Jobs: Where to look
Make sure to follow Study Abroad Careers on Twitter for periodic links to new job openings.
Other places to look include:
Other places to look include:
Application process
The Résumé
Take a good look at your résumé. Make sure you are putting your best foot forward. Don’t use a generic résumé you would use for any other job application. Believe me, we can tell! Make sure to customize for that organization, trying to highlight the match between your skill set and the job requirements. Consider the best way to highlight your skills and experiences.
List study abroad under the education section rather than activities or experiences. Be sure to include the official study abroad program name (check with your university if unsure), the duration, year and any clarification you might need about the program type. Consider going into more detail about coursework, skills developed, or anything you wish to highlight. There is no one correct way. A quick Google search will pull up dozens of variations. Find the one that works for you.
A few candid tips:
Once you have secured that first phone, Skype, or in-person interview you are probably feeling on top of the world. But now is the time to jump into high gear. You should spend a significant amount of time preparing for your interview. Your goal is to appear articulate, confident (not arrogant) and let your enthusiasm come through. This requires preparation.
Do your research
Review the employer’s website and publications. What types of programs do they have in their program portfolio? Do they rely heavily on faculty led programs and bilateral exchanges or work more with 3rd Party Providers. Do they have any signature programming or events you should know about? What is their student population like? Are any majors required to study abroad? If it is a 3rd party provider, which institutions utilize their programs? How do they market themselves? Make sure to speak with anyone you know who has worked there or can connect you to someone working there. It is important to show you have some knowledge of the institution or organization. Attempt to make reference their programs during your interview, but only if relevant. Don’t just name drop programs.
Get feedback
There are many people at your home institution or private agencies who can help you prepare for interviews. Bring with you all of the information you have about the job and the institution. Don't be afraid to ask someone in the field to give you advice.
Follow up
During your interview you can ask about the anticipated timeline for their search. Based on their feedback, follow up with the appropriate office (usually HR) about the status for your search. Show that you are interested, but do not be too demanding. Also send a professional thank you to the interview committee for their time.
Use the job description
Go through the job description and list past experiences which demonstrate you possess the skills they seek. Then, use a Problem, Action, Result (P.A.R.) approach to develop brief testimonials from those experiences. State a Problem you faced. Describe the Action you took. And explain the Results of that action.
Example: If the position description mentions responding to health and safety emergencies, you might share how when you were a Resident Assistant you had a student with alcohol poisoning (Problem). Explain how you collaborated with the campus police, hospital, and counseling center (Actions) to get the student urgent help then documented the incident while maintaining confidentiality (Results). Close by explaining how this experience prepared you to address urgent and confidential matters related to health and safety. You might also acknowledge the challenges of working without the same types of resources when the emergency occurs overseas. Emphasize how the procedure translates.
Take a good look at your résumé. Make sure you are putting your best foot forward. Don’t use a generic résumé you would use for any other job application. Believe me, we can tell! Make sure to customize for that organization, trying to highlight the match between your skill set and the job requirements. Consider the best way to highlight your skills and experiences.
List study abroad under the education section rather than activities or experiences. Be sure to include the official study abroad program name (check with your university if unsure), the duration, year and any clarification you might need about the program type. Consider going into more detail about coursework, skills developed, or anything you wish to highlight. There is no one correct way. A quick Google search will pull up dozens of variations. Find the one that works for you.
A few candid tips:
- We don’t care how many countries you visited. We care about what meaningful (and directly applicable) skills you developed abroad. If “researching train schedules” is all you can muster, better to leave it off because you are stretching. Make sure your résumé reflects your understanding that study abroad is deeper than travel abroad.
- Don’t list the name of the foreign university unless you were actually enrolled at that institution alongside host nationals. If your home university rents classroom space there it is not the same as actually attending that university. Please don’t unintentionally misrepresent your experience.
Once you have secured that first phone, Skype, or in-person interview you are probably feeling on top of the world. But now is the time to jump into high gear. You should spend a significant amount of time preparing for your interview. Your goal is to appear articulate, confident (not arrogant) and let your enthusiasm come through. This requires preparation.
Do your research
Review the employer’s website and publications. What types of programs do they have in their program portfolio? Do they rely heavily on faculty led programs and bilateral exchanges or work more with 3rd Party Providers. Do they have any signature programming or events you should know about? What is their student population like? Are any majors required to study abroad? If it is a 3rd party provider, which institutions utilize their programs? How do they market themselves? Make sure to speak with anyone you know who has worked there or can connect you to someone working there. It is important to show you have some knowledge of the institution or organization. Attempt to make reference their programs during your interview, but only if relevant. Don’t just name drop programs.
Get feedback
There are many people at your home institution or private agencies who can help you prepare for interviews. Bring with you all of the information you have about the job and the institution. Don't be afraid to ask someone in the field to give you advice.
Follow up
During your interview you can ask about the anticipated timeline for their search. Based on their feedback, follow up with the appropriate office (usually HR) about the status for your search. Show that you are interested, but do not be too demanding. Also send a professional thank you to the interview committee for their time.
Use the job description
Go through the job description and list past experiences which demonstrate you possess the skills they seek. Then, use a Problem, Action, Result (P.A.R.) approach to develop brief testimonials from those experiences. State a Problem you faced. Describe the Action you took. And explain the Results of that action.
Example: If the position description mentions responding to health and safety emergencies, you might share how when you were a Resident Assistant you had a student with alcohol poisoning (Problem). Explain how you collaborated with the campus police, hospital, and counseling center (Actions) to get the student urgent help then documented the incident while maintaining confidentiality (Results). Close by explaining how this experience prepared you to address urgent and confidential matters related to health and safety. You might also acknowledge the challenges of working without the same types of resources when the emergency occurs overseas. Emphasize how the procedure translates.