The summer after my sophomore year, I interned and studied in Londonāan opportunity that left me academic and life skills I take with me each day. During my time in London, I worked for a corporate public relations firm. The internship gave meĀ obvious work experience, but studying abroad offers so much more. Brazen Careeristās recent blog (bit.ly/1rLjusY) shows how to convey the benefits of time overseas to future employers during an interview.
Talk up your communication skills: Even if you studied in an English-speaking country, travel abroad exposes you to people from all walks of life. Chances are you honed in on valuable communication skills that go far beyond polite conversation. Communication is indispensible in nearly every field, so bringing up what you learned during an interview signals that you could handle even the most difficult client.
Budget, budget, budget: Between tricky conversions and strange currency, handling your finances abroad is a job itself. Doing so successfully demonstrates your ability to budget resources. This also indicates that you have experience prioritizing what deserves your time and money and can do the same for an organization.
Remember your value in a global marketplace: Now more than ever, no man (or organization) is an island. Tasks completed in an office can affect people worldwide, and traveling out of the country exposes you to people from all corners of the globe. When discussing your time abroad, mention your global awareness and give examples of how the experience changed your perspective.
My time in London is one of my favorite college memories, and I will take the lessons learned from that summer with me in my future career. Beyond classroom experience and sightseeing, traveling abroad can help you improve your skills and perspective. These valuable gains can help you stand out in an interview and become a well-rounded employee.
