments. The best way to prepare is through practice. Read through the sample questions below and practice answering them aloud, incorporating your study abroad experience whenever relevant.

Example Interview Question and Answer

Q: “We take pride in having a diverse team here. What experience do you have working with people from different backgrounds, and how do those experiences relate to the workplace?”

A: “I was fortunate to spend a semester abroad in London, an incredibly international city. While there, I met students from across the world, including places like France, Spain, India, and South Africa. I was heavily involved with the International Student House, where I attended social and cultural events and formed friendships with people from diverse backgrounds. These experiences taught me that we often share common interests even when we come from different places. The ability to connect with others across cultures has made me more open-minded and adaptable, skills I believe would be beneficial in your diverse workplace.”

Now It’s Your Turn

Use the following questions to help you prepare for how to talk about your study abroad experience in your interview:

• Q: “What attracted you to this position?”
• Q: “Can you tell me about a problem (academic or work-related) you faced and how you solved it?”
• Q: “Can you tell me about a time you took a risk, and it paid off?”
• Q: “How do you stay organized when managing multiple tasks?”
• Q: “Do you prefer to work independently or with others? Can you give an example of both?”
• Q: “What is one accomplishment you’re particularly proud of?”
• Q: “We see you’ve recently graduated and may not have as much work experience as other candidates. What skills do you bring as a recent graduate?”

Open-Ended Study Abroad Questions

An interviewer might also ask a more open-ended question such as:

• Q: “I see you spent a semester in Florence. Tell me about that!”

If you can share freely, focus on what you’re most comfortable discussing. If your favorite aspect of studying abroad was meeting students from all over the world, dive into that. If you’ve already talked about those experiences, try mentioning something new—perhaps an example of leadership or a situation where you demonstrated independence. Use specific examples and details, but be mindful not to ramble (we know it can be hard!).

Handling Unexpected Interview Questions

There will always be those curveball questions you need help to prepare for fully. If this happens, pausing, breathing, and gathering your thoughts is perfectly fine. Nobody walks into an interview with all the answers perfectly rehearsed. Besides, remember how well you adapted to the surprises that came your way while studying abroad? Compared to that, this should feel like a breeze!

Making the Most of Your Study Abroad Experience

Your study abroad experience is more than just a memorable chapter in your life; it’s a powerful tool that can give you a competitive edge in job interviews. By effectively showcasing the skills and insights you’ve gained from navigating new cultures, overcoming challenges, and connecting with diverse individuals, you can present yourself as a candidate who is adaptable, open-minded, and ready to contribute to a dynamic workplace. As you prepare for your next interview, remember to reflect on your experiences, practice articulating them, and approach each question with confidence. Embrace the journey of sharing your unique story—it’s an opportunity to not only highlight your qualifications but also to demonstrate your readiness to thrive in a globalized professional environment. With the right preparation, your study abroad experience can help you make a lasting impression and set the stage for a successful career!