Imagine we’re just chatting, like over a cup of tea, about getting your awesome study abroad on your resume. You did something really cool, and we want to make sure everyone knows it when they look at your resume.
Showing Off Your Global Adventure on Your Resume
Hey! Let’s talk about your study abroad. You did something amazing. You went to another country. You learned new things. You grew as a person. Now, let’s put it on your resume. We want employers to see how great you are. I’m like a friend who’s been there. I’ll tell you everything. We’ll figure this out together.
Why Your Time Abroad Is Super Important for Your Job
Listen, the world is now very connected. Companies work with people from everywhere. If you’ve lived and learned in another country, that’s a big win. It shows you like new things. It shows you can work with different people. For us in Bangladesh, studying abroad is a big deal. It says a lot about you. Let’s see why this is so good for your resume.
Think about it. When you went to that new place, everything was new. The food. Maybe a new language! How people did things. You had to learn it all, right? That’s being adaptable and resilient! Bosses love that. Work is always changing. They want someone who can handle anything. Your time abroad proves you can. It shows you’re ambitious. You tried something new. That’s really good.
And you made friends with people from different places. That’s global awareness and intercultural communication. If you want to work for a big company or even a small one that works with other countries, knowing how to talk to different people is key. You can do that! You might even have friends all over the world now. That can help you later.
Remember when things went wrong? Maybe you got lost. Maybe a class was hard. You had to figure it out, right? That’s problem-solving. Bosses want people who can think fast and fix things. Your study abroad had lots of those moments. You were resourceful. You learned to handle new and maybe strange situations.
Let’s not forget talking and listening. In a new place, you talk in new ways. Maybe you used simple English. Maybe you learned a few new words. That’s enhanced communication skills. You learned to connect with people even if you didn’t speak the same language perfectly.
Really, studying abroad is distinctive experience. Lots of people have degrees. Maybe they did some internships. But you? You lived and learned in another country! That makes you special. It shows you’re curious. You had a great learning experience.
If you worked with students from other countries, that’s teamwork in diverse settings. Being able to work well with different people is important in any job.
And if you learned some of the local language, that language proficiency is fantastic. It’s a big plus if the job needs you to talk to people from that area. Even knowing a little shows you like to learn and you understand other cultures.
Where to Show Your Global Time on Your Resume
Okay, you know why it’s great. Now, where to put study abroad on resume? Think of your resume as telling a story. You want the best parts to grab attention. There are a few good places for your global adventure.
Where it fits best depends on what you did abroad and the job you want. Let’s look at the choices:
Choice 1: The Education Part
This is often the easiest place to put it.
When to use this: If your time abroad was mostly about school. If you took classes that matter for the job. Or if you got good grades there.
How to write it: Put it under your main degree. Write the name of the school you went to abroad. Add the city and country. Write the name of the program if you had one. Then put the dates you were there. Use months and years.
Example for a Student from Bangladesh:
**[Your University Name], Dhaka, Bangladesh**
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, [Year you finished]
**University of [Another Country], [City], [Another Country]**
Exchange Program in Computer Science, September 2023 – June 2024
Good Classes: International Programming, Web Development
You can also add a short line if you did well in some classes.
Choice 2: The Work History Part (Or a Special “International Experience” Part)
If you did more than just go to classes, this might be better.
When to use this: If you had an internship. If you volunteered. If you did a big project. Or if you had any work experience while you were there.
How to write it: Write it like a normal job. Start with the name of the company or group. Add the city and country. Write your job title or what you did. Then put the dates. Use short bullet points to say what you did. This is where you show off those skills we talked about. Use strong action words!
Example for a Student from Bangladesh:
**[Name of Company], [City], Germany**
Marketing Helper, March 2024 – July 2024
(Part of the [Name of Study Abroad Program] at [University Name])
* Worked with a team on social media. This got 10% more people to look at our posts.
* Made a report about what people in the area like to buy.
* Helped plan a meeting for important customers from other countries.
Think about a special “International Experience” part: If you did a lot of things in other countries (maybe you studied in one place and then worked in another), a special section can look really good. It shows you’re serious about global work.
Choice 3: The Skills Part
Don’t forget this part!
When to use this: To show off specific skills you learned or got better at while abroad. Especially if the job asks for those skills.
How to write it: Just list the skills. If you learned a new language, say which one and how well you know it (like, “I can speak it a little,” or “I speak it well”). You can also list things like “Cross-cultural Communication,” “Adaptability,” “Global Perspective,” and “Problem-Solving.”
Example for a Student from Bangladesh:
Skills:
* Languages: Bengali (Native), English (Fluent), German (I can speak a little)
* Soft Skills: **Adaptability**, **Cross-cultural Communication**, **Global Perspective**, **Problem-Solving**, I can work on my own, I can work with others
How to Really Show Off Your Time Abroad: Step by Step
Okay, let’s get practical. Here’s how to actually put this on your resume.
Step 1: Think About What You Did
Think back to your time away. Why did you go? What did you want to do there? What really happened? What did you learn? What was hard? How did you handle it? Write some things down. Maybe you learned to use a new bus system. Maybe you finished a big school project with people from all over the world. These details will make your experience real to employers.
Step 2: Find the Skills You Used
Remember those skills bosses like? Look at what you wrote down. Which skills did you use? Were you good at planning your time and money? That’s time management. Did you work with people who had different ideas on a school project? That shows you can collaborate. Make a list of these skills.
Step 3: Use Strong Words and Keywords
When you write about your time abroad, use strong action words. Instead of “I helped,” try “Worked with,” “Made,” or “Led.” Also, look at the jobs you want. What words do they use in the job description? Try to use those words when you talk about your study abroad. This helps employers see that you have what they need.
Step 4: Show What You Achieved (If You Can)
If you can use numbers, that’s great. Did you volunteer for a certain number of hours? Did your project get a good grade? If you can say “I worked with a team of 5 students from different countries on a project that got the best grade in the class,” that sounds really good.
Step 5: Make It Fit Each Job
This is super important. Don’t just have one resume for every job. For each job, read what they’re looking for. Then, make sure your resume shows the parts of your study abroad that fit that job best.
Making Your Resume Just Right for You
As students from Bangladesh, we have our own special story. Let’s think about how to make your resume just right.
What if My Study Abroad Wasn’t Exactly What I Studied Here?
Maybe you studied computers here but took art classes abroad. That’s okay! Talk about the skills you learned that can help in any job. You learned to be adaptable in a new place. You learned to talk to new people. You learned to solve problems on your own. These are all good things for any boss to see.
What if I Don’t Have Much Work Experience?
If you just finished school, you might not have lots of jobs on your resume. Your study abroad can help here. It shows you took initiative. You were independent. You learned important skills that many new graduates don’t have. Talk about it like it was a really important learning experience.
What About If I Learned a New Language?
If you learned even a little bit of another language, say so! It’s a big plus in today’s world. Even if you just know a few phrases, it shows you’re willing to learn and you understand other cultures.
What if I Just Experienced a New Culture?
Don’t just talk about your classes. Talk about the cultural events you went to. Talk about the local people you met. Talk about what you learned about their way of life. This shows you’re open-minded and curious, which are great qualities for any workplace.
Things You Shouldn’t Do
We want your resume to be great. Here are some things to avoid:
- Don’t hide your study abroad experience. Make it easy to see.
- Don’t just say you studied abroad. Give some details.
- Don’t be too general. Tell them specific things you did.
- Don’t forget to talk about the skills you learned.
- Don’t put in things that aren’t really important for the job.
- Don’t use the same resume for every job. Make it fit each one.
Best Places to Put Study Abroad on Your Resume
| Resume Part | When It’s Best | What to Include |
| Education | School was the main focus, classes were important for the job. | School name, place, program name, dates, good classes. |
| Work History | You did an internship, volunteer work, or a big project. | Company/group name, place, what you did, dates, what you achieved (use strong words). |
| Skills | You learned new skills, especially languages or soft skills. | Language and how well you know it, skills like adaptability and communication. |
| Special Part | You did many things in other countries. | Use the format from Education or Work History to show your global experience clearly. |
Skills You Learn Abroad and How to Show Them
| Skill | How You Learn It | What to Write on Your Resume |
| Being Flexible | Getting used to a new culture and life. | “Got used to a new culture and daily life in [Country], showing I can be flexible and open-minded.” |
| Talking to Different People | Meeting and talking to people from all over. | “Talked with students and locals from different backgrounds, improving my ability to communicate with anyone.” |
| Figuring Things Out | Handling new problems and situations on your own. | “Solved problems on my own, like using new transportation and finding what I needed in [City].” |
| Being Independent | Living and studying without your usual support system. | “Managed my schoolwork and personal life on my own while studying abroad, showing I’m independent and responsible.” |
| Seeing the Big Picture | Learning about different ways of life and world issues. | “Learned about [World Issue] by taking classes and experiencing life in [Country].” |
| Knowing Another Language | Taking language classes or just living where another language is spoken. | “Skills: Spanish (Beginner)” or “I speak [Language] well.” |
| Working with Others | Doing projects with students from different countries. | “Worked well with a team of international students on a [Project Name] project, and we [What you achieved together].” |
You’ve got this! Your study abroad is a big plus. Just show it off the right way on your resume, and you’ll be one step closer to landing your dream job.
FAQ
Q: Should I put study abroad on my resume if it wasn’t related to my major?
Yes! It shows you’re adaptable and have valuable skills like problem-solving and cross-cultural communication. Put it in education or highlight skills in your skills section.
Q: How do you list study abroad on a resume example?
In education:
University of [Home Country] Bachelor of Arts in [Major]
University of [Host Country] Study Abroad Program, [Dates]
In work history:
[Company Name], [Host City] [Your Role], [Dates] (Part of Study Abroad Program)
- Did great things using valuable skills.
Or in skills: “Adaptability,” “Global Perspective,” “Cross-cultural Communication.”
Q: What skills do you gain from studying abroad for a resume?
You gain independence, cross-cultural communication, adaptability, problem-solving, and a global perspective. You might also learn a new language!
Q: Does study abroad look good on a resume to employers?
Yes! It shows you’re willing to try new things, you’re adaptable, and you can work with diverse people. It makes you stand out.
Q: Where does international experience go on a CV?
In education for academics, in experience for work/research. You can even have a special “International Experience” section if you have a lot.
Q: How do you describe cultural experience on a resume?
Be specific! Say you “immersed yourself in [Culture] culture” or “developed understanding through interactions.” Mention volunteering or living with a host family. Connect these to skills like adaptability and intercultural communication.
Wrapping Up
My friend, your time studying abroad is a big deal. It proves you’re someone who can handle new things and connect with people. By thinking about where to put study abroad on your resume and showing off all the great things you did and learned, you’ll really impress employers. So go ahead, tell your story. Let your global adventure help you get the job you want!
