Transcript Study Abroad - Lawrence University

Marketing Your Off-Campus
Study Experience
Career Services
&
Off-Campus Programs
Agenda
• Welcome
• Build off your experiences in study abroad
• Learn how to:
– Explain how your experiences are relevant in
today’s global marketplace
– Turn experiences into skills on resume/cover
letter
– How to continue to build your network
– Using experience in an interview
– Resources for looking for internships/jobs
abroad
Welcome!
• Introductions
– Name?
– Major?/ Interests?
– What was your Off-Campus experience?
• What are your expectations from this
session?
Your Competitive Advantage
• Global marketplace – more diverse needs
• Employers like off-campus study (if you know
how to express yourself and the value of your
experiences – help potential employers see the
value of your off-campus study experience)
• Nationally just 9% of U.S. undergrads study
abroad before graduating
• 38% of Lawrentians study abroad before
graduating
Resume
• Reflect upon your experience and how it might
translate to a future career:
• Did you?
– Gain insights into culture (and business/corporate
culture) in a different place?
– Meet and interact with people of a different culture or
with diverse interests?
– Spend time getting to know a new city or area?
– Complete an independent study project?
Resume Continued:
• These experiences translate directly into work-related
experience:
Flexibility/adaptability to new environments
Open-mindedness
Self-reliance
Inquisitiveness/perseverance
Appreciation of diversity/ability to handle cultural differences
Self-confidence while listening and learning from people whose
value systems may be different
– Communication skills (language skills if applicable)
– Handling stressful/difficult situations in many contexts
– And many more!! (think about ways in which your off-campus
experience made you a stronger person)
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Where do I put it?
You can incorporate your off-campus experience into your resume in a
variety of ways:
1. List the name of the program/institution in the "education" section of your
resume, just as you list Lawrence.
2. If you have a section for related coursework, consider listing classes from
off-campus if they are relevant. You might describe projects or any
research or volunteer experience you had during your time abroad.
3. Depending on the level of detail you want to include, you can list offcampus study related experiences in the "education" section, the “related
experience” section, or perhaps in an “international experience” section, if
you plan on conducting a search with an international focus.
4. If you have a “related skills” section, list any language skills.
Cover Letter
A cover letter is meant to act as a complement to your resume,
explaining in a narrative style why you are a good fit for the
organization and the available position.
If time spent off-campus is highly relevant to the position, you can
include your overseas experience in both the first and middle
paragraphs.
• For example, you might say something like “Through my
experience in my off-campus study in (list location), summer
internship with/as (list organization or title), and leadership
experiences on Grounds, I have developed the analytical,
interpersonal, and project management skills that will allow
me to be an asset to (name of organization/team).“
• Be sure to use specific examples of skills you
acquired/experiences you had off-campus and how they are
would make you an excellent candidate for the position.
Networking
• Keep in contact with host family, friends and professors
• Make a list of alumni living in your destination country
(Alumni Search on Voyager, LinkedIn)
• Do informational interviews
– A good opportunity to gather information about a career field or
company
– Helps you develop a clear picture of a specific field
Alumni (Ireland)
• ’09 Internship and Student Welfare
Officer, IES Abroad – Dublin
• ’92 Marketing Director, Quest
Diagnostics, Inc., Galway
• ’97 Music Teacher, Dundalk
• ’97 ODIN Research Assistant,
University College Cork
Interviews
•
Recall skills you noted on your resume, including:
– Cross-cultural communication
– Foreign language acquisition
– Adaptability
– Self-confidence and assertiveness
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S.T.A.R. Technique for Behavioral Interviewing Questions
– Situation
• Explain situation.
– Task
• Describe what you sought to achieve.
– Action
• Describe the steps you took in response to the situation.
– Results:
• Describe the outcome, consequences of your actions (positive or
negative – but focus on the positive), what you learned, and what
you might do differently in a similar situation in the future.
Jobs and Internships
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National Association of International Educators: www.nafsa.org
Institute of International Educators: www.iie.org
The International Educator: http://www.tieonline.com/
www.idealist.org
U.S. Government: www.usajobs.gov
– U.S. Department of State: www.state.gov
– United States Agency for International Development (USAID):
www.usaid.gov
http://www.goabroad.com/
Current Jobs on LUworks
Bridge Worldwide Music Connection
Indeed.com
International Job Resources: www.rileyguide.com/internat.html
Gap Year Resources
Peace Corps: http://www.peacecorps.gov/
JET: http://www.jetprogramme.org/
GreenCorps: http://www.greencorps.org
BUNAC
Watson (talk to Dean Pertl)
Peace Corps, Fulbright, Overseasjobs.com,
Crossculturalsolutions.org, WWOOF, Goabroad.com.
• http://www.gapyear.com/
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Questions