How to Put Study Abroad on a Resume

So, you did it! You made the decision to study abroad, and now you have the experience, and more importantly, the degree to prove it. But this is only the beginning of the adventure. Now it's time to put everything you learned into practice.

Studying abroad teaches you the practical skills you need to succeed on any career path. It can involve:

• Critical thinking
• Creative problem-solving
• Communicating across cultures

That's why employers take candidates who list studying abroad on their resume. Rather than being taught through a book, those who've studied abroad learn skills through first-hand experience.

Check out our suggestions on how to include study abroad on a resume to really grab employers' attention and get that dream job!

Highlight your skills

Without a doubt, your study abroad experience has prepared you with the necessary skills to handle any job that comes your way.

• Finding an apartment, making friends, and adapting to new cultures — you may not think about it, but these all take skill to navigate, and it's not easy.
• However, you need to consider how to effectively include study abroad experiences on your resume and highlight your skills.

Without even looking at the experience you've written down, recruiters know that a student with international study abroad experience can handle almost anything. That's why employers appreciate candidates with a study abroad experience on their resume!

This is why it's important to draw explorers' attention to your study abroad resume and the skills you want to highlight. There are several ways to effectively add your study abroad experience to a resume.

Highlight your language skills

Pick up any language skills during your study abroad experience?

• Creating a section titled "Languages" after you've highlighted your academic and professional experience is another way to make your study abroad resume stand out.
• Language skills are in high demand, especially in today's globalized world.

Whether you picked up Spanish while studying in Spain or Chinese while pursuing your degree in China, you should highlight these languages when considering how to include study abroad on your resume.

It's great to demonstrate to employers that you possess the skills to effectively communicate with customers, colleagues, or business partners from diverse global backgrounds.

As anyone who has attempted to learn another language knows, it's a lengthy and time-consuming process that requires considerable practice and study.

Therefore, language skills on your study abroad resume will not only show employers you have the practical skills, but also that you're capable of taking on a challenge and sticking to a project.

Highlight your social skills

You should mention your international connections while putting study abroad on your resume.

• Did you participate in any social activities or join organizations during your time studying abroad?
• Or, perhaps you've made a whole bunch of new international friends and professional contacts?

Multicultural communication is one of the most important skills in global work environments. If you take part in social activities with other international students, add those to your study abroad resume and demonstrate your ability to get along with people of all backgrounds.

Your participation in an organization, especially if you led it, should be included when listing study abroad experiences on your resume. Employers will also have the opportunity to assess your leadership potential.

Consider cultural differences

It's likely you know how to craft a basic study abroad resume in your home country. But, do you know what an employer in the US, Germany, or Japan will be looking for when you apply for a job or internship?

It may not seem obvious at first, but the standard resume format varies from country to country. So, before considering how to include study abroad on your resume, you should do some research on cultural differences before submitting yours.

💡For example, in many European countries, it's common to include a picture attached to your resume. However, in the US, including a picture is much less common and could be seen as a breach of equal opportunity hiring practices.

Apply the tips to your interview

You increase your chances of grabbing an employer's attention when you put study abroad on your resume in the right way, but that's only the first step. It's equally important to highlight your international experience during the interview.

You can get the conversation started from the very beginning when the employer asks you to talk a little bit about yourself.

• Easily highlight your study abroad experience by discussing your time abroad.
• Don't forget to include the name of the city and country where you stayed.

You never know, your interviewers might have studied abroad themselves or have at least travelled to your study abroad destination. If you can make a personal connection like that, you're likely to make your study abroad resume stand out and score that callback.

Of course, you should highlight your study abroad experience and how it helped you grow as a person and a professional first. But don't be afraid to mention some of the challenges you faced along the way.

👉 You're likely to impress employers and demonstrate your perseverance by discussing how you overcame challenges and turned a hurdle into a success when describing your study abroad experience.

Conclusion

Including your study abroad experience on your resume isn't just about listing where you studied; it's about demonstrating to employers the valuable skills, adaptability, and global mindset you developed. By highlighting your strengths and weaving them into both your resume and interview, you'll stand out as a candidate who's ready to thrive in today's international job market.