Study Abroad Workshop Helps Students Turn Global Experience Into Career Advantage

Studying abroad gave you more than photos, passport stamps and stories. It also gave you skills, and knowing how to talk about them could help you land a job, earn an internship or strengthen a graduate school application. 

Students who have studied abroad are invited to discover how during an interactive workshop Thursday, Sept. 24, at 9 a.m. in GEAR 258. 

The workshop will be led by Lindsey Aloia, associate dean of the Graduate School and International Education and professor in the Department of Communication. Aloia will show students how to turn meaningful moments from abroad, including unfamiliar situations, unexpected challenges and cross-cultural connections, into memorable examples of adaptability, communication, problem-solving and independence. 

"Study abroad is transformative, and students need to know how to translate that growth for others," Aloia said. "This workshop will help them identify the skills they developed abroad and tell specific, compelling stories that show employers and graduate programs how those experiences prepared them for what comes next." 

Participants will learn how to use their international experiences to strengthen résumés, interviews, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles and graduate school applications. They will also begin developing polished examples they can use when asked that inevitable interview question: "Tell me about a time when…" 

The goal is to help students move beyond simply saying where they went. Instead, they will be prepared to explain what they navigated, what they learned and why it matters. 

"Employers are sorting through candidates with many of the same qualifications, so simply having an experience is not enough," said Louise Hancox, senior director of career readiness in the Honors College Futures Hub. "Students who can explain how an experience shaped their judgment, perspective and approach to work give employers something more meaningful to remember. That is where study abroad can become a real differentiator." 

The workshop is part of Career Readiness Week. Coffee and donuts will be provided.