TABLE OF
CONTENTS
P. 3-6
DEFINE YOUR SKILLS
Reflect on how you have changed and what you
have gained from your time abroad. What skills
and qualities will you bring to your future
employer?
P. 7-9
RESUME AND COVER LETTER SAMPLES
Check out the suggestions and samples to get
your resume and cover letters updated to reflect
all the new skills you gained abroad
INTERVIEWS
Learn how to incorporate your relevant
international experiences in to each interview
P. 11
SOCIAL MEDIA
Internationalize your social media and make
connections others can see
Study Abroad Office
902 W. New York St.,
Education and Social Work building, Room 2129
Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
(317) 274-2081
abroad@iupui.edu
www.iupui.abroad.edu
September 2023
P. 12
RESOURCES
Additional links to explore
P. 10
Welcome back to campus!
We hope you had a wonderful experience studying abroad. Many students describe their study-abroad
experiences as “amazing” and “life-changing.” You still may be trying to figure out how you can incorporate
everything you’ve learned abroad into your life back home. It can be a lot to unpack! The Study Abroad
office has prepared the following toolkit to help you leverage your study abroad experience as you begin
your career. You will find questions to help you reflect on your time abroad that will then generate examples
that you can incorporate in to your resume, cover letters and job interviews!
“Numerous studies confirm the value that employers place upon applicants who have international experience.
But what employers are specifically looking for are candidates who have articulated lessons that were
learned and the intercultural and interpersonal skills that were strengthened as a result of studying abroad.”
– Martin Tillman, “AIFS Student Guide to Study Abroad and Career Development"
After spending time overseas where you learned about different cultures, adapted to new ideas and
cultural expectations, you now need to apply these new skills to finding a job. In addition to sharing your
study abroad stories with friends, family, and advisers, you will also need to reflect on your experience and
be ready to speak intelligently about it to potential employers. It’s your job to articulate your new skills and
the value you will contribute.
Self-Reflection
Before you can articulate your experience professionally, you must have an understanding of the key skills
you gained. Set aside some quiet time to reflect. The list of skills below are some commonly found in those
who have studied abroad. The list is by no means exhaustive or accurate to everyone, but a list for you to
think through as you begin to look back on your own personal gains.
Skills
• Job related exposure to global industry
• Overcome language barriers
• Patience and perseverance
• Initiative
• Problem solving and a sense of responsibility
• Independence
• Function within a high level of ambiguity
• Appreciation of diversity
• Creativity
• Self-confidence
D E F I N E Y O U R E X P E R I E N C E A B R O A D
F O R E M P L O Y E R S
3
Get down to business...
Now it is time to begin updating your resume, writing cover letters and preparing for interviews!
Since you have started to think about the skills you possess, and examples of how you displayed
and enhanced these abroad, move on to the next two pages and spend some time answering the
questions and filling in the chart provided. The lists and answers you create should be a
combination of both job specific skills as well as personal qualities. Keep in mind that each job
application should have a unique cover letter and resume based on the research you have done
on that employer. Use the information you learn about each employer to craft your application so
that you are highlighting your experience and skills that will best serve that position.
What do employers want?
Now that you have spent some time thinking about the skills you gained while abroad, take a look
at the chart below to see how your list compares to the top skills sought by employers according
to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), which is the guiding organization for
career advising in America. You may see that a lot of the skills you identify with based on your
study abroad experience are also highly valued by potential employers!
4
STAND OUT
What subject did you study or what skills did you learn or improve?
How did your learning abroad enhance your existing knowledge, skills, and understanding of your
intended career field?
What was the most challenging situation you faced? How did you deal with it and what did you learn?
What skills and personal qualities did you tap into? How did the experience help you grow as a person?
How did you adapt to your new cultural surroundings? Share examples from academic, social, and
work settings about these challenges.
What surprised you most about your new culture? Why was it a surprise? How did you react to this
surprise? What did you learn from this?
Did your experience abroad change any previously held opinions or perspectives? If so, how and
why?
What was the most significant thing you learned about yourself? How did this experience help you
gain an understanding of your work style, clarify your values, or improve your interpersonal skills?
Answer the Following Questions:
5
Soft skills, also known as interpersonal
skills, you may have gained abroad are
often easier to explain in your cover
letter than on your resume. Think about
those that are relevant to the job or
employer and use them to explain why
they needs you on their team!
C O V E R L E T T E R H I N T S
Active listening skills
Flexible
Empathetic
Self-aware
Resilient
Patient
Shows initiative
Inquisitive
Assertive
Open minded
H E R E A R E S O M E
C O M M O N ' S O F T ' S K I L L S
Y O U M A Y H A V E P I C K E D
U P :
RESUME AND
COVER LETTER
List your study abroad info in the “Education” section of
your resume below your current college or university
from where you intend to graduate.
The city and country in which you studied.
Year of study and length of program.
Note classes you completed during study abroad
(that are relevant to the job or internship in which
you're applying) on their own line in this section and
call it "Relevant Coursework."
While you were studying abroad, did you complete
service learning work, a professional assignment,
volunteer, or have an internship? Yes? Then along with
other work experience you’ve had (if any), put these in
chronological order in a "Work Experience" section.
You likely acquired loads of new skills during your time
abroad! Good news—there is more than one spot on
your resume to list your many new talents:
Under “Work Experience”
Your skills can be included in bullet points under
each of the positions you held and which skills
you gained or improved during that experience.
Under “Skills"
This one might seem obvious but it is a good
place to list interpersonal skills (sometimes
called 'soft skills') that may not neatly fit in
previous sections.
1. Education Section
2. Experience Section
3. Skills Section
T H R E E P L A C E S T O L I S T S T U D Y
A B R O A D O N Y O U R R E S U M E
Check out the sample resume and cover
letter suggestions on the following
pages!
6
Writing a 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 available position. If time spent
abroad is relevant to the position, we recommend you include your overseas
experience in both the introductory and main body paragraphs.
Introductory Paragraph
The first paragraph is to introduce yourself to the reader, explain how you learned about the
position, tell why you are interested in this position, and why you are a good fit for the
position. The end of the first paragraph should introduce relevant parts of your background,
which you will later explain more in the body of the cover letter. For example, you might say
something like, “Through my public health coursework at IUPUI, study-abroad experience in
(list location), and leadership experience on (enter campus based or local organization), I
have developed the analytical, interpersonal, and project management skills that will allow
me to be an asset to (name of organization/position you are applying to).”
Main Body of Cover Letter
The middle one or two paragraphs of a cover letter is where you will share more specific
examples of your relevant skills and qualities. In preparing to write this section, you need to
begin by learning about the potential employer, identify the skills they are looking for, and
demonstrate how you possess those skills. Next, you need to reflect upon your experiences
and think of the various ways in which you can demonstrate that you are the right person for
the job. Now is when you will want to include more detailed reflections from your time
abroad. How might your time abroad have helped you develop communication, teamwork,
or problem-solving skills? It is your job to help employers understand the many ways your
experience abroad can benefit them. This is a great way to stand out from the competition
since a small percentage of graduates study abroad.
Sample sentences:
“My experience studying abroad, and completing an engineering internship in
Germany, has provided me with a cross-cultural perspective and hands on experience
using (insert relevant technology or system)”
“My study abroad experience is also an asset because I learned to view problems from
a different cultural perspective. Additionally, I am able to adapt to new environments
and work with people of diverse backgrounds.”
New technologies, like ChatGPT, can be a helpful tool in writing. But it is essential to make
sure that your cover letter is written in your own words. The sentences written by ChatGTP
often are common or generic sentences that employers can detect were written by AI. Ensure
that your cover letter is your own work that is tailored towards your experiences and the job
you are applying for.
Final Paragraph
Thank the reader for their time. Let them know that you will follow-up with them in the
coming days and that you hope you will have the opportunity to discuss your qualifications
during an interview. Make sure to provide a phone number and email that you will answer
daily. It is a good idea to also let them know what time you are most likely reachable at those
contact details.
7
While we understand that your time abroad
may have been life changing, make sure to
keep it relevant during the interview. Don't
start every sentence with, "When I was in
England..."
B E W A R E O F " T M I "
If traveling gave you the itch to find other
adventurous opportunities ASAP, that is
awesome! Maybe you are just trying to earn
money so you can take off again, or are you
looking for a stable career? Be prepared to
be clear regarding your commitment to a
long-term position. Sometimes employers will
be understanding of your future travel plans,
but this is more likely in a job with high
turnover.
W H E R E D O Y O U W A N T
T O B E I N F I V E Y E A R S ?
INTERVIEWS
Do Background Research1.
Look for ways that your study abroad experience
could align with their office values and goals. Do
they have locations overseas? Do they deal with
international clients? How would your time
abroad enhance your ability to do the job?
2. Cite Specific Examples
The more specific and relevant, the better. Show
them how your international experience has
shaped you as a potential employee. Don't be
afraid to give an example of a problem or
obstacle you encountered. It is a great
opportunity to show that you are resilient,
capable of problem-solving and overcoming
adversity.
3. Focus On Your Achievements
Think about how you prepared to go overseas.
Did you dedicate yourself to working or studying
to get the funds and grades to do it? What
classes did you take? How did it change you as a
person? Don't sell yourself short. Now is the time
to toot your own horn!
4. Create your Sound Bite
Reflect on your experience abroad and create a
short response that you can be prepared to give
during an interview that sums up your experience
if asked, "I see you studied abroad, how was
that"? When crafting this response incorporate,
why you chose to study abroad, how it made you
feel, and what skills you gained that are most
valuable to you personally and professionally.
H O W T O I N C O R P O R A T E Y O U R
S T U D Y A B R O A D E X P E R I E N C E
You will have loads of stories to tell when you
get back home, but when you head into your
interview, make sure you keep these stories
brief so that you can focus on telling them
how you will apply what you learned when
they hire you.
K E E P I T B R I E F
8
Don't forget to feature your study
abroad experience on your LinkedIn
profile. Add it to the “Education”
section and also in the "Experience"
section if you participated in some
form of hands-on, experiential
learning like an internship abroad.
Be sure to include the amazing skills
and qualities you gained from being
abroad.
Connect with fellow students,
professional or academic contacts
you made during your program. Ask
them to 'endorse' your skills on your
profile. This can increase your
credibility!
Use LinkedIn for networking and
sharing relevant information about
your professional life. Don't treat it as
an additional social network with
unprofessional posts.
L I N K E D I N
Review all open content on all platforms
Go back through your photos and tags on Instagram
and Facebook, check your Twitter feed. Delete
photos where you are visibly intoxicated, making any
kind of gestures that could be deemed rude or
inappropriate. Delete offensive language
Google Yourself
This may help uncover content you may have
forgotten was out there.
Carefully consider your posting habits
You may want to re-evaluate how often you post, the
topics of your posts, and the people you follow?
Make all of your social media accounts more private
using the setting feature. Keep in mind this isn't full
proof, but will restrict access to most content.
No matter how perfect you think you are for a job, there’s
one thing that can instantly ruin your chances of getting the
job – social media! A flawless interview, stellar references
and unique experiences cannot make up for offensive
comments, posts, or pictures online. Assume all information
you post or are tagged in is visible to future employers. Will
this hurt or help your job prospects?
While you are updating your resume and writing your cover
letters you should also conduct a social media audit of your
accounts:
SOCIAL MEDIA
M A K E O R B R E A K
9
Check out these
RESOURCES
Campus Career Services: https://career.iupui.edu/students-alumni/career-
services/index.html
Study Abroad: Why Study Abroad: https://abroad.iupui.edu/why-study-
abroad/career-benefits.html
AIFS Guide to Study Abroad and Career Development:
Tillman_AIFS_Student_Guide_Career.pdf (aifsabroad.com)
Go Abroad.com: How Will Study Abroad Help Your Career: How Study Abroad
Will Help Your Career | GoAbroad.com
The links below provide additional career related resources to help you leverage
your study abroad experience:
10
WISE WORDS
TO LIVE BY
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always
comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks
your heart. But that’s OK. The journey changes you;
it should change you. It leaves marks on your
memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and
on your body. You take something with you.
Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” –
Anthony Bourdain
“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by
demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat,
worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we
try and understand each other, we may even
become friends.” – Maya Angelou
““Travel can be one of the most rewarding forms of
introspection.” – Lawrence Durrell
11
