5 Ways Studying Abroad at CIMBA will Build Your Resume
Written by Carley March 28, 2017
LEAP- Setting Goals and Reaching Them
Kepner-Tregoe PSDM Course
Good weather and better friends: Barcelona, Spain
Exploring Europe: Innsbruck, Austria
Exploring Paderno Del Grappa
Exploring the Culture via Taste Testing in Florence
I was always told that studying abroad alone will not set you apart in interviews, but what you learn abroad can. Luckily for myself and the other students, learning and personal growth is inevitable through traveling along with CIMBA’s additional opportunities and curriculum.
1. KT PSDM Certification– Most of your life will be spent making decisions and solving problems- especially in the professional world. The Kepner-Tregoe Problem Solving and Decision Making workshop lays out the steps to solving problems along with the thought process and analysis that goes into finding these solutions. Many Fortune 500 Companies require top employees and executives to get the Kepner-Tregoe Problem Solving and Decision Making certification, which can be extremely pricey. Luckily for CIMBA students, we are offered this course as part of our tuition, with no extra charges. So if you’re looking to impress large companies with your problem-solving, decision-making abilities, this would be a great addition to your resume as well as talking points in interviews.
2. Adaptability– Let’s be honest, there will be a point in your study abroad semester where something will go wrong, I can promise you that. Whether it’s missing a train, flight, bus, booking the wrong dates for your transportation or accommodations, there will be a point in your stay in which you will have to adapt to last minute changes. Just like in study abroad, things will always arise in the professional world where you will not only have to problem-solve, but you will also have to adapt to these changes and still demonstrate success. With that being said, almost every employer expects their employees to be adaptable and if you, like most people studying abroad, faced challenging scenarios, you can use this misfortune to your advantage and express your ability to be adaptable in future interviews.
3. Etiquette Dinners– As a business student, it has been reiterated time and time again that very often in the business world, meetings will be held over dinner. Whether it’s discussing business with a client or pitching an idea to your boss, you will most likely have some sort of meeting over a formal dinner at one point or another. As I’ve learned, dinner etiquette is a lot more than placing your napkin on your lap while you’re eating or chewing with your mouth closed. Through the etiquette dinners and quizzes (that I may not have done so well on), I’ve learned that etiquette effects how you’re perceived as an individual as well as a businessman/woman. This knowledge is highly sought out by professionals- especially business people- and therefore you can use this to your advantage in interviews or under your experience on the Study Abroad portion on your resume.
4. Cultural Intelligence– Whether you’re talking to an Italian student, meeting a family during the Add a Seat Program, or traveling to different places around Europe, you will encounter different people from many backgrounds (social, economic, ethnic, race, etc.), just as you will in the professional world. Through trial and error, studying abroad teaches you that what may be considered a norm or acceptable in one culture, may not be in another. This is an important aspect to emphasize to a future employer in order to prove your time abroad was more than just a vacation and rather a learning experience that is applicable to a future position.
5. LIFE/LEAP– Whether you did LIFE, LEAP, or both, it is safe to say your presentation skills have been or will be improved. Like in most careers, you will need to sell something- a promotion to your boss, an idea, a product, a service, or even yourself- which makes presentation skills critical. Personally, I’ve learned the importance of being able to clearly, accurately, and concisely express a thought or idea, whether it’s been through an internship or school. After several jobs and interviews, I am certain employers recognize the importance of this as well. LIFE and LEAP are also beneficial because they allow for personal growth. By setting goals, you’re able to identify your strengths, weaknesses, and path to success.
While studying abroad is beneficial for traveling, it is also valuable for leveraging the skills on your resume.
Blogger: Carley, University of Missouri
