Study Abroad Experience Being Valued By Employers

Most of the students studying abroad say that the experience of studying abroad helps them in getting better jobs. Here is what the survey's conducted by many centres have revealed about the Experience of Study abroad being valued by Employers.

In order to find all the possibilities of this, the Career Centre at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted a survey that asked employers what they thought of students who had studies abroad. According to the survey around 59% of employers said that Study Abroad or other International experience would be valuable to an individual's career prospectus with their organization.

A National survey published in Frontiers surveyed 352 firms revealed that organizations and agencies from a wide range of industries across the US had similar preference for candidates with study abroad experience. They preferred candidates with abroad experience-ranking study abroad in a non-English speaking country among the top three characteristics they deemed important in college graduates behind having a major relevant to the firm's work and having a minor in a foreign language.

Other Experts say that improving job prospects, of course, isn't the only reason to study abroad. Study abroad also deepens our student's awareness of other perspectives and cultures-helping educate them on the litany of challenges facing the world, and in many cases, students return to their universities bringing that perspective and new motivation to the classroom.

There are seven global skills. In looking at this list below, you will find that most of these skills are gained, strengthened, and highlighted through any study abroad experience:

1. The ability to deal with ambiguity and constant change-and love it.
   
2. The ability to be informed about the industry and where the power is located.
   
3. The ability to take moderate risks and step forward in an unfamiliar situation.
   
4. The ability to act in a diplomatic way and build lasting relations-in the real and in the virtual world.
   
5. The ability to create visions about the future and how you, and your organization, fit into the larger picture.
   
6. The ability to create strategies as well as put them into practical plans and actions.
   
7. The ability to execute leadership, regardless of position, and have respect for different nationalities, cultures, and religions.

Studying abroad typically gives your resume a nice boost and improves your post-graduate employment prospects, particularly if you're considering a career in business, international affairs, or government service. Nowadays, employers actively seek college graduates who have spent time studying abroad because they want employees with an international knowledge base as well as foreign language skills.

The same international skills that make you more marketable for employment are also valued by graduate schools. These skills include cross-cultural communication skills, analytical skills, teamwork, flexibility, an understanding of cultural contexts, the ability to adapt to new circumstances and deal with differences, a developed view of the world outside the U.S., independence, and self-confidence.

Director of Career Services and Study Abroad at Elizabeth City State University, has the opportunity to serve both students and employers and has been an integral part of this effort: "We really try to encourage students to study abroad because a lot of the companies we deal with are not just working North Carolina-or North America; they are working internationally and need people who can well with people from different cultures and backgrounds" he said.

Beyond cultural fluency, study abroad also helps students hone their skills in other areas. "Employers want people who aren't afraid to go out of their comfort zone-to take smart risks. Study abroad is a good way for our students to gain those skills" added the director.