Professional Development

“My Fulbright proposal was founded on a subject that I researched during my Independent Study Project with SIT.  My semester abroad with SIT was an amazing, eye-opening experience, which continues to influence how I see the world, and what I want to do in it.”
        - SIT France Alum

The US cannot conduct itself effectively in a competitive international environment when our most educated citizens lack minimal exposure to, and understanding of, the world beyond US borders. If we lack the ability to see ourselves as others see us a skill imparted through the direct experience of living and studying abroad then we diminish our ability to influence and persuade foreign governments and world opinion.
        --From the Christian Science Monitor June 12, 2008 edition

More employers are looking for international experience. You may come home looking to work in areas that touch upon issues raised in study abroad, or are seeking ways to spruce up your resume with the knowledge, skills and experience gained in study abroad.

The key to professional development is to integrate your international experience into your repertoire of skills and abilities. You may be asking, “How do I talk about what I learned in a resume?” There is nothing like good solid advice for “internationalizing your resume”. Besides polishing up your resume, you may be preparing for your career. This section will provide you with resources that will help you utilize your international experience to add value to your career ambitions.

Strategies for Professional Development

• Discuss skill development with a career counselor and visit your career center.
• Identify professional fields that draw on your areas of interest.
• Look at resources of programs, organizations, and institutions in the host and home countries where you can find potential internships or jobs.
• Synthesize what you learned during the program and consider how to reflect acquired skills in a resume or job interview.
• Gather letters of recommendation from your contacts in your host country.
• Participate or present in conferences, seminars, or presentations that are related to what you learned or would like to learn about the host country.
• Visit your career services or professional development offices on your campus.
• Get a group of study abroad returnees together and work with your campus career center to set up an international career event or day.  This could involve inviting professionals with international careers to speak, a prospective employers’ fair, interactions with college alumni with international careers, and other events highlighting international careers.

Featured Alumni

Resources