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Gaining an Edge with Education Abroad

Articulating the International Experience

Michelle McCormack, Babson College Marisa Crowley, Boston University Study Abroad

Heather York, Boston University Study Abroad

Agenda

Introduction

The Rocket Pitch

Framework

Holistic Experience - Reflect

Transferable Skills - Connect

Rocket Pitch – Professionalize

Student Examples

Collaboration

Questions

Pro

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m M

anag

er

• Studied abroad in China and Russia

• Lived and earned a graduate degree in England

• Short homestays and volunteer projects in Germany, Italy, and France E

du

cati

on

Ab

road

A

dv

iso

r • Studied abroad in Italy

• Worked abroad in Spain, Australia & New Zealand

• Led semester abroad to Russia, China & India

• Short homestays in Morocco, Argentina & England

Michelle McCormack Babson College

Marisa Crowley Boston University Study Abroad

Heather York Program Manager, Boston University Study Abroad

Utilize their study abroad experience to differentiate themselves competitively to prospective employers or graduate schools

Directly relate these competencies and experiences to the qualifications desired in a workplace or graduate school

Identify transferable skills developed abroad

Understand the importance of articulating the value of participation in an education abroad experience

Returnee Goals

14.2%

Studied Abroad

for credit

8.4%

1-8 Weeks abroad

5.4%

Semester Abroad

0.45%

Academic Year

Abroad

Institute of International Education Open Doors Report 2013

…of the 1.68 Million students who received a BA in 2012

Only 3.9% of Students

are International!

HOWEVER…

We cannot assume that employers recognize the inherent value of participating in a study abroad experience

It’s up to each student to learn to articulate the value of his/her experience abroad in terms of a direct benefit to the company, institution, or organization

To do this, we must get beyond “It was great!”

Job Outlook 2013, National Association of Colleges and Employers

•As your semester goes on, make sure you take the time to reflect on the experiences you are having. REFLECT

•Each time you overcome a challenge and learn a new skill, start thinking about how that connects to your future career.

CONNECT

•When you return from abroad, start professionalizing your experience and learn to articulate what you learned. PROFESSIONALIZE

REFLECT

Journaling Abroad

Formal Presentation

Breaking down

Experience

SWOT Analysis

CO

NN

EC

T

Transferable Skills

Job Descriptions

NACE Survey

Network

PROFESSIONALIZE

Resume & Cover

Letter

Pitch

Interview

Components of Education Abroad Programs

• Internships

• Service – Learning

• Clubs / Orgs

• Rural / Urban • Developed /

Developing • Size of Institution

• Direct Enroll

• Study Center

• Hybrid

• Homestay

• Residence Hall

• Apartment

Housing Academics

Community Engagement

Environment

Timeline

Cultural Adjustment Adapted from Emerald Insight http://www.emeraldinsight.com

Holistic Experience Components:

• Housing • Academics • Community

Engagement • Travel • Student clubs/

organizations • Volunteering • Internships • Visa process

London School of Economics, London, UK

• Debate Skills • Original Thinking • Logical Thought

Processes • Emotional

Intelligence

Classroom Differences Urban Dorm Living

Environment Organizations

Ease of Travel Career Networking

• Engaging with students of different backgrounds

• City Immersion

• Maintaining U.S. identity

• Being outgoing instead of shy

• Staying active on campus

• Public transportation knowledge

• Geography • Cultural curiosity

• How to travel safely and frequently via trains, planes, and buses

• International business skills

• Application styles

• Using culture to network

Chris Minor, Babson College class of 2014

Activity: Reflecting on Holistic Experience

1. Identify components of your experience

2. Write 1+ thing you learned from each component

3. Share the components and learned skills with a partner

Identify Transferrable Skills Adapted from: Effective Marketing of International Experiences to Employers by Cheryl Matherly

Be self-confident, yet able to listen and learn from

people whose value systems are

different

Contribute to an ethnically diverse

team Creatively solve problems by

applying familiar concepts to unfamiliar situations

Take personal risks and act

independently Be flexible and

adaptable to rapidly changing

situations

Imagine, forecast, analyze or address business situations

from a different cultural frame of

reference

Have a basic command of the

local language, and able to use it in

practical situations

Leadership

Problem Solving Skills

Communication Skills

Ability to work in a team

Initiative

Flexibility/Adaptability

Entrepreneurial Skills/ Risk-Taker

Job Outlook 2014, National Association of

Colleges and Employers

Attributes employers seek

Connecting Transferable Skills Improved Language

Skills 85.5%

Communication Skills

Global Perspective

90.7% Ability to

Understand Different Points of View

Independence & Confidence

95.5% Self-Motivation;

Leader

Ability to Adapt to New

Situations 82.5%

Problem Solver; Flexible

Activity: Connecting Your Experiences

Choose 3 skills you learned or developed abroad

Identify the transferable components of these skills

Connect them to competencies that employers are seeking in job

candidates

Professionalize: Developing a Rocket Pitch

Chris Minor London School of Economics, Academic Year 2012-13

“The skills that I learned at the London School of Economics really have made me a more complete person in as many ways as I can think of. In the classroom, I learned how to think quickly and logically on my feet since the teachers use debate as a tool for communicating ideas clearly and powerfully. And after the classroom, I would make sure to hang out with the fulltime students, either on campus or somewhere off in the city. It really was through conversing with these students and the city that helped me understand different perspectives and develop the global mindset in a different way than I have here at Babson.”

http://youtu.be/Tzx0D4qWD78

Jacqueline Fan

International Student from China at Babson College

Babson is a great place to train your leadership skill. I have sat on the e-board for three clubs and organizations. Dealing with unprepared and complicated circumstances through communication and negotiation, train me to stand out and lead the team.

It is my first time living in a dorm with another student. I was living in a special interested tower on my freshman year, sharing a room with another international student. It is a great chance to learn the culture from another country while integrate into college life at the same time.

Babson provides a broader choice of classes, which allows me to explore in the academic area I am interested in, such as liberal arts. Before coming to Babson, I thought I need to give up my interest in liberal arts in a business school. However, with a wider selection of classes in liberal arts and business, Babson actually plays the role of a platform, allows me to apply the analysis skill learned in liberal arts class to real business cases.

Alex Cabreros CIEE Cape Town, South Africa

I spent the second semester of my junior year abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. It was such a meaningful experience and I learned a lot about myself and the local culture while I was there. I think the biggest takeaway that I can apply to my life and career is the ability to observe a new situation and environment, learn the social norms, behaviors and beliefs, and adapt my behavior to be appropriate for the new situation. This is a skill that is easily transferrable to work and a team environment. I am a student-athlete at Babson, so I joined the field hockey team at my University abroad to keep up my skills and to meet local students through a common interest. They had different terms for certain positions, actions, and concepts. This created a communication barrier that would affect the effectiveness of the team. Not only did I have to learn what the new terms meant, but I had to train myself to use them automatically on the field in the moment of the game. This took mental toughness to erase what I had known and apply my observations to my actions. I can use this skill in my new job to observe the new situation and adapt my behavior in order to best integrate myself into the office dynamic. I think it’s good to have certain skills, but the ability learn and adjust is one of the best skills you can have because it can be applied to any situation and is sued to acquire new skills. Going abroad to South Africa rather than somewhere in Europe like most people do, I was challenged to step out of my comfort zone and see things from a new perspective and adapt to my surroundings. This is how my study abroad experience sets me apart from others.

Samantha Steer CIEE: Arts & Sciences Hyderabad India

http://youtu.be/HaHuH-f0elQ

I felt that my experience abroad taught me many things, however, my internship in India really taught me a lot about my limits. I had the incredible opportunity to work with an NGO in the city that focused on educating young women. The time it took me to culturally adjust to such a stimulating culture was difficult to manage as well as an internship sometimes. So I found a way to incorporate both into my semester by understanding my limits and what I was capable of doing in that time. I also felt that the homestay I had in India focused a lot on my interpersonal skills and communication styles by being able to discuss many things with my host mother. I learned how to be empathetic and to understand and sense myself in the shoes of a woman in their culture. It took a long time and was difficult to do, but empathy was a large skill that I gained during my time abroad.

Spend a few minutes writing a statement for each of your examples of transferrable skills

Try to use specific examples

Develop Your Rocket Pitch

Interview Questions

Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.

What skills did you learn during your international experience? How will these skills be helpful to you in the

future?

Why did you choose to participate in an

international experience? How did you choose your

program and location?

Tell me about a time when you took a risk.

What did you gain or lose from the situation?

Tell me about a time when you had to use your

presentation skills to influence someone's

opinion.

Tell me about your most challenging situation

while in college and how you handled the situation

Campus Collaboration

Center For Career Development

Academic Services

International Student & Scholar Services

Alumni & Friends

Questions & Comments

Marisa Crowley Program Manager

Boston University Study Abroad

marisac@bu.edu

Michelle McCormack Education Abroad Advisor

Babson College

mmccormack7@babson.edu

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE: HOLISTIC EXPERIENCE

You have learned many things from your international experience, but how do you share the things you’ve learned or experienced with your peers, your family, or potential employers?

Take a moment to think about your education abroad experience and what components make up your international experience. Fill in each piece of the pie with a component of your experience. Once you have completed that step, begin to think about what you have

learned from each component and list each skill as well.

What is your story?

Program Components: Housing: dorm life, having a roommate, living in Boston Academics/Classroom: difference in teaching, relationships with faculty Professional Experience: work/internship, volunteering, professional development Immigration: Navigating the rules Peer Relationships: developing relationship with other, organizations, and clubs Individual: what made your experience yours?

EDUCATION ABROAD: HOLISTIC EXPERIENCE

You have learned many things from your education abroad experience, but how do you share the things you’ve

learned or experienced with your peers, your family, or potential employers?

Take a moment to think about your education abroad experience and what components make up your experience

abroad. Please use the list below to assist you. Fill in each pizza slice with a component of your program. Once you

have completed that step, begin to think about what you have learned from each component. You may begin to see

a theme emerging… that is o.k.

What is your education abroad story?

Program Components: Housing: Homestay, apartment, dorm

Academics: direct enroll, study center, hybrid

Community engagement: Volunteer experiences, internship, work abroad

Extracurricular: sports teams, clubs, organizations