Showcasing Your Experience Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews

1. Showcasing Your Experience Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews

2. Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers, Job Outlook 2016

3. Marketing Your Study Abroad Experience on Your RESUME

4. Study Abroad Experience on Your Resume EDUCATION Indiana University, Bloomington, IN May 2017 Bachelor of Arts Major: International Studies GPA: 3.0/4.0 STUDY ABROAD Flinders University, Adelaide, South AustraliaJan-May 2016 • Researched disparities of ancient Aboriginal culture in modern Australia • Gained time management, interpersonal, and intercultural communication skills

5. Study Abroad Experience on Your Resume EDUCATION Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN Dec 2017 Bachelor of Arts Major: Psychology GPA: 3.0/4.0 STUDY ABROAD Paul Valéry Université, Montpellier, France Jan-May 2016 • Increased proficiency in French language through daily communication with French peers • Studied French culture extensively through classroom and host family experience

6. Study Abroad Experience on Your Resume EXPERIENCE GLOBAL EXPERIENCEOR INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE Institute for the International Education of Students Study Abroad: La Plata, ArgentinaJan-May 2016 Intern • Learned to establish rapport quickly with individuals in an unfamiliar environment • Developed culturally appropriate questionnaire for assessment purposes • Interviewed 25 rural Argentinean women, overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers • Analyzed data using Argentinean software and wrote final report in Spanish

7. Study Abroad Experience on Your Resume INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE Facultad De Filosofia Y Letra Madrid, SpainJan-May2016 Intern Teacher Assistant • Tutored Spanish students studying English and maintained classroom efficiency • Communicated and interacted with students both in and out of the classroom to help improve English speaking and reading skills • Helped implement a mentor program for Spanish students to practice their English speaking skills

8. Study Abroad Experience on Your Resume RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand Jan-May 2016 Education Researcher • Conducted research and implemented surveys to learn teaching habits of Thai educators • Developed training materials in Thai for educators in public schools focused on improving teaching methods and active learning strategies • Presented findings of research to educators from various countries in East Asia at annual committee meeting • Immersed in culture and language of Thai daily life, gaining leadership, cross-cultural communication, and problem-solving skills

9. Language Skills on a Resume Literate ~ Conversational ~ Proficient ~ Fluent EXAMPLES • Literate in Spanish • Conversational in Portuguese • Proficient in English and French • Fluent in English; Conversational in French • Native speaker of both Russian and English

10. Practice Write a Study Abroad experience block for your resume

11. Marketing Your Study Abroad Experience in COVER LETTERS

12. Introduction (Paragraph 1) • Explain why you are writing and how you heard about the opening. • Demonstrate your knowledge of the company/organization. • Convey your excitement and genuine interest in the organization and the opportunity to work for them. • Tell them why you are a good match – the skills/experiences you bring. • Be concise and specific!

13. *Body (Paragraphs 2-3)* • Specific (and concise) story or accomplishment about a single position or project that proves your past experience qualifies you for the job. • What top skills does this position need? • consult the job description to choose your story • From your past experience, describe how you fill/meet that need with a specific instance, story, or accomplishment. • Connect your experience/skills with the future position at the end of the paragraph (overlap).

14. Practice Write a Study Abroad body paragraph for a cover letter

15. Closing (Last Paragraph) • Include any additional relevant information. • Refer to enclosed resume. • Restate contact information. • State follow-up plan (optional). • Thank the employer.

16. Marketing Your Study Abroad Experience in INTERVIEWS

17. Interview Tips for Stories from Abroad • Use the language of your work • Culture Shock/stress= adjustment • Cross-cultural adaptability= able to deal with change • Cultural Sensitivity= interpersonal skills • Cross cultural communications= effective listening skills • Speak of your successes • Not of challenges or why you did not succeed at something • Shocking Stories • Not bizarre stories, misadventures, difficulties • If you tell a story, have a purpose behind it

18. Discussing Your Strengths and Qualifications • Behavior-Based Questions • “Tell me about a time when…” • Consult the job description • Choose 6-8 stories that demonstrate relevant skills • Think of your accomplishments that exemplify these skills • Then use the SPAR acronym to prepare your responses: • Situation • Problem (Be Brief!) • Action (Focus on YOU not others) • Result (Focus should be here!)

19. “What are some of your greatest strengths?” Situation: Study abroad in Rome, Italy Problem: New culture and language Action:Immersed myself in the language and my studies Result:Strong communication skills and adaptability

20. Practice • In this position, you will find things change rapidly. Identify an experience that would demonstrate that you can be flexible and adaptable to rapidly changing situations. • From time to time, you might be working in a team. Tell me a time when you encountered a problem while working within a team and how you handled it. • You will be selling/talking to a diverse group of people. Tell me a time when you worked with a person different than yourself. • In the job description, you saw that we are looking for someone that initiates new ideas into the company. This is a new position so you will need to start new activities. Give me an example when you initiated something new showing that you have initiative. • We have a limited training program for you. You will encounter some problems along the way without guidance. Identify an experience that would demonstrate that you can solve problems by applying familiar concepts to unfamiliar situations. • Communication is key. Tell me a time when communication failed and how it could have been improved.

21. At the end of the interview… • Employer will ask you if you have any questions • have some questions prepared to show you’re interested in the organization/position • Examples: • What are the prospects for growth and advancement? • What are the goals for this position within the first year/five years? • What does the training process look like for this position? • Tell me about the organization/company culture. • What else can I tell you about my qualifications? • Avoid: • Questions about salary or benefits

22. Questions? Alexa Yarnelle Associate Director Career Development Center Indiana University Bloomington (812) 855-6185 ayarnell@indiana.educdc.indiana.edu Addison Sheldon Study Abroad Advisor Programs for Study Abroad Purdue University (765) 494-9866 asheldon@purdue.edu www.studyabroad.purdue.edu