Hands-down this is the number one question I get asked. 10 years ago I gave a standard reply of, "You'll need a master's degree, 2 years of work experience, a foreign language, and at least 3-6 months of living in another country-- at minimum".

My advice lately has become more nuanced as both the economy and the industry have shifted. I have a harder time giving a blanket recommendation of another degree and delayed earnings for entry into a low-paying field to someone who is already saddled with undergraduate debt. But first, some background on why. 

Many (most?) study abroad career hopefuls approach the process in the following way:

1. Return from a study abroad experience, pumped about the possibility of going abroad again to work (and get paid!)
2. Start Googling "how to get a job in study abroad" or checking out study abroad advisor jobs at universities
3. See job postings that require "2 years of experience + master's degree in higher education, student affairs, international relations, international marketing, or related" 
4. Apply anyway and get rejected/ghosted/etc. 
5. Feel frustrated with dashed hopes. Have a mini quarter-life crisis.
6. Talk to someone who recommends a graduate degree (which will cost more than your first year's salary)
7. Start Googling "master's degrees for international education" and switch focus from job searching to researching grad programs
8. Take out loans and enter a 1-2 year graduate program,  hoping things are better on the other end.

The sad truth is that at the end of all of that you might still wind up in the same spot. Even if you've made the most of your graduate student status (more on that in an upcoming post) there is still the risk that you won't find a job right away. Many do, but there is just no guarantee. And now your loans are probably double so the stakes are higher. I totally empathize.

What do I recommend instead? Change your approach to match your situation.

If you are still an undergraduate:

• Visit your campus study abroad office and express your international education career interest. Ask about staff member(s) own career pathway(s) and really pay attention. Develop a professional relationship. (PRO TIP: make the appointment for the summer when it's slower and you will get more time)
• Ask if the study abroad office hires student workers, peer advisors, interns (or even volunteers) and when.
• Try to squirrel your way in :-) Log as many hours as you can working or volunteering in marketing, promotion, advising, or even just regular office work. You'd be surprised what you can learn through osmosis while making copies, filing, etc.  Those hours COUNT!! By working "on the inside" you get the chance to be socialized into the profession. You learn the terminology, the processes, the procedures, even if you never get to advise a student. That helps for when you land an interview and you can relate to concrete work experiences. 
• If applicable, reach out to your study abroad program provider. Ask if they ever hire campus alumni ambassadors. Ask if they'd be willing to take your free help promoting at the study abroad fair, to clubs, in residence halls, writing blog articles, etc.  Find out when the provider representative will be on campus. Ask to meet for a coffee and informational interview. See if they would let you work alongside them at an informational table on your campus, promoting the programs.  

If you've graduated:

Option A: 
Start searching for entry-level recruiting positions at study abroad program providers (not universities). Good bets for jobs without a master's requirement are those with titles such as Regional Representative, University Relations Coordinator, Recruiter, etc. The field nickname is "Road Warrior". (Learn more about by checking out Eric's Profile) These roles often only require a Bachelor's degree and overseas study experience. The positions sometimes have higher turnover because they hire recent graduates who are more likely to move on to a master's program or into another role.  You'll need stand-out verbal/written communication skills, flexibility, stamina to travel domestically, and killer organization/multi-tasking skills. 

I consider the "Road Warrior" role one of the absolute best starting study abroad jobs. You get to use all of that enthusiasm to promote study abroad opportunities to college students, you travel a ton (hello frequent flyer miles / hotel points), and because you are working directly with the universities in your region-- you quickly learn a lot about those universities. This means finding out where you'd one day want to work -- or which offices you might want to avoid! Then when your dream position opens up at a university you will already be a known entity. 

Option B: 
Search for a masters degree program at a university with a graduate assistantship opportunity in study abroad, international education, career services, academic advising, or even residential life. Don't assume these opportunities are advertised. You will likely have to ask! And you will need to time it right. Start looking/asking in January or February for an August start date. 

A graduate assistantship (GA) is a game changer when it comes to your masters.  When you land a GA position the benefits are twofold: free (or reduced) graduate tuition AND salaried part-time work experience within higher education. Another benefit of a GA position is proximity to insider opportunities.  You might get some minor professional development funding, expanded networking opportunities, the chance to do study abroad research abroad or propose a special project, and so forth. A GA position allows you to leave university with a reduced-cost (or free) masters degree and actual paid work EXPERIENCE that can help you land a permanent job. You aren't guaranteed a job at the end but you will be in a better position (richer resume, less debt) than if you'd taken out huge loans and gone the traditional masters degree route. The GA can often serve as that 1-2 years of work experience you need to break into the field. 

If you are a career changer:

Take a skills inventory. What prior work experience do you have? Teaching, training, accounting, marketing, video production, IT/networking, website development, clerical work, social media management, SEO, database administration, risk management/law, insurance, sales.... Guess what?! ALL of these have a place in the field of study abroad. TODAY I have read study abroad job descriptions that would be ideal for someone with work experience in any of these allied fields.  If you venture out from the traditional places (colleges and universities) and traditional roles (study abroad advising) you might find positions are a lot more flexible in terms of education requirements.  Don't get hung up on the masters before you have leveraged your killer skill set. 

"Yeah, but how am I ever going to move up or change jobs without a master's degree?"

So here's a not so secret HUGE perk about working in international education... while these positions won't make you rich, it is common for full-time roles come with some form of tuition support for graduate education as a part of the benefits package. If you work at a university there's normally partial/full tuition remission for graduate work at that particular institution. If you work for a program provider it's common for them to offset some of your tuition expense to help make their benefits packages comparable to industry. This means you can work full time and get paid and, if you are willing to do graduate work a class or two at a time, you might just get financial support to pursue your masters degree. That perk value can easily be 30-60k. Nowadays there are graduate programs with online or low-residency options designed for working higher education professionals.  

For those of you who are working in the field WITHOUT a master's degree... How did you do it? Let us hear your stories in the comments section below. 

If you are a new reader of Study Abroad Careers this dream job fantasy might be what has drawn you to the field in the first place and how you landed on this website. You definitely studied abroad and now want to keep living that global life (kudos).  Working in study abroad seems like the best way. It totally can be a dream job, just not in the ways you first think. Working inside study abroad is way different and sometimes even better than being on the other side.

If you are a long-time reader you probably already know my goal is to show the authentic honest portrait of what we do in international education vs. sell the Instagram version. That's why I feature real people in the field via Real Careers. That is why I have guest bloggers and interviews about different facets of the work. I want people to know that even though I'm not jet-setting, playing Rick Steves, or a polyglot, I still have a truly fantastic job. It's not because of the cool factor, it's because I get to interact with students during one of the most meaningful times in their lives. 

​Why am I telling you  all this? Because so many people fall in love with the idea of working in education abroad that they jump right to job applications part before taking the time to consider what they want and need from a job. Then they wind up a bit deflated if that specific job doesn't provide what they hoped. It took me 15+ years to figure out that if you want to be truly happy in your work it's not just about working in the field. If you don't want to burn out, you also need to think hard about 2 more pieces:

1) In what kind of environment do you thrive? 
​
2) How do you want to spend your days? 

Those things can matter so much more than the job title or pay. The mission of your organization might light you on fire, but how do you actually fill those 40+ hours? And what is your work environment like? Surprisingly, this can vary WIDELY based on where you work and what role you have within that organization. A person who has the job title Regional Field Recruiter for a 3rd party study abroad program provider will have days that look very different from a person who is a Study Abroad Program Assistant in the exact same company.

The recruiter might work from home 10 months a year and spend upwards of 75% of their time traveling regionally with no time for a pet or partner. When they are not standing at a college info table or giving presentations (trying not to lose their voice), they are entering contact details from student interest cards at the Comfort Inn or following up with students via email from a laptop at the airport. They only interact with students on the front end and never get to hear about a given student's experiences but they have all the frequent flyer miles and hotel points to score a summer vacay.

Conversely, the program assistant might never travel unless they are lucky enough to get their turn to go to NAFSA. Instead they work in an office with a team of awesome study abroad pros who helped onboard them (and like to walk on lunch breaks). They might have zero face-to-face contact with college students, but their days are filled with phone calls to participants (and wary parents) from universities all over the US. They exchange emails (in English) with colleagues at universities abroad, having to keep the time zones in mind as they work. The walls of their cubicle might be lined with thank you postcards from former students they've never actually met.

And it is not just the title that makes things different "on the ground". A Study Abroad Advisor working at a small liberal arts college will likely have a different type of day and work environment than someone with the same title in a large research university. Office size, university demographics, institutional philosophy, access to technology, bureaucracy, budget constraints.... all of these will impact the way you are expected to do your job. You won't be able to foresee all of these factors up front but it is helpful to do some reflection before you set out on a job search. 

If you are already in the field and considering a move to another role/organization you probably already know the answers to the questions below. If you have never had a full-time job, it might be hard to know, but prior schoolwork or part-time jobs can still help you to take an inventory of where you stand.

So think about it...

• Do you like working in teams or are you a lone wolf?
• Do you love talking to large groups of people or are you better one-on-one?
• What do you expect from your supervisor-- lots of training or the space to figure things out?
• Are you craving travel or could you be okay with a desk job?
• Do you prefer helping people directly (emails/calls/meetings) or more project based work?
• How do you feel about spreadsheets? Love them or loathe them?
• How are you with crisis response? Panicky or poised?

Notice how none of those questions have anything to do about study abroad?

Now go back to those study abroad job descriptions you were just checking out, eagerly ready to apply online.  Do these jobs still meet YOUR criteria? Is it too hard to get a feel? Could some informational interviews with working professionals help you better understand which roles and organizations are a good fit? If you are already actively engaged in a search....Think about your upcoming phone or in-person interview. What new questions might you want to ask at the end of the interview? Are there things you want to pay attention to as you tour the office?

This summer I've been thinking a lot about some of the fantastic people I've met as founder of Study Abroad Careers. I've interviewed all sorts people who were willing to share about their study abroad career, their international education job search, or their entrepreneurial journey. Sometimes I knew the person, other times it was a phone call, Skype, or email with a stranger. Regardless of the connection - real or virtual - expanding my network of professionals has been the greatest reward to grow from Study Abroad Careers. Which brings me to Sinclair. 

One of my favorite collaborations came in 2016 after a Twitter connection with a total stranger. I reached out to Sinclair because I admired all the good he was putting out into the world. He just had this energizing positive spirit that sparked my creative side. He was kind enough to partner with Study Abroad Careers on a fun project to support study abroad job seekers with #MyHappyMail. You can read more about it here.  We still get requests for Happy Mail by the way ;-)

Since our collaboration, I've continued to follow Sinclair on social media and subscribe to his weekly newsletter, Sinclair.ity. I've watched him hone in on his life purpose and find new ways to engage and support others in higher education and beyond. He now has a podcast, has been doing public speaking engagements, shares his fitness and mental health journey, and remains true/vulnerable throughout it all. I've loved watching from afar but decided to tag in with him recently just to get an update and ask if he'd send me a quick video update for all of you. 

If you are in the middle of a study abroad job search or just trying to figure out what's next in life, I encourage you to consider adding Sinclair to your daily dose of pick-me-ups. As a person who is probably more stuck in the middle that I want to admit, I find interjecting positive into my life has a contagious effect.

Over the coming months I plan to provide updates on the people featured on this site in the hopes that you can continue to learn from their stories. ​Is there someone you want to hear from? Just let us know in the comments. 

Just this week I completed a survey for someone's dissertation (having worn student-researcher shoes I always respond to surveys). One survey question asked me to report "why you decided to work in international education". There were a number of choices to put in rank order, including: committed to developing global citizens, personal intercultural experiences, want to make a difference, desire to travel, stable career, salary incentives (hahaha!), and others. To tell you the truth, I struggled with this task more than I should have.

Why is it I wanted to do this work again?!?

This is my 15th year. At this point study abroad is a well-worn career path. If I think back to when I first made a commitment to pursue a study abroad job I wanted to make a difference and had this deep desire to help others become global citizens, particularly students from backgrounds where international travel seemed out of reach.

I'm now at an institution that allows me to fulfill those goals. This is probably why it still feels satisfying all these years later.  Yet I will be the first to admit that, setting aside the lofty do-goodism stuff, there's also nice comfort in a stable cyclical university job. Every day is different, but I generally know what is coming. I know when to predict the crazy weeks. And it's summer now so the change of pace helps me to recharge. Over time I've grown to see job satisfaction isn't just about the type of industry you work in, but also finding happiness in what your days look like. 

Completing that survey also pushed me to reflect upon the Study Abroad Careers community. So many of you are just starting out in your international education journey. I continue to be inspired by how hard study abroad job seekers work to break into the field these days. It seems like a good time to touch base and ask, what's your why? Is it the same do-goodism? The possibility of travel? The chance to follow in the footsteps of a mentor? Something else? 

Comment below to let me know:
Why do you want to find a study abroad job? What drives you?

Networking is a critical part of the study abroad job search process. We've all heard the saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know". Well, it's often true. You obviously need the skills to do the job, but first you need an interview or personal connection where you can communicate your potential. A referral from an insider, who will personally vouch for your work quality and motivation, can help you get a second look or open doors to future opportunities. This is true for newbies and those of you looking to move up/on from an exisiting position.

I get that you already know this stuff. I'm not telling you anything new. But I mention it because what I do find is that how to request help and what to do after recieving help isn't as well understood. Your actions at these two points can make the difference between a professional contact actively supporting your job search or just providing the perfunctory recommendation letter. To be honest, if you really miss the mark you could jeopardize future requests for help.. Yikes!

So here are 3 tips, based on my experiences on the referral side of things --

This may seem rather basic, but ask before you list someone as a reference. Even if you are 100% certain the individual will serve and say wonderful things about you, ASK. Even if they said, "thanks for being a kickass intern this summer, feel free to use me as a reference", ASK. Ask nicely and give the person an "out" (you don't want someone who is less than enthusiastic or rushed filling this role). Ask for each and every job posting.

Why? If I get an unexpected phone call from an employer who is interested to hear about your work performance and I don't know: 1) which institution or organization  2) what position it is for 3) your current resume details or 4) why you want this job, how am I supposed to knock it out of the park for you? I need to know some basics before I can answer their questions and serve as a positive reference. It's also basic professional courtesy.

I get that you might be applying on a short timetable and it is 3 AM, but at the very least, send an email to fill them in.  If you have already spoken to the person and they have agreed to be a reference, you should repeat "the ask" for each position, providing updated information about the new job postings as you apply. 

REAL LIFE EXAMPLES:

I once got a call about a wonderful former employee but had to bumble my way through because I wasn't sure if the position was in study abroad or for a residence life position. There is a huge difference in what I'd say, and how I'd say it, based on which position was at stake.

I've also received a call for someone who did not provide a current resume and although I had glowing things to say, the most basic question, "Tell me how long you have know candidate X" was met with an awkward pause as I tried to do mental math and figure out when she last worked in my office. When you have been in a position for a while and take on multiple graduate assistants, practicum students, student employees, and volunteers it can blend together. I don't always have the best memory about these things and I presume other supervisors experience the same "brain blur". Help us out. We don't want a conflict with your resume details.

Try your best to not just ask and run.  If someone agrees to serve as a reference for a job and you have updated information about where you are in the search, take a minute and give them an update too. Let them know if you have landed an in-person interview. Or if you have changed your mind and are no longer searching for positions in study abroad, but are now applying to jobs working with international admissions, let them know. If your geographic target shifts, let them know. You never know when the contact can send along new leads. It also shows you are professional and organized. You don't need to give them a full play by play, but help them feel engaged and invested in your search process with a quick message when it counts. 

Emerging Educator Spotlight Series
These short interviews feature Study Abroad Careers readers, allowing YOU to share your own career experiences with the community, whether it's a job search, graduate school, or an entrepreneurial journey.
​

Q. What’s Culture Deep, Inc.?

A. We're a digital education company--which means all/most of our resources are available online and in digital form. That's how we work. What we do is... we create tools to help students translate their study abroad experiences into lifelong, concrete skills.

​Q. How about you? Could you share a little about your background and connection to intercultural work?

A.  I grew up in an intercultural family, so that's naturally always been my lens.

For example, my mom has incredible cultural intelligence. So, we grew up around a lot of cultures and had to learn early how to adapt and apply nuance to everything. Now, I just automatically assume all of my interactions are intercultural, even when the differences aren't immediately apparent.

And then, because my dad is from Liberia, I spent a big part of my childhood in the U.S. organizing with immigrants and exilees to end the Liberian civil war. That experience taught me that you can do a lot of what we typically think of as "internationally focused work" without even using your passport.

Q. What about your passport? What overseas experiences have you had?

A.  I've had some really meaningful experiences abroad. The most life changing ones have been:

• Attending a United Nations Conference in Durban, South Africa,
• Studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina,
• Teaching English and studying Mandarin in Taichung, Taiwan, and
• Doing a law school internship in Buenos Aires, Argentina

​Q.  So what prompted you to launch Culture Deep, Inc.?
​
A. There were two big pulls to starting Culture Deep, Inc. and focusing on after study abroad work, specifically. 

The first was that I had been really involved in youth rights advocacy since I was a teenager. And at some point, I started noticing how much adults would parade us [young people] around as having all of this potential--but then they never really gave us the tools or education we needed to live out that potential. That observation became an obsession and I did tons of research--even a dissertation--trying to imagine new tools and systems and resources to change that.
 
The second was coming back from living and working abroad in non-heritage countries. I really wanted to bring parts of the culture back with me, but I wanted to make sure I was doing it respectfully and not consumptively. So, I started writing and researching and having all of these conversations and--because my brain works in flow charts and lists--I created a bunch of tools for myself. When I started sharing those tools with friends, they responded pretty positively.

Then, of course, I started making the connections between how much we talk about study abroad as this amazing educational / skill-rich experience on one hand, but--on the other hand--how few tools students actually have to really tap into the full potential of study abroad. So, things just came full circle.

​Q. What do you hope returned students take away from your website?

A. ​The website is always evolving. But in an ideal world, it would be incredible if it were the first place all students went after coming back from abroad--because they still have work to do. 

One thing that's always frustrated me is that sometimes we talk about study abroad as an end in and of itself. But it's not. It's just a means to a certain set of skills, experiences, relationships, and so on. As a student--after you get back from abroad--you have to find ways to make your skills a habit, to keep having new experiences that challenge you, to keep building on your relationships with folks from other cultures, and a few other things. Our goal is to make tools that help students do all of those things and more.

Q. How can study abroad advisors benefit from After Study Abroad?

A. One of our biggest goals is to take the pressure off of advisors who genuinely want to offer great after study abroad support, but can't because they're stretched too thin to actually design the full curriculum.

Not to mention how powerful it is to create an environment where prospective students can see their peers articulate the exact skills they got from study abroad or their specific plan for integrating their experiences into their everyday lives. For students and parents that's inspiring--and pretty recruitment worthy!

Here's how you can engage and get the most out of our tools:

• Add our website to your list of student resources. If your study abroad site doesn't have a lot of information about after study abroad, we're a great place for students to find actionable advice and concrete, step-by-step strategies for when they come home.
• Sign up for our newsletter. You'll get access to our free resource library with worksheets and exercises that you can use with your students. We also pre-release our courses and tools to subscribers ahead of time, so you can test drive our resources--for free--and share your feedback before we launch.
• Add our programs to your curriculum (or recommend them to your students). We're still building out our resources, but we want our programs to be comprehensive and diverse. You can use them as supplements to your existing programs. Or--in the future--we'll show you how to bundle them so you can focus your energy elsewhere.
• Share your input on our resources before they launch. If you have suggestions or if you want to pitch resources or if you want to co-create and collaborate with us, we'd love it!

Q. What's on the horizon?

A. Our big picture plan is to expand beyond just after study abroad and create tools for the whole process--before, during, and after--so students can really make all of the connections they need. That's a ways away though. Right now, it's all about creating more resources, talking to people so we can understand where the gaps are, educating folks about why it's so important to do this work after they get back, collaborating with really smart people, and a bunch of other things. 

The coolest thing that I'm most excited about, though, is that we've decided to create an internship program for anyone in the Chicago area who's starting to explore the idea of a study abroad career. You can learn more at: https://afterstudyabroad.com/internship/

If you’re reading this blog, you likely have a passion for higher education and foreign travel, and for good reason- ask anyone who has worked or studied abroad and they will tell you the experience changed their lives in the best possible way. Countless studies have shown the positive impact of experiences abroad to a student’s academic career, as well as their personal lives and future professional endeavors. However, even with all of the noted benefits of studying abroad, the percentage of students who actually participate is very small (but growing!). As important as study abroad experiences are, there are definitely challenges students must overcome in order to participate. These challenges can end up being too daunting and can prevent student participation.

One group that faces its own unique set of challenges are students in science fields. Research has shown that students in the sciences are less likely to participate in study abroad programs. While common inhibiting factors such as cost, language barriers, and personal safety are relevant to science students as well, they also face specific roadblocks. By determining and understanding these, higher education professionals can begin to address and eliminate them.

1. Science Faculty and Admin Support
Students in the sciences face pressure from faculty and administration to meet the strict course requirements and deadlines for science majors. These staff members might see study abroad as unimportant in comparison to other strict requirements, or may be unaware of options and opportunities for students in these fields. They also might struggle with how to support students before and during study abroad programs.

2. Sequence Classes
Many science courses are taken in series that require one to be taken in order to take subsequent classes. These courses are often impacted and only offered in certain semesters. If a student skips a sequence course in one semester for any reason, they may have to wait until the same semester in the following year to take it again. This can seriously affect when the student graduates. This is probably one of the most difficult challenges these students face, because it can seem like there really is no way around it. It is much easier for students who take these courses to plan ahead. For example, EA staff can reach out to science students in their freshman year, explain the benefits of study abroad, and encourage students to plan out their courses with their academic advisors, including their time abroad.

3. Lack of Options
The majority of students who participate in a study abroad program are from the social sciences. It seems like so many of the programs that the typical school offers include courses in these fields. While it is entirely possible for science students to take these classes to satisfy elective or general education requirements, it would be ideal to offer major requirements abroad as well. EA staff can seek out partnerships with schools and programs that offer science courses. Further, staff can consider partnering with science faculty to create faculty-led programs in specific fields. UC Riverside is encouraging more science student participation by offering faculty led summer programs in the sciences, such as biology in Panama and computer science, electrical engineering, and computer engineering in Switzerland. Another way staff can help science students navigate their options is by creating a way to search programs by major on their website, which is another step UC Riverside has taken to better help students choose their own program.

4. Simply Unaware
EA staff should be more proactive about working with science students, because many times these students will simply assume there isn’t time to study abroad, or there aren’t any programs for them, or they will not have the support they need. Just like any student who briefly considers going abroad before forgetting the idea, students in the sciences might be interested but ultimately think the process is too much work. EA staff, as well as staff and faculty in the sciences, must reach out to these students to give them the information and support needed to make the decision.

Every school’s landscape is different. Above all, it is important for higher education professionals within education abroad to get a feel for the needs of the students on their campus. Society is becoming increasingly interconnected, and it is imperative for students to experience cultures other than their own. The sciences are becoming more globalized every day. In order to be successful in their fields, science students must be culturally competent and globally minded. While studying abroad is certainly not for everyone, participating in a program has benefits that can enrich the academic, personal, and professional lives of everyone. It is our responsibility to make studying abroad a possibility for anyone who wants to go. Further, higher education professionals should do their best to create opportunities abroad for students in the sciences. Perhaps the best way to begin creating such opportunities is to foster collaboration between administration in science and education abroad departments.

Resources: http://www.nafsa.org/Policy_and_Advocacy/Policy_Resources/Policy_Trends_and_Data/Trends _in_U_S__Study_Abroad/  

http://www.aieaworld.org/assets/docs/Issue_Briefs/aieasciencepresentationram.pdf 

When I first started Study Abroad Careers, my intended audience was the true newcomer - someone who was trying to break in but didn't have the support or resources to fully understand the field. It didn't take long before I realized a significant portion of the blog readers were current education abroad professionals. These people are secretly lurking because they are engaged in an incognito job search or just seeing what is out there.

(Hello, friend! Your secret is safe with me.)

In a recent conversation with Missy Gluckmann, from Melibee Global, I learned they also work with international educators who are well-established in the field. These job-seekers understand the value and benefit of coaching and professional development. They also need to remain anonymous as they reach out for this type of help. 

It then dawned on me that while breaking in feels really hard, job 2 onward can be equally challenging. You have the skills and experience down, but you can't really shout "hire me" from the rooftops like you could before. Networking for your next position, while still employed in your current role, takes delicate maneuvering and time. There's another thing...During early to mid-career, you aren't just looking for a job. You are developing a resume storyline. Each subsequent position matters a bit more.

​Given all this, in the middle part of your career it's common to feel a bit "stuck". That's why I want to share some information about two career resources that should be of interest to mid-career professionals:

One-On-One Coaching
This is ideal for anyone who needs a strategic sounding board, but is particularly useful for current education abroad professionals. Missy provides one-on-one private coaching, tailored to your career development needs. Learn more.

Webinar: International Educators Coping with Stress: Striking a Balance
If you work in study abroad you are no stranger to work-related stress. From managing health and safety, to working in an understaffed office, sometimes we forget to put on our own oxygen mask first. This affordable webinar will help you restore your balance. The LIVE webinar will be held on Thursday, October 27th at 3 pm (EST). All contributions for the session will be donated to the Jane Gluckmann and Carol Rausch Go Global Scholarship (administered by the Fund for Education Abroad). Learn more.

As time goes on, I'll continue to share resources like these and perspectives for mid-career professionals alongside the "breaking in" posts. Just know I realize you are here. Please stick around. And be sure to drop me a line if there is something I can do to better address topics of interest to you as a mid-career professional.

Elizabeth Franks
Program Administrator, Summer Sessions & Special Programs, UC Riverside
Former intern, UC Riverside Study Abroad

Education
Bachelors, Art History, UC Riverside
Masters, Art History, UC Riverside
Masters, Higher Education Leadership & Student Development, California Baptist University
(I'm proud to be one of the graduates of the program’s very first cohort!)

Study Abroad
During my BA and MA in Art History, I spent the summer studying Shakespeare and the history of London in England. The summer study abroad program I participated in was wonderful; the instructor takes a completely hands-on, immersive approach to learning and teaching. “Class” consisted of walking tours around the city every day, watching Shakespeare plays at the Globe, taking bus and train rides to historical sites around England, visiting museums, and spending time with the professor’s longtime friends in the city.
​

​Q. Tell us about your journey into education abroad work.

A. I recently finished an internship in the Study Abroad department at UC Riverside and started working as a contracted program administrator in UCR’s office of Summer Sessions & Special Programs. My internship was amazing, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity as it gave me the chance to understand what it really means to work in global education on a day-to-day basis and really solidified my desire to break into the field.

Even though I’m eager to move back into the realm of global education, I’m enjoying my current position, as I get to work with both traditional and nontraditional college students as well as take on more administrative, technical projects. I am currently finishing grad school and still volunteering with Study Abroad when I can, along with keeping an eye out for positions that better align with my goals and passions.

Q. What led you to pursue work in study abroad?

A. My obsession with international travel really began in high school, when I was fortunate enough to tour Austria with the chamber choir I was a part of. We sang at a number of concerts, ceremonies, and services in Vienna and Salzburg to participate in Mozart’s 250th birthday celebration. We also got to attend an Austrian high school and hang out with students!

Even at a young age, I had an appreciation for other cultures and a desire for intentional, meaningful travel experiences. This stuck with me throughout college, and when I realized that I want to work in student services, working for a study abroad program just felt right. It felt like a career path that would perfectly blend what I’m good at, along with what I want to do professionally as well as my interests and passions. My internship at UCR sealed the deal.

Q. What part(s) of the study abroad process do you find most interesting?

A. I think the transition that happens in a student when they go from being interested to committed is fascinating. During my internship at UCR I got the opportunity to advise students who had already applied to programs, but also who were at that stage just before committing to going. Talking to these students, telling them about the opportunities we offered and sharing my own experiences and watching their attitudes transform into “yes, I’m doing this” was amazing.

I am also really interested in program sustainability, as well as the collaboration between departments necessary to encourage participation among student groups that have historically lower rates of involvement. I am especially interested in making study abroad more of a possibility for science students, who often face unique challenges that can inhibit participation.

Q. What is your education abroad dream job?

A. Anything that involves frequent site visits! Actually, my dream education abroad job right now would be building a program from the ground up at a campus that doesn’t have one. Specifically, there’s a university that I’m familiar with that does not have its own on-campus study abroad department; the students who do go abroad (there are a few each year) go through outside vendors the school has partnered with. I would love to collaborate and create partnerships with schools abroad and literally build some homegrown study abroad programs for the student body at that campus.

Q. What has surprised you most about the field of study abroad?

A. I will never stop being so amazed by the students who dive headfirst into a study abroad program without having ever traveled before! Seeing students commit to spending months in another country when they might not have ever experienced another culture at all always surprises me. I wish more students had that adventurous spirit!

As I’m learning more about program development and sustainability, I am also very surprised by how much planning and collaboration goes into creating a program. I’ve had quite a bit of experience with the marketing, advertising, and student-centered aspects of program development, but the behind-the-scenes stuff and the sheer amount of work that goes into building a program from the ground up is scary and really, really exciting.

It's the end of May, which means around the world international educators are packing their bags and heading to Denver for the 2016 NAFSA national conference. You've read about the NAFSA conference on this blog and maybe even wondered if you should attend.

​Let's face it, not everyone can be there. But I have some super exciting news for you. Next week Study Abroad Careers will be posting video updates from #NAFSA16, providing an insider view of the conference. You'll get to see the NAFSA career center, learn about conference volunteer opportunities, and perhaps "meet" a few people to hear their perspectives on breaking in to study abroad.

UPDATE: Missed our Facebook Live event? No problem.
​Check out the videos below.

Simon Winograd
Specializes in short-term faculty-led and service-learning programs to Colombia

Education
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, University of Montana
Emphasis in rural and environmental Issues

Graduate level coursework at SIT Graduate Institute, Service Leadership and Management
Emphasis on Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development

Q. What led you to the field of international education?

A. Probably my first experience with civic engagement as a teen in Heart Butte, Montana, really got me thinking outside of myself and exposed to different cultures. My own, unconventional short study abroad experience, sea kayaking in the Sea of Cortez around the Baja Peninsula of Mexico, was my first exposure to experiential education and showed me that learning can occur outside of the classroom. My first international volunteer experience in Trujillo, Peru enabled me to start thinking globally and also more service oriented.

Q. Tell me a bit about your career path.

A. Right after my undergraduate degree, I found myself volunteering internationally in Trujillo, Peru in 2004. After my volunteer time ended, I began teaching ESL at Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano, an institute with the mission of promoting cultural ties between Peru and the United States. I held that position for about 9 months before I left the institution and began giving private English lessons in a smaller nearby beach community.

I came back to the U.S. after 14 months in Peru and was hired to fill in for a teen service trip outfitter. We had one program in Peru and another program in the Dominican Republic. I then found myself hired as an ESL teacher at a non-profit International University in Denver, Colorado.

My most recent position was In-country Director/Volunteer Coordinator for a U.K.-based responsible travel company in Cusco, Peru. We placed travelers with internships and volunteer opportunities in areas such as environmental conservation, social work, marketing, and health and nutrition.

Q. What are you up to these days?

A. I'm in the preliminary stages of developing study abroad programs in Colombia. Through my contacts in Latin America, I’ll travel to the region in late May.  First, I will be in Ecuador to attend a seminar on developing International Service-Learning curriculum. Then I’ll depart for Colombia to meet with potential partners, such as educators, NGO's, security experts, journalists, recreational outfitters/tour guides and a handful of other people I've been corresponding with for a long time.

Q. Why Colombia?

A. I'm starting small, with the single country (my place of birth), of Colombia, as I want to be able to dedicate all my efforts and energy to this single project. Colombia is such a unique country with so much to be taken in. I think when people think of South America and travel, perhaps they think of the more common destinations: Ecuador, Peru, Argentina. Or perhaps tend to lump all of South America together. Paint it all with a broad brush stroke; I know I did until I went on to live there later on in my life and really see, despite a lot of these countries sharing a common language of Spanish, just in fact how different they are. Colombia has long been mired in conflict and turmoil. And even today, with popular culture, it can't seem to shake it’s mysterious past. But big, very promising things are emerging in the country. From promising peace dialogues, to very large scale educational initiatives, Colombia is set to take off. Add on to that, just the culture, whether it be the Cafeteros (National Football Team) dancing at the matches, the archaeological sites, to pristine natural landscapes of the Andes Mountains to the Amazon, I feel Colombia is deserving to be discovered. I hope to help facilitate that, through my programs. 

Q. What’s the hardest part of this journey? And what gives you energy?

A. The hardest part has been dealing with rejection even before things get underway. I don't believe there is one true template for this sort of thing, I mean there are certainly past models, but I believe there are always new ways to go ahead. 

​I love talking with other like-minded people who share excitement and passion for international education and meaningful travel. I love networking (in my own introverted way) and hearing about other's stories and paths to how they found their dream job. Growing professionally also gets me excited. I was recently part of a great professional development program called the Global Pro Institute. It really allowed to me to focus on just exactly how I wanted to work in this field of International Education. 
​
I love traveling to remote communities in Latin America and speaking with people whom I may have never interacted with if I had not found myself in this career. I love connecting with students who have also had great study abroad or meaningful travel experiences.

Q. What has been your biggest professional risk?

A. I think my biggest professional risk is what I'm doing right now. That of developing these programs alone. We'll see if it pays off! 

Q. What advice would you give to other aspiring international education entrepreneurs?

A. If you have the means to do it, then do it. Hopefully you've developed somewhat of a network/support system that can guide/mentor you along the way but be prepared to run into naysayers but stay the course. We're forever being told of what we can't do so we're not really sure of what we can do. 

I'm a fan of asking people to explain things to me like I'm a four year old, because in a lot of ways, I am. I guess ultimately, don't be afraid to ask questions. People who don't ask questions and claim to know everything, make me nervous. As i get older and tend to perhaps take myself too seriously, I also really cherish the ability to take a step back, reassess and then approach things with a degree of innocence and child-like wonder. 

My personal advice would be to really show your appreciation to your network and those who guided and acted as mentors for you  along the way. I'd rather go just a bit overboard showing my appreciation to those who helped me along the way than to not acknowledge them enough. I've been VERY fortunate to have some great mentors/friends in my corner, and for that, I'm eternally grateful. 

Writing cover letters is hard work. If you are going about it the right way, you are tailoring each one to the specific job. At a certain point it all starts to seem a bit fluffy, doesn't it? When you have cover letter writing fatigue you are more prone to start stuffing in words without thinking about their meaning or how they might be perceived.  

​Words have different connotations to different people, so there is bound to be a range of responses to what you write in the cover letter. However, here are 4 words I frequently see and explanations of why I suggest you ban them from your cover letter now (including what to put in their place):

Passion
I am listing this one first because I am guilty of using the word in my own cover letters. I've described my "passion for advising students" before. It wasn't until I read this great article on the problems with passion talk that I began to question how describing my emotions about study abroad work had anything to do with my ability to meet the expectations of my employer. Do you have a passion for study abroad? Wonderful! That is a prerequisite. But enjoying your own study abroad experience and enjoying the work of administering the programs are two different animals. If you choose to use the word passion, be sure you use it to describe the features of the job itself.

Trip
In your cover letter you want to signal you are "in the know" and familiar with the language used by industry professionals. The term trip is generally frowned upon when used to refer to a study abroad program. Instead, use the term program. A trip sounds like a vacation and de-emphasises the academic and programmatic nature of study abroad. Whether you agree with this or not, you will score points by using the common terminology (and might lose credibility for calling your program a trip).

Travel
In the case of the word travel, it is not so much the word you should ban, it's what normally follows. Including a summary of all of the places you have travelled is a waste of cover letter real estate. Instead of providing a laundry list of your Eurail whistle stops, only describe meaningful learning experiences abroad. If you have been to lots of places, great. But the important part is to tell the employer why that makes you suited to this job. What did you accomplish during your travels (ex. experiences working alongside different cultures, honing your language skills, fundraising for a charity) and how has that life experience prepared you for this specific job and its duties. Learning how to navigate public transportation and backpack is an accomplishment, but not one that directly relates to most study abroad office jobs.

Immersed
There are two problems I have with the word immersed. The first is simply that it gets overused. In nearly all scholarship applications, study abroad essays, and cover letters I read, someone drops this word to emphasize the overseas experience as truly foreign. This takes away from its power and starts to generate a little eye-roll after reading it so many times. The second problem is that it comes across as a bit dramatic. Just being abroad, in another country, you are surrounded by difference. Is this how you are using the term immersed? What are you really trying to say? If you mean you lived with a host family in a small town where you did not speak any English for 6 months, and only interacted with host-nationals, describe that instead. And, like travel, tell us how it changed you. How did this immersion impact your worldview, skills, and attitude.

So what do you think? Agree with me? Disagree? Are there others that should be included on this list? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Eventually, all of those résumés you have been sending out will result in a call or email with supremely awesome news-- they want to speak to you about your qualifications for the job. As soon as you are done celebrating, reality will hit and you'll think, "now what?"

Don't panic. Do prepare. Here are some tips on what you can do to get interview-ready.

Don't wing it. Every interview requires preparation. The amount of preparation will depend on the format (phone/Skype/in-person) and the position. 
Do your homework. You will need to allocate enough time to carefully review and reflect upon the following:

• The job description
• The organization
• The staff (current and past)
• Your résumé 
• Your prior work experiences-- successes and failures

Don't waste preparation time trying to memorize each program in their program portfolio. This is not expected, nor possible. The interviewer(s) will care about your skill set, prior work experiences, and other soft skills. They will not care how well you spout off memorized facts about their Barcelona program.
Do review the organization website in detail. Things to research on the website:

• Organizational chart (ex. to whom you will report, how many other staff are on your team, etc.)
• News about current initiatives, goals, and enrollment figures
• Types of study abroad programs offered (ex. For universities: Which are "in-house" programs vs. shared or partnership programs, and who are these partners?)

Don't expect to be asked more than one question about your own study abroad experience. You may not even be asked at all.
Do be prepared to go beyond the standard "it changed my life" if they ask. They will want to hear more reflective accounts of your time overseas. What did you learn? How are you prepared to apply that learning to this job. Focus on that.

Don't forget to anticipate (and practice) potential interview questions. A great place to start is the job description. Review it again and highlight the key requirements. For each requirement, be prepared with a story of a time you took action or demonstrated the skill, and what tangible outcome came of it. Include at least one "I messed up and learned from it" story, in case they ask.
Do write it down. Create a Word document and prepare your stories. The writing activity will help you to internalize the stories so they come out natural when you are in the interview. Think of it as a dress rehearsal. 

Don't worry if you struggle to come up with a work-related story for every job requirement. For example, maybe your prior job did not give you the chance to manage others, but the new job asks for management experience. Your lack of experience may have nothing to do with your preparation to take on the new challenge.
Do reflect on ways you can prove this to the employer. In the management example, identify the traits and skills necessary to be a strong manager, and provide a story of how you have demonstrated these in a non-work setting, like a club or organization. This is MUCH better than saying you don't have any experience. Give yourself credit where credit is due.

Don't limit your research to the company website. 
Do use LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and other sites to supplement. On LinkedIn, search the job title and company/university name to see if you can locate individuals who held the job previously. (Tip: We advise you do this in private mode) How do they describe the job on their résumé? Sometimes there is a gap between the job description and the employee's description of the job. This can be very helpful in understanding the realities of the role. Glassdoor can provide salary information, employee reviews, and interview experiences for larger organizations. Just take it with a grain of salt, as people who devote the time to fill out a review are more likely to be disgruntled. If the position is at a public university, be sure to check out state salary databases. We talk more about this in our Salary Secrets post.

Don't forget to double-check the interview details before you begin.
Do confirm the time zone, technology functionality (log in to Skype for a test run), and ensure you provided an accurate phone number (and have theirs, in case). For phone interviews use a land line vs. mobile to avoid a bad connection or dropped call. If it is an in-person interview, make sure you have confirmed you know how to get there, anticipated traffic for the time of the day, and planned to arrive early. Better to sit in the parking lot giving yourself a pep talk in the rearview mirror than be unexpectedly late and arrive all sweaty, breathless, and apologetic. 

After the interview, remember to formally thank the individual(s). If it was a phone or Skype interview, send an email soon after. If it was an in-person interview, send a nice thank you card as soon as you can. While most people know this, it is easy to forget to follow-up in the post-interview phase. Try to be sincere and personable in your thank you. Mention specifics from the interview vs. using a canned thank you note. Let them know why you enjoyed the experience or what you are most excited about in the role. Go the extra mile. You would be surprised how few people actually send a thank you these days. 

I used to play a game at the airport on my way to NAFSA conferences. I called it "spot the international educator". It was little things that were a giveaway -- a Peace Corps tote bag, Bjorn/Clarks shoes, wrinkle-free flowing travel clothes, a university luggage tag, a cell phone conversation about an in-office emergency as they were about to board a plane... I know I am ridiculous, but I was good at spotting my fellow IE colleagues!

Obviously, you can't tell by looking at someone whether or not they work in international education, but there are still some things we all talk about, or joke about, because they are shared work experiences. In the spirit of this same fun, here are my top seven signs you are a study abroad advisor:

7.  Date Amnesia
When the New Year rolls in you’ve got it covered. You've been writing out 2016 for a good 6-12 months as you work on future program enrollment. Despite this fact, you can never remember what year it is. Sometimes date amnesia is accompanied by complete lack of seasonal awareness. (But you still measure time in semesters)

6.  Terminology Aversion
The terms "trip"and "tour" make you shudder and want to stand on your desk chair, asserting "We are not a travel agency!" Similarly, if you had a quarter for every essay where the student wants to immerse or submerge themselves abroad, you'd be able to retire now and go on an actual trip. 

5.  Travel Warning Twitch
Your friend mentions her upcoming beach vacation in Mexico and your internal work dialogue starts, “Does she know there is a Travel Warning? I wonder if she has insurance with evacuation or global assist? Does her policy cover D.O.S. travel warning countries?” 

4.  Social Media Spillover
You are cruising your Facebook feed to relax and you see there's been an earthquake on the other side of the world. You you instantly pop out your smartphone to do a locator search for students and go into emergency mode—even when you know there are no programs there. You are just certain the phone will ring, regardless. The 24/7 nature of our jobs (and mobility of our students) mean there is no off switch.

3.  Wanderlust-killing Pragmatism
When you hear someone swoon about one day moving to [insert country here] to open a farm to table B&B, you inadvertantly kill their joy with, “You do realize you need a work visa, right? And have you researched property ownership rights in that country? How about tax treaties?”

2.  The Box of Bags
They range from the nicer conference bags (NAFSA/Forum) to the nifty canvas totes from partner universities...you have them all. And you can't bear to toss them out. But when it comes to BYO grocery bags, you've got it covered. If you already purged the bags, you likely still have the name badges & flair. You know who you are!

1.  A Prominently Displayed Postcard Collection
Admit it...Your heart swoons when a student sends you a postcard from abroad. You've got those suckers pinned up like trophies in your office. You get butterflies when students thank you for your help and even more grins when it's from the student who was always late with paperwork. The fact that they developed the agency to hunt down a stamp and mail you an update from abroad (unprompted) makes you feel like a proud parent. THIS is why we do the work we do-- study abroad changes lives.