What's in a Story? Talking about Study Abroad at Interviews.

Author: Kevin JF Murphy Posted under: , , , , , , , , , ,
By Kevin J.F. Murphy, Italy Academic Dean & Campus Director

Recently there's been a lot of talk about how international education can give students an advantage when they enter the global workplace. A mass of research also shows very clearly that many employers value the skills that students can develop while studying abroad. But when it comes to job interview time, how many students are really going to be able to put into words the many benefits of study abroad? How many of them are going to be able to sell their overseas study as something that makes them a better employee? And is anyone helping them do this? 

Mock Interviews
To focus on these questions, we organised a workshop for students at the CEA Global Campus in Rome and Florence during the most recent International Eduation Week. Given that nothing is more effective than a 'real world' experience, we also conducted some mock interviews to help students practice how to articulate their study abroad experiences to potential employers. 

Tough Questions!
The questions in those interviews included these: Why did you study abroad? Why did you choose Italy? What made you choose that location/program? How exactly did that experience help you develop any of the skill sets or qualities that we're looking for at our company? How exactly did it help you develop leadership skills, team-working skills, or the ability to work comfortably and successfully with an international clientele? What did you gain from taking your courses abroad? What did you gain from extra-curricular activities abroad? 
Needless to say, these questions aren't easily answered if you're not prepared. So students struggle to answer them well if they haven't had structured opportunities to reflect upon their experience and rehearse some narratives that describe in a thoughtful way the positive gains that studying abroad gave them. 

Create your Stories
So how should you prepare for an interview? One of the first steps is to develop a collection of stories about your time abroad. The stories could focus on things like:
  • your successes (any notable grades, awards or recognition while you were abroad or on your return?)
  • your coursework abroad (what kind of program, how did it relate to your major, who it was accredited by, what emphasis did it place on language acquisition, and on independent research if any?)
  • your professional experience abroad (did you do service learning, a work placement or an internship?)
  • your collaborative highlights (were you on the student committee, voluntary teams or participate in student mentoring during or after the experience?)
  • your local community highlights (were you in voluntary teams with locals, did you interview locals for academic fieldwork, did you engage in language exchange with local students?)
  • personal experiences that gave you insight into local culture (best challenges overcome, best local friendships made?)
Write out some answers and keep them short. Maintain a business-like tone so not to trivialise overseas study, and stick exclusively to your successes and accomplishments. Make sure that you're armed with the kinds of stories that will be useful in each case, depending on the nature of the company and the particular competencies required by the position that you're after. 

In conclusion, what your stories should illustrate is how your experience made you a better candidate for the job you're after. So instead of talking about how much 'fun' it was in Rome, or that CEA 'broadened your horizons', craft your stories around specific, positive experiences from the checklist above that illustrate your communication skills, your greater maturity even in unfamiliar environments, your tolerance for diversity and change, your openness to alternative viewpoints, and your ability both to lead and to work as part of a team. Prepare and reflect your stories ahead of time and they will be personal, considered and compelling. 

If anyone reading this hasn't studied abroad yet, I hope that this article presents a useful guide to how, and why, you should exploit the range of opportunities that overseas study will present. 

One last tip. Don't forget to leverage your study abroad experience in your resume too. But that's another story...

Kevin Murphy spoke at a session called 'Making the Most of It: How Study Abroad Programs Help Train Students for the Global Workplace' at the EAIE 2011 Conference in Copenhagen, with Dr. Scott Blair (CEA Global Education, France) and Dr. Cheryl Matherly from the University of Tulsa Center for Global Education. Follow Kevin on twitter: @KevinJFMurphy
 

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Got MOJO? Blog, Photograph and Film your way to an iPad2 and $500

Author: CEA team Posted under: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Storytelling fervor, study abroad passion, a spark of ingenuity - the ingredients of a CEA MOJO. A CEA what?! A MOJO, also known as a mobile journalist, possesses the stuff of creative geniuses, determined to share stories of all kinds through a multitude of different channels.

Amongst the students currently abroad this Spring 2012 semester in Buenos Aires, Prague, London, Paris, Florence, Rome, Barcelona, Granada, Madrid and Seville, CEA's on the hunt for those interested in assuming this role as a CEA MOJO. What's the job entail? 

What we're asking for:
  • 4 blog posts covering all topics study abroad
  • 2 separate photo essays depicting an excursion and/or cultural activity
  • 2 videos - 1 of your housing and the other of a CEA facility or Global Campus
  • 1 more submission of your choice, introducing us to your city abroad
 The goods you'll receive:
  • Selected MOJOs will receive a $500 gift card for workin' their MOJO workin' during the semester
  • An iPad2 and letter of recommendation upon completion of all submissions and successful completion of their Spring 2012 semester.
With such enticing compensation for equally as enticing work, not to apply for your shot as MOJO seems almost non-sensical, especially because the application process includes the same storytelling excitement as being an official MOJO.

The application constituents: Send a blog post along with a video and/or photo to MOJO@GoWithCEA.com covering your preparation for, anticipation of, and first impressions of your study abroad city, why you're studying abroad, and what skills you're hoping to achieve scholastically, professionally and personally.

Guidelines to keep in mind:
  • Blog post must be 500-700 words
  • Content MUST be original. Copied, plagiarized or cited material will be disqualified
  • Post due by February 3rd, 2012. Winner announced February 13th, 2012.
We want to see your passion, enthusiasm and originality shine through the colorful text of your blog posts, the vibrancy of your photos and the animative character of your videos. Unleash the your inner creativity and let the sky be the limit as you get your MOJO on for CEA.  



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    Earn a $5,000 CEA Scholarship this Fall 2012 through Abroad101

    Author: CEA team Posted under:
    Studying abroad with CEA this Fall 2012 semester just got a little bit sweeter.

    Starting today through Wednesday, February 15, CEA is diligently working with Abroad101 to offer students a $5,000 scholarship towards their Fall 2012 program of choice. A $5,000 scholarship?! Yep, that's right! We know how much passion students possess for studying abroad, and as such we want to help maintain and encourage this passion for an adventure we all love so dearly.

    So how does one go about qualifying for an opportunity such as this? Here's the lowdown:

    • Fill out the designated entry form on Abroad101's website including information such as name, university and destination of interest
    • Answer the following prompt found on the Abroad101 entry form: "Please describe why you deserve this scholarship, and how you would incorporate your studies in one of CEA's programs back to your school or community."
    • Share your response on your Facebook page, asking friends to read and like your answer - the higher amount of "Likes" you receive on your post, the higher the chance you have of winning!
    • Start planning your study abroad experience ASAP, as you must be accepted into your CEA program to qualify
    In this specific scholarship, the stuff of winners consists of the following: (1) the quality of the prompt response - let that passion shine through! - and (2) the number of 'Likes' your response accrues on your Facebook wall. 

    Should you encounter any questions or roadblocks while applying, or during your program planning process in general, feel free to contact an Admissions Counselor. They are always happy to help and are just achin' to talk to students about this scholarship - we're all so excited!

    So from all of us to you, good luck and happy applying!


     
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    Orientation, Tuscan Style

    Author: CEA Florence Posted under:

    Orientation is a fundamental yet undoubtedly challenging initiation into study abroad, full of forms and meetings, a lost piece of luggage (or two!) new roommates and jetlag to boot! But it’s not without its enjoyments. On Friday, January 13, CEA in Florence’s newly-arrived students headed out of town with onsite staff to enjoy a day in the Chianti, where they got to know each other in the relaxed and stimulating atmosphere of the Castello da Verrazzano. After a brief historical lesson on Verrazzano—the man, the castle, the wine—we toured the ancient cellars, then were seated in a warm and welcoming dining hall. A sommelier led students through a tasting of wines, including Verrazzano’s very special Chianti Reserva, followed by a lunch of pasta, roasted meats, and Tuscan white beans. To finish, we tasted a traditional Tuscan treat: hard, crunchy cantuccini cookies dipped in the dessert wine vin santo. A cheery and delicious way to wrap up Spring 2012 orientation!
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    A+ for Argentina!

    Author: CEA team Posted under:
    Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Latin American & Integrated Studies, International Business...the list goes on. You read the program titles on the programs page of CEA's Buenos Aires options, but they don't mean much to you. Sure, they give you a taste of the type of courses offered per program, but you crave to sample the juicy meat behind the outward facing skin - you want a student rundown of the experience.

    Well, in the somewhat-tweaked words of our British friends The Beatles, we'll get you by with a little help from our friends. Thanks to Abroad101.com, CEA Buenos Aires alumni have a platform with which to share their personal experiences with all future CEA adventurers. What do the surveys say? With an average of 4 out of 5 stars overall for our Buenos Aires programs, the surveys burst with rays of study abroad sunshine.

    Below, we've compiled a list of quotes from our reviews on Abroad101.com for your viewing pleasure. Discover why CEA programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina earn an A+ on their study abroad program report card.

     "Wow. My study abroad experience was more than worthwhile. If I could do it again, I definitely would...It was great living in a country where everyone talks about sports and politics interchangeably. I was able to see so many different view points about national and international politics." - Caroline Atwood

    "My study abroad experience was absolutely worthwhile. I gained so much self-reliance. I really learned how to manage difficult situations on my own and made some amazing, lifelong friends." - Adrielle Edwards

    "The program coordinators in Buenos Aires were all extremely helpful and personable. I still email them from time to time for help with things related to my experience in Argentina." -Alexa Verink

    "I was in an intensive Spanish language class and our professor, Mage, was amazing. She was always willing to help out and made the 'awkward phase' of learning language fun."  -Griffin Sandberg

    "I went on a few trips to Iguazu, Mendoza, Cordoba, Uruguay and Mar del Plata and loved every one of them." -Tara Amiri

    "I don't think you can find bad tasting food in Argentina!" - Melissa Jebril

    "My experience was that CEA staff were always friendly and happy to answer any questions I had about anything at all." - Kim (last name not listed)

    Want to read more? Check out full Buenos Aires program reviews on Abroad101.com!
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    What's Brewing in Brazil?

    Author: CEA team Posted under: , , , , ,
    6 syllables. The future fate of CEA Global Education’s newest program destination lies within 6 simple drops of the jaw. The most syllables jammed into any CEA destination yet, a happenstance as unique as this can only represent a city with similar distinctive character. So without further delay – clear your throats, loosen your jaw, and join us in reciting our new six-syllabled friend: Florianópolis.

    Floria-what?!
    Tucked into Brazil’s southeastern corner, Florianópolis makes its presence known by flaunting a diverse scope of geography, history and culture – and when we say diverse, we’re not joking. The city itself acts as the capital of Brazil’s Santa Catarina state, and sweeps its borders over the entire Island of Santa Catarina as well as a small part of the mainland. This means that not only does the city boast over 40 beaches, it also supplies lakes, sand dunes and mountains, all for your explorative pleasure.

    Venture via Volunteering
    Unlike the cheese that stood alone in the realm of childhood lullabies, the abundance of outdoor adventure in Florianópolis’ does not stand as the only highlight in this city’s profuse personality. Here, it’s the culture that differentiates Brazil from the rest of the world. CEA introduces its Floripa students more thoroughly to the Brazilian way of life through an engaging channel that encourages giving back to the city's community.

    Volunteer opportunities in Florainópolis flower throughout the city plentifully, promising enriching community interaction and involvement to our future CEA goers. We specifically have partnered with four separate volunteer organizations to allow students this chance: Casa Lar Emaus, Fundação Vidal Ramos, COEPAD and Saude Crianca Florainópolis. Help tutor children struggling with their studies, organize after school activities for students who live in troubled areas or assist members of a business cooperative for the mentally and physically disabled, all while simultaneously growing closer and more intertwined to the Brazilian culture surrounding you.

    South America sans Spanish
    In addition to the endless learning opportunities that stem from an experience like volunteering, students studying with CEA in Florianópolis also expose themselves to a language unfamiliar to many other South American countries – Portuguese.

    Wait, but isn’t Portugal all the way on the other side of the Atlantic? Yes, this is true, but what’s also true is that Brazil happens to take the title as largest Portuguese speaking country in the world. Explore the exotic nature of this language through classes at all skill levels (beginning, intermediate and advanced), and through the constant and daily interaction with native Portuguese speaking Brazilians.    

    Floripa for Me?
    So what kind of student should consider Brazil? Easy! Florianópolis calls for a student that desires to engage in the culture, the city and the country in more ways than one. Sure, you’ve heard a little bit about Brazil, but your curiosity urges you to intricately discover the country and to do so in every way possible when abroad. You crave to walk, eat, dance, volunteer, communicate, hike, etc., within the welcoming arms of Florianópolis, and upon leaving you want to feel as though you've given a piece of yourself to the community.  
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    Giving Back to Florence: A CEA Student Leads Tours at the Cathedral

    Author: Emily Posted under:


    The CEA Florence volunteer program CEA C’È (which means "CEA is there") provides students with opportunities to participate in local life and culture while giving back to their host city. Jonathan White received training in order to offer free tours to tourists of the Florence Cathedral. Here he shares reflections on his experience.

    Volunteering as an Ars et Fides tour guide in Florence’s Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, proved to be extremely constructive, educational, and entertaining. 

    Before I was able to give tours on my own, I underwent a short orientation session with a member of the Ars et Fides association. This session was essentially a tour, where I was able to learn and absorb many important facts about Santa Maria del Fiore. From that moment on, I was thrilled I had chosen this specific opportunity. I am a history major and have a great passion for art and architecture, so being able to learn about the historical significance of this edifice, as well as the numerous important works of art that it houses, was unbelievable. In addition to following the training tour, I performed online research and read over a thick packet of information about the cathedral to learn even more. A week or two after my orientation tour, I began to give tours on my own.

    I was given an identification badge, which I used to enter the cathedral. Each time I went, I would get situated at my table, where I would sign in, set up the appropriate signs, information packets, and other books, and turn on the lights. Since this table was located very close to the entrance of the cathedral, many tourists would come over to ask me various questions. I would do my best to answer any question that someone had and was even able to practice my Italian by answering questions in Italian. In addition, I would tell people some interesting facts about the cathedral and the city of Florence and I would offer to give them a free tour.

    I would give guided tours, free of charge, to anyone who wished to spend about fifteen minutes learning about the historical and architectural significance of Santa Maria del Fiore. During these tours, I was able to interactively apply the information and knowledge that I had acquired. I created and structured my own tour and tried to synthesize major themes of history, art, and architecture in an enjoyable manner. I incorporated interesting facts that I had known about Florence and Italy as well as humorous tales, in order to keep my guests entertained as well attentive.

    The most enjoyable and beneficial aspect of my internship was how it provided me with great opportunities to break out of my comfort zone and actually interact with tourists as well as some Italian locals. I tried to make my tours interactive, allowing tourists to ask questions or make comments at any time. This allowed me to get to know the people I was giving a tour to and learn from them, just as they were learning from me. In addition, I was overjoyed that I was able to enable tourists to better appreciate and understand the significance of Santa Maria del Fiore and Florence. As a fellow tourist, who had been traveling to many towns in Italy, I sympathized with these tourists. I understood how one can feel overwhelmed by the numerous pieces of art and architecture and not truly understand their importance. I am very glad that I was able to make their travel experiences better.

    Since I was able to learn about Florence and its wonderful cathedral, as well as inform others about its significance, I found my time as an Ars et Fides tour guide to be extremely beneficial and enjoyable. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who is interested in history, art, architecture, or just learning more about Florence and its people.

    Jonathan White is a history major at UC Davis.
    He studied at CEA in Fall 2011.



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