When Calvin Xu won a scholarship to help fund a year abroad in Germany during college, he was excited about the educational opportunities. But he was also excited his future career prospects.
"The reason why I decided to study abroad was really to fill out the blank spaces in my resume," said Xu, a New York Institute of Technology Alumnus and Gilman Scholarship Recipient.
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And when it came time to send those resumes out, Xu says his international experience helped land him his job as a project manager.
"The ability to mention that you studied abroad, and also worked abroad, was a great way to connect with different employers. To basically express, you know, how you dealt with challenges, how you dealt with different people, different cultures," he added.
Xu's experience is not unusual. One survey found 54% of u-s employer respondents actively seek or attribute value to international study experience when recruiting.
"Employers are looking for graduates who are ready to succeed in the global workforce, who have global skills such as being able to work on multinational teams or being able to speak another language," said Daniel Obst with the Institute of International Education.
The Institute of International Education launched Generation Study Abroad - an initiative to double the number of American students who study abroad by the end of the decade. Obst says studying or interning internationally also helps students develop "soft" skills employers look for.
"Such as problem solving, creative thinking, or complex thinking, and they're more adaptable to different cultures," Obst explaine.d
But, it's important to make the most of your time abroad. One tip from the experts: immerse yourself in the local culture.
"Take advantage of every opportunity that they have in that location: networking with businesses, getting to understand that country. Really maximize your time, not just sightseeing," said Ed Hannibal, the global leader for the Global Mobility Practice.
And, once you return home, be sure to highlight your time abroad on your resume.
"What we tell students is to talk about how their experience abroad is really relevant to the workforce," said Obst.
Hannibal says the experience could do more than get you a foot in the door. it may contribute to your long term success.
"As companies look at their future employment needs, they will seek out individuals that they can grow to potentially be some of their senior leaders and as part of that they need in their leadership toolkit global experience," he added.
As for Xu, he spent a year in China during college and says his global experience had a lasting impact.
"I believe that I became a more open person. I, I see the world in a different perspective, not just from, as an American citizen but also from an international world citizen," he said.
The Institute of International Education says there is no ideal length of time to spend abroad, but they encourage students go away for as long as they can, like a semester or a full year, if possible.
And, they say, while cost is one of the biggest obstacles to studying or interning abroad, there are many scholarship programs , like the U.S. State Department funded Gilman Scholarship, which Xu won…
Links for information on study abroad programs and scholarships: