Whatever you decide to do, don’t forget to include your study abroad experience on your resumé. Study abroad is a sign of intercultural competence that is appealing to potential employers and graduate schools alike in our increasingly interdependent society. When including study abroad in your résumé, think about the skills you gained and what you learned while abroad. Did you become proficient in a language? Did you gain research experience through conducting an independent study project? Have you become well versed in some aspect of your host country’s culture? Remember that you must make the connection to the actual skills you gained through the experiences you had—it won’t always be obvious to an employer.

So, how do you get these skills across on a réesumé? Here are a few examples:

EXAMPLE 1: You should include your study abroad experience as part of your education, possibly including those specific skills relevant to your academic experience.

EXAMPLE 2: You may also include a specific aspect of your study abroad experience as part of your related experience, including those skills gained through your time abroad.

You may also decide to list study abroad twice, under both education and experience. The choice is yours.

Are you wondering what other skills students gain through studying abroad? Some other possible outcomes of an international experience may include:

It is important to note that you may need to develop an alternate résumé for applying to positions overseas, dependent upon the country. Career Services has helpful resources on developing "foreign" résumés (a.k.a. "curriculum vitae", or, "CV").

• Re-entry Anxieties
• Adjusting to Life in the United States
• Graduate School Abroad
• Study Abroad and Your Résumé
• Returning Abroad
• Welcome Home

last updated September 18, 2006