Study Abroad LFA Career Skills

Resumes, Cover Letters, Interview, Job Search

Shanon Langlie, Washington UniversityMeredith Mann, University of MissouriCara Dunn, University of Missouri

Employers LOVE

Study Abroad Experience…

Market It!

What did you gain?

Completed an internship/job/volunteer experience/independent study

Strengthened language proficiencyAcquired cultural competency

Functioned with ambiguityManaged time between adventure/class

Traveled with confidence and appreciationAdapted to unfamiliar surroundings daily

Handled difficult situationsTook initiative and risks

CommunicationListening, Relating, Understanding, Translating, Explaining

FlexibilityImprovising, Interpreting, Initiating, Expressing, Appreciating

Management and LeadershipCoordinating, Deciding, Influencing, Negotiating, Planning

OrganizationBudgeting, Arranging, Preparing, Scheduling, Sorting

OtherAchieving, Adapting, Having Responsibility, Persevering,

Economic and Geographic Competency

Weaving Your

Experience in your

Resumeand

CoverLetter

EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts in Psychology May 2015University of Missouri Columbia, MissouriGPA: 3.75/4.0

Study Abroad January-June 2014Universidad de Alicante Alicante, Spain• Gained fluency in Spanish language and completed coursework

focusing on cultural competence and history.• Examined sources of counseling services for adolescents in the

Spanish culture as an independent research project.

Independent Study, January 2014-March 2014Dublin Institute of Technology - Dublin, Ireland Observed and interacted with 3 engineering faculty to study traffic

pattern algorithms for use in urban planning and overall street design Conducted field trips to prepare equipment tracking motor vehicle

activity at major intersections throughout Dublin

Marketing Intern Sia ConseilParis, France May 2014– August 2014

• Created weekly newsletter targeted to energy and utility companies to advertise services in consulting and professional evaluations

• Collaborated with team of 6 to execute marketing strategies, including website construction, focus group analysis, and press communication

• Maintained extensive database tracking contacts, target companies, and advertising methods

• Interacted confidently with marketing team and corporate clients using both French and English languagesStudy Abroad Participant, Maejo University , May 2014– August

2014 Chiang Mai, Thailand

• Establish rapport quickly with individuals in an unfamiliar environment through effective verbal and non-verbal communication strategies.

• Completed coursework regarding and the effects of media on Thai society and conducted informational interviews with Thai website editors to gain additional knowledge outside of the classroom

• Traveled extensively throughout Thailand, China, and Malaysia

SKILLS:

• Proficient in Spanish language• Increased economic and cultural awareness

through semester-long study in Guadalajara, Mexico

• Computer skills include HTML, Java, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS Enhanced geographical knowledge, cross-cultural communication skills, and social

adaptability through study abroad experience Two years of progressive customer service experience assisting diverse populations Proficient in marketing and advertising media including print and web design

Type in your study abroad

relevance

Your Cover Letter:

Through my extensive experience editing and feature writing, as well as the cross-cultural knowledge gained through traveling overseas and related coursework, I am confident I can perform in the position extremely well. I have served as the lead copy editor for The Maneater, a bi-weekly campus newspaper, and as a writing intern for the health beat of Mizzou Weekly, a faculty and staff publication. By creating copy and editing, I have improved key writing skills, learned to develop engaging stories, and honed my eye for detail and accuracy. In addition, I have just returned from a semester abroad in Lima, Peru, where I was immersed in the culture through living with a host family, traveling, and completing courses there. I am excited about applying this valuable international expertise to a hands-on writing role. I will work hard to bring creativity, professionalism, and a distinct writing style to the internship.

ExperienceStrengths Action Context

What you didHow you did it

What it can do for them

Your consistent, positive message

(strengths, skills, fit)

Make sure you:Prove worth

Know the employerDemonstrate enthusiasm

(careerbuilder.com)

Drill down(don’t use general terms)

Your Interview:Employers Look For…

Types Of Questions

Open-Ended, Direct, Behavioral, Scenario

Tie In

Experiences and how they relateWorking with/for others

Positive roles/Managing conflict

Speak To

Strengths, weaknessesGoals, motivation

What you know about themWhy them? Why you?

Describe how you adapt to new people, situations, and environments.

“It comes before the handshake.”

Jobvite Social Recruiting Survey 2013

94%

of recruiters use LinkedIn

Build online presence

Connect with professionals

Research companies and

industries

Explore opportunities

Learn etiquette

Your International Experience

How are you

uniquely qualified?How will you

add value?Do you look like

a professional?

QUESTIONS?www.lessonsfromabroad.org

Courtesy of:

Shanon LanglieGlobal Projects Manager, Washington University

http://careercenter.wustl.edu http://global.wustl.edu

Meredith Mann and Cara DunnCareer Specialists/Outreach Team, MU Career Center, University of Missouri

http://career.missouri.edu