Meet Jason
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Global Enrollment Management Specialist IES Abroad Education B.A. in Digital Video Production, Minor in Theatre at Ball State University Study & Work Abroad 2014 - Wellington, New Zealand: ISEP study abroad (semester) 2016 - Valparaíso, Chile: ISEP study abroad (semester) 2018 - Boryeong, South Korea: EPIK English Teacher (calendar year) Find Jason: http://www.jason-schroeder.com |
What's your "Breaking In" story? How'd you get your study abroad job?
Figuring out that I wanted to work in international education happened gradually over a few years. I was pursuing my degree in Digital Video Production, a hobby that I still love, when I decided to spend a semester in New Zealand, simply because I am a Lord of the Rings fan. My months in New Zealand were some of the fondest of my entire life, so I knew I had to find a way to to fit a second semester of study abroad into my four-year plan. The only way that this was possible was by pushing all four of my required foreign language semesters into one, and taking them in Chile during the final semester of my degree.
During my six months in Chile, I learned and grew in more ways than I ever thought possible in such a short time. I grew to love foreign languages and far-off cultures. I learned what it was like to be on a six-month rollercoaster of heartache, empowerment, frustration, success, fear, and courage all at the same time. When it was nearly time for me to return home and hit the job market, a family friend posted about a local position that paired study abroad with videography, and I thought I’d found my calling. I applied, I interviewed, and... I didn’t get the job. But that made me even more determined! From that point on, I did everything I could to build my skills and international background.
From being an ISEP study abroad student ambassador and video blogger, to simultaneously interning with GoAbroad.com as a videographer, teaching elementary English in South Korea, and building a database of global travel recommendations for the launch of the Rayka app, I stayed determined and patient. I networked with and sought advice from experts within the industry, and was lucky enough to land another niche videography internship within international education, but this time it was at IES Abroad.
Upon completing my internship, I applied for and was offered a permanent position within the organization on the Global Enrollment Management team. As it turns out, if you talk endlessly about study abroad for long enough, someone will eventually pay you to do it.
During my six months in Chile, I learned and grew in more ways than I ever thought possible in such a short time. I grew to love foreign languages and far-off cultures. I learned what it was like to be on a six-month rollercoaster of heartache, empowerment, frustration, success, fear, and courage all at the same time. When it was nearly time for me to return home and hit the job market, a family friend posted about a local position that paired study abroad with videography, and I thought I’d found my calling. I applied, I interviewed, and... I didn’t get the job. But that made me even more determined! From that point on, I did everything I could to build my skills and international background.
From being an ISEP study abroad student ambassador and video blogger, to simultaneously interning with GoAbroad.com as a videographer, teaching elementary English in South Korea, and building a database of global travel recommendations for the launch of the Rayka app, I stayed determined and patient. I networked with and sought advice from experts within the industry, and was lucky enough to land another niche videography internship within international education, but this time it was at IES Abroad.
Upon completing my internship, I applied for and was offered a permanent position within the organization on the Global Enrollment Management team. As it turns out, if you talk endlessly about study abroad for long enough, someone will eventually pay you to do it.
What is your favorite part of your current role?
At IES Abroad, those in my role act as visa experts and admissions counselors for their assigned programs, managing application pieces from the time students apply, to the time they leave the United States. My favorite part of this role is having “ownership” of my designated study abroad programs in Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Santiago (Chile). In having ownership of these programs, I get to look at what processes work, which don’t, and which could be made more efficient, then come up with my own ways to fix them and contribute to the well-oiled machine that is IES Abroad. Program ownership also allows me to coordinate with and gather proper information from our Chicago headquarters, our international center staff, and my designated country consulates, which allows me to work interculturally and practice my Spanish skills.
What's something people "on the outside" would never guess you actually do.
One thing that people on the outside, and even some on the inside, would never guess that my team does is visa processing. Once students have been admitted to our programs, we gather and refine their application pieces, making sure that nothing is missing and that everything is perfect. We then send a representative, in person, to the consulate to deliver the the applications. This makes the process more efficient for us, the students, and the consulates.
What do you wish newcomers/people trying to break in to the profession knew?
I think it would be helpful if newcomers realized from the beginning how sought after positions within international education and study abroad are. Networking and asking for advice is extremely important. Taking every possible opportunity to build your resume is important. Even if you think you're too good for an unpaid internship, take it. My unpaid internship led to a paid internship. My paid internship led to a permanent position. It takes longer than you might expect, but there's nothing sweeter, in the end, than accomplishing your goals.