How to Effectively Put Study Abroad Experience on a Resume

The Employability and Study Abroad 2018 survey has revealed that 41% of employers consider offering higher salaries to candidates who have studied abroad. But since these reports are from the not-too-distant past, the subsequent question is – whether studying abroad is still relevant today, in 2023. And if it is, then how to put study abroad experience on a resume to benefit from it and stand out?

Should You Study Abroad in 2023-24

The answer is a big yes! There are several benefits that would arise as answers if you ask the question- why study abroad? The biggest and most compelling one would be that it significantly enhances overall employability, which is increasingly relevant in today’s rapidly evolving and competitive job market. 

A majority of employers seek transversal skills in addition to work experience when they recruit graduates. These skills indicate attributes like curiosity and openness about new challenges, problem-solving and decision-making abilities, confidence, tolerance towards the behavior and values of other people, and more. Studying abroad helps students to build these competencies naturally.

But the real question is how to put study abroad experience on a resume. Here are a few reasons why discussing your experience of studying abroad on a resume is beneficial and some tips to efficiently mention the same. 

Importance of Studying Abroad on Resume

Before learning how to put study abroad experience on a resume, it is crucial to understand its importance at an intrinsic level. Here are a few pointers worth considering: 

• Standing out from the competition- Study abroad work experience on a resume is a key differentiator. Hiring/recruitment managers/personnel go through hundreds (if not more) of applications for a single position. Hence, they often keep an eye out for stand-out aspects in any CV. Studying abroad may be that X-factor that gets your resume noticed by hiring managers. 
• A glimpse of your core values and philosophies- Studying abroad experience on the resume also gives hiring managers a glimpse of the core values you believe in. It shows that you are tolerant of diverse cultures and people along with being adaptable to new environments and world views. Employers may find you more open-minded and curious about the world and cultural nuances. Those who study abroad automatically start accepting differences and pick up a life-long habit of learning from others. Companies value these things greatly in today’s cosmopolitan and global world. 
• Showcase your skill sets- Studying abroad also helps employers understand a few of your fundamental skill sets. It shows them you are independent and self-sufficient in learning and navigating courses in new environments. It indicates solving problems and swiftly assimilating and leveraging new data. It also shows you can collaborate with people from different cultures and backgrounds. 
• Backs up for lower work experience- While many employers may insist on work experience throughout college or require a minimum work experience, showing your study abroad experience may be a good way to back up your profile if you have limited work experience. 

How to Add Study Abroad Experience to Resume

Now comes the crucial bit – how to put study abroad experience on the resume. Here are some aspects that you should keep in mind: 

• Clear thinking is the first step- Take a few moments to pause and cut out the daily clutter before you start thinking about the time you spent abroad. You should closely reflect on the key learnings from your academic program, the people you came across, places you traveled to, any unique experiences, etc. Also, think about the interests and skills you could develop along with the global exposure you gained. Analyze how you can apply the same to the current career pathway that you have chosen. 
• Distilling your study abroad experience- Then comes the distillation process, i.e., filtering everything and tailoring it to suit your job application. Be choosy about the parts that you add to your resume. They should be strictly relevant to the position that you are applying for. 

For instance, if the job description states that you must travel frequently for official purposes, you can mention the length of time you spent abroad or if you went to foreign countries for student exchange programs. This will show employers that you can adapt easily to new environments without compromising productivity. 

• Adding to the Education Section- You can add your study abroad details to the Education section. This is where you can fill it up beneath your present school. Include the name of the school/institution, country and city, and duration of your study program. Also talk about relevant honors and coursework. 
• Putting it in the Experience Section- This is another section where you can list any relevant programs, initiatives, internships and other activities you were a part of while studying abroad. You can also talk about your duties and responsibilities for each in bullet points. You may also add a whole new section of International Experience to your CV if you have participated in several such programs. 
• Skill Section Additions- List the skills that you successfully developed while studying abroad. Highlight the relevant ones in your resume. For instance, if you have learned a new language, it is a great new skill to put into your resume. Always mention whether you are proficient, fluent, or a beginner. 

Tips on How to Highlight 'Study Abroad' on Resume

Highlighting study abroad on the resume is not hard, provided you follow the guidelines mentioned above and these helpful tips: 

• Be concise. Do not overdo anything. Stick to the core points while discussing your foreign educational program, tenure, coursework, academic specializations, skills, and experience. Employers want to see how it is a differentiator and not long-winding paragraphs on how it changed your life. 
• While including your study abroad details, do not forget to mention the date and location for every course and the classes you opted for. You can also have a separate section called Relevant Coursework if you did any additional certificate courses and subject specializations tailored to the job position in question. 
• You should include volunteering experience and other part-time/full-time jobs, internships, and community service that you did while studying abroad. Mentioning it in chronological order can help the employer better understand your experience as well as your interest. 
• While adding skills, remember that nowadays, both soft and hard skills matter immensely to recruiters. Too many people focus on the latter without even listing the former. Studying abroad usually helps you to build soft skills as you learn to survive in a new environment, open up with new people, indulge in new experiences, and so much more.

Hence, mentioning this information on your resume is non-negotiable if you have an international degree or any recognized qualification. It does half the job of showing your potential employers how you are curious, adaptable, flexible, and have a global outlook. As mentioned above, be careful to concisely list your educational, professional, and skill-oriented information in your resume.