As you read in my last blog post, my study abroad experience in China taught me many valuable lessons that I utilize everyday in my career. However, long before I realized those benefits, I noticed the value my junior year when I applied for summer internships. Every interviewer I met was fascinated by my study abroad experience and wanted to talk about it. They either said something similar to, “Wow, you studied in China! What did you think? I have always wanted to go there." Or , "How was China? I've been there, too!” My study abroad experience helped break the ice in interviews. It allowed me to open up with the interviewer and engage in dialogue rather than answering question after question like a robot.

Now, as the Program Coordinator at the Eller College of Management, University of Arizona, I have the opportunity to help other students leverage their study abroad experience during their job search. One of my job responsibilities is to assist students in writing their resumes. When I meet a student with study abroad experience, I always share with them these tips:

1. List your study abroad experience toward the top of your resume.
Studying abroad is a unique experience; show it off! List it toward the top of your resume, right underneath the education heading. Busy recruiters only spend seconds glancing at your resume; so, you want to catch their attention right away.

2. Note the location, duration, and title of the study abroad program.
Do not leave the recruiter guessing. Clearly explain to them the details of your study abroad program.

3. Emphasize the skills you developed.

Recruiters want to know how your study abroad experience can benefit them. Browse the job description, looking for skills that you developed while abroad. Mention those skills on your resume. For example, if the job you are applying for is looking for someone with problem-solving skills, you could write something like, “developed problem-solving skills while exploring and navigating an unfamiliar city.”

4. Describe what made your experience unique and challenging.

Everyone’s study abroad program is different and each student’s experience is unique. Demonstrate on your resume what made your experience special. Did you receive a scholarship for the program? Did you maintain a 4.0 GPA? Did you volunteer while abroad, perhaps teaching English or using your own new-found language skills? What is something unique you learned or did?

5. Include any work or volunteer experience.

If you had the opportunity to volunteer or work abroad, highlight it under the experience category on your resume. Explain and describe any obstacles you had to overcome as an employee abroad, i.e., language barrier, differences in business culture, etc.

Study abroad experience is a great way to differentiate yourself from other candidates applying for jobs. So be sure to use it your advantage on your resume and during the interview.

Whether you are in Rome staring up awe struck at the Colosseum, or enjoying tapas in Spain, you're probably not thinking about how your study abroad experience is going to benefit you in your career. Without even realizing it, the sightseeing, conversing with locals, and dining in quaint restaurants will help you develop skills and teach you lessons that will have a positive impact on your career.

Two years ago, I was a student studying abroad in China. I walked along the Great Wall of China and reveled in the beauty of the local temples; I enjoyed my time in China and thought very little about my future career. Fast forward a couple of years and I realize that many of skills I learned in China, I utilize every day in my current job as the Program Coordinator at the Eller College of Management, University of Arizona . Here is a short list of some of some of my favorite experiences in China and the lessons they taught me.


During our trip to Beijing, I purchased a pair of shoes at the Silk Market. When I got back to the hotel and pulled the shoes out to wear that night, I realized that they had sold me two left shoes! The next day I took them back to the vendor and struggled to explain to the saleswoman my dilemma. After an hour of using crazy hand gestures to explain my story, I finally got one left shoe and one right shoe. The patience I learned, I use every day at my job. Whether I am planning an event where the keynote speaker is late or I'm helping a student map out their career path, the ability to stay calm in the face of an obstacle isn't just essential – it's valuable.


In between classes, my roommate and I took a cab to grab a quick lunch. We were just heading down the street and we thought we knew where we were going; so, we made the tragic mistake of leaving our backpack with our cell phone in the classroom. We handed the restaurant’s business card to the cab driver and (whoosh!) we were on our way - or so we thought.

Instead, we ended up at a random hotel. It turns out the cab driver took us to the hotel that was advertised on the back of business card. We tried to explain to the clearly confused cab driver the misunderstanding. Unfortunately, we were left to navigate through the city ,in the pouring rain, on our own. With a little bit of intuition and the help of some English-speaking locals, we eventually made it back!

The lesson: Navigating a foreign city in the rain gave me the self confidence I needed to tackle more challenging obstacles at work.


Our hotel in China had absolutely no storage for clothes, toiletries, or study materials. We could not spend the next eight weeks with clothes and textbooks strewn all over the floo, so my roommate and I solved the problem the American way, taking a trip to Wal-Mart to buy storage bins. We got some pretty strange looks as we juggled all of these bins on our mile-long trek back to the hotel. After some creative redecorating, we made our room livable. It wasn't perfect, but we managed. My current job requires me to plan a lot of events and there are always times when things do not go as expected. After living in China a short time, I learned just how a little clever ingenuity can make any situation work.


Balancing studying for tests, completing projects, and writing papers with exploring Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing quickly taught me how to manage my time. Every day the thought of discovering local restaurants, markets, and shops motivated me to get my homework done in a timely fashion. Much like my experience in China, my job is fast-paced and requires me to complete multiple tasks. After conquering my heavy workload in China, managing day-to-day tasks and long-term goals is a breeze.


One weekend, all of the students went out to browse the local street vendors. We found a row of food stands selling all kinds of strange foods, everything from seahorses on a stick to a variety of bugs and animal parts. This is just one of the many things I witnessed in China that made me realize I wasn't in “Kansas” anymore. My experience in China opened my eyes to just how diverse the world is. I feel I'm better prepared to collaborate with people from different backgrounds and experiences.

My advice to you: During your study abroad experience, go ahead, shop, dine, and enjoy the sites of the city! Some of your best study abroad memories will teach you the best skills and lessons for your future.