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Career Benefits
Study Abroad Career Toolkit
Check out our comprehensive guide on how to leverage your study abroad experience towards securing your dream job. The toolkit covers everything from how to present your experience on your resume and cover letters, to how to bring up your experience in interviews. You will also find suggestions on best ways to highlight study abroad on your social media platforms and avoid social media pitfalls. It's an essential read for anyone with study abroad experience entering the job market.
Click Here to Download the Toolkit
The Benefits of Study Abroad in Your Career and the Workplace
Study Abroad will change your life. In addition to the many ways it will benefit you personally and academically, studying abroad will open new doors for your career and help you build a unique skill set that employers love. The places you'll explore, the people you'll meet, and the experiences you'll have will prepare you to succeed in any workplace.
“You’re gonna get the experience necessary to work with diverse cultures and populations which make you an employee a step above others.IUPUI Career Fair Employer Participant
Strengthen the Skills that Every Employer Values
“I would definitely suggest doing study abroad. It’s something I look for in résumés. If I see it I ask about it!Alex Totten – Leadership for Educational Equity
Study Abroad has been shown to develop skills that all employers value. Even if you don't intend to work for an international employer or aren't sure of your career goals, developing traits like resourcefulness, adaptability, resilience, and empathy will give you an edge in any job market.
When asked, 73% of employers stated that study abroad experience was important for evaluating résumés for junior-level positions. There are programs out there for any IUPUI student studying any major. Find out what programs are best suited to you based on what you study.
Develop Marketable Expertise
“Simply having this new perspective of the world will help you as a new graduate be marketable and stand out among the competitionJen Mulzer – Director of Talent Acquisition and Development, Emmis Communications
In an increasingly interconnected and global marketplace, studying abroad quickly and effectively build proficiencies that will help you excel. In one survey a majority of students reported that studying abroad improved their teamwork, leadership, and communication abilities. In the same survey, over 60% of students reported growth in language skills, with 48% reporting "significant growth".
As a student in the IU Community, you have access to many Service Learning and Internship programs where you can live and work in an international context. This unique and hands-on experience is valued by employers and hard to come by outside of Study Abroad.
Bring Valuable Understanding and Awareness to the Workplace
“I was able to come out to be more confident, more secure, more curious, and more grateful.Adriana Zermeño - Study Abroad Returnee
Study Abroad lets you engage with your host community in a way that builds true cultural awareness. That firsthand knowledge of living and learning within international cultures is key to nurturing the personal qualities valued in every workplace. One survey found that, after studying abroad, a majority of students reported growth in:
- Flexibility
- Curiosity
- Confidence
- Self-Awareness
Such improvement in maturity and intrapersonal skills helps explain why more than 50% of Study Abroad alumni say that studying abroad broadened their career goals.
Build Your Professional Network
“Study abroad can help you build that résumé and change your career trajectory forever!Marie Mackintosh - Chief Operations Officer, Employ Indy
You may already know the importance of building your professional network within your own community. Study Abroad is a unique opportunity to expand that network much further than your campus or your city. Your host family, students and faculty living in your host country, or other students studying abroad, could be valuable resources in helping you find your ideal domestic or international job.
If you're thinking about working overseas, Study Abroad can be critical in helping you get pre-acclimated to the local culture and getting your foot in the door with overseas employers. One survey found that 8 out of 10 HR executives say that study abroad experience was an important factor in decisions about overseas job placement.
FAQs
Develop Marketable Expertise
In an increasingly interconnected and global marketplace, studying abroad quickly and effectively build proficiencies that will help you excel. In one survey a majority of students reported that studying abroad improved their teamwork, leadership, and communication abilities.
Why studying abroad is beneficial for college students? ›
By studying abroad, you will experience new perspectives, learn how to navigate different cultures, work with diverse peers, and communicate in other languages.
What is Purdue ranked for study abroad? ›
The 2023 Open Doors Report, issued Tuesday (Nov. 14) by the Institute of International Education, shows Purdue is ranked No. 8 among 4,500-plus public and private universities in attracting international students and ranks No. 24 among all U.S. doctoral institutions in the number of study abroad students.
How will studying abroad benefit me personally? ›
Students can develop various personal, interpersonal and cognitive skills by studying abroad, studies indicate, including adaptability, self-awareness, tolerance for ambiguity, teamwork, leadership, work ethic, and problem-solving and intercultural skills.
Could studying abroad be the key to career success? ›
By taking on the challenge of studying in a foreign country, you demonstrate the willingness and capability to broaden your horizons and embrace diverse cultures, a skill set that is indispensable in today's world.
What are the benefits of studying? ›
Studying is not just important for educational development, but also builds personal skills. Having good study skills can improve your confidence, competence, and self-esteem. As well as helps reduce stress and anxiety around deadlines and exams.
What are advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad? ›
Authored By:
| Pros of Study Abroad | Cons of Study Abroad |
|---|
| 1. You will learn to think more broadly. | 1. Studying abroad can be expensive. |
| 2. You will make lifelong connections. | 2. There will be language barriers. |
| 3. You will gain a competitive edge. | 3. You may experience culture shock. |
3 more rowsJan 26, 2023
I hope to gain more insight from this amazing opportunity and taking classes would help me in my academics and eventually professional goals. Studying abroad would be a stepping stone for me because while I would be taking classes that would help in my advancement in my field of study.
Does studying abroad look good on a resume? ›
Studying abroad teaches you the practical skills you need to succeed on any career path. It can be critical thinking, creative problem solving, or communicating cross-culturally. That's why employers take candidates who list study abroad on their resume.
What is Purdue University famous for? ›
Purdue is a Big Ten school that provides “a world class education” with a name “that is known all over the world and not just the state of Indiana.” The university is especially “known for being a great engineering school,” but has a bevy of amazing programs including “a great nursing program,” “a great Pharmacy ...
We offer short-term programs that take place during the summer, spring break, or winter break, as well as long-term programs that cover one or two semesters. If you are looking for a semester program, consider whether you would prefer to go abroad in the spring or fall.
Is Purdue a top 10 university? ›
Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top 4 in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, with 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus.
How has studying abroad change you? ›
You learn to respect diversity
While studying abroad, you meet people not only from the host country but also from other countries, who are equally ambitious, motivated and energetic as you. International students have the opportunity to find friends and colleagues from a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds.
Is studying abroad worth it? ›
Studying abroad is worth it if you can find a program that aligns with your interests, goals and finances. The once-in-a-lifetime experience can improve your future career and income prospects, broaden your horizons and give you space to build new skills.
How will you benefit from a study abroad scholarship? ›
Receiving a study abroad scholarship provides several benefits, including financial assistance, access to prestigious institutions, cultural immersion, academic enrichment, personal development, career advancement, and global networking opportunities.
What is the value of studying abroad? ›
“The beauty of studying abroad is gaining a broader understanding of other cultures. Having access to other people and building relationships with those people on their home turf enables one to think more creatively and flexibly, necessary skills in today's competitive work environment.
How will study abroad enhance your academic and professional goals? ›
You learn to communicate across different cultures, discover creative ways to solve problems and expose yourself to new ways of thinking. There's nothing quite like meeting people who challenge you to look outside of the box. You will return to your campus with a greater sense of appreciation for those around you.
How does studying abroad align with your career, academic, and personal goals? ›
Immersion in a different culture fosters adaptability, cross-cultural communication, and a broader worldview, which are essential attributes in an increasingly interconnected world. Additionally, studying abroad often offers opportunities for language acquisition, which can open doors to international job markets.
How does foreign education influence further professional success? ›
The top five skills, with more than 70 percent of respondents saying their study abroad experience contributed to a significant degree of improvement, were: intercultural skills, curiosity, flexibility/adaptability, confidence, and self-awareness.
