Finding a job after university has always been a challenge and the number of applications to the UK’s leading employers is increasing year on year. This begs the question, how can you make sure your application sticks out from the rest? Dan Cash looks at how a year or semester abroad can boost your employability prospects.
Studying or working abroad as part of a degree programme is growing both in accessibility and popularity. A compulsory part of any language student’s four years of study is to wave goodbye to Exeter and touch down in countries all over Europe, and indeed Africa and Latin America. Whether they spend their Saturdays sipping cocktails on the seaside in sunny Spain or drinking vodka with breakfast in Russia, they give most of their time to improving their language skills. However, with more courses than ever offering their students the opportunity to board a plane and experience life in a foreign country, the year abroad is by no means restricted to people wishing to learn a new language. In fact, a semester or year abroad is available to thousands of students across various disciplines. From studying at another university, to gaining work experience at a business, to teaching through the British Council, a year abroad provides you with a chance to learn and improve a whole range of skills that you may not find from three years at university.
A guaranteed boost to the CV?
For one thing, the year abroad shows that you are an independent and self-motivated person. A huge part of anybody’s experience of living abroad is learning how to take care of number one. There is no relying on a parent, a sibling or a life-long friend when you are hundreds or thousands of miles apart. Everything that you do, from food shopping to seeing a doctor when you fall ill, is solely down to you. From this independence spawns maturity and the ability to make decisions; skills that any employer will value.
The problems and situations that students abroad are faced with are diverse. They range from going to a friend’s house for dinner and being served a local delicacy that turns your stomach, to a rail strike that results in all train services being cancelled and preventing you from getting to and from your place of work or study. Overcoming these problems, no matter how big or small, shows employers how you cope when faced with difficult situations. There are often questions on application forms and in interviews requiring applicants to give an example of when they displayed good problem-solving. A year abroad will ensure that this question never goes unanswered.
Finally, one of the most valuable and unique skills that is acquired during a semester or year abroad is cultural awareness. In today’s world, many businesses thrive on globalisation while others battle to gain ground internationally. Having lived in a foreign country, a graduate who has studied or worked abroad will stand out to these international businesses. Living abroad demonstrates a global awareness and an ease with comprehending cultural differences. Not only this, but already having experience and an understanding of what it means to study, or indeed work abroad gives employers more reason to send you overseas again.
A year or semester in a foreign country is far from an easy experience. It is a challenge. There are ups and downs; highs and lows. However, it is in many ways a rewarding experience. You learn about another country, another culture, and another people. You learn about yourself and what you are able to achieve.
In a time where it is imperative to present yourself as best as possible to potential employers, a year abroad is priceless. When your CV or job application is sitting amidst a hundred others, you need to ensure it is one in a million. Perhaps a year abroad will make you stand out from the crowd.
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