Aligning your career aspirations with the study abroad program you select and taking steps to keep active in your subject of interest both before and during the experience are essential components of the study abroad experience. It's crucial to convert your experience into abilities employers want once you return. Following are some ideas for how to integrate your study abroad experience into your career goals at each stage of the process:

Before Selecting a Program:

Find out how studying abroad can help you achieve your career goals by scheduling a meeting with Career Services, your academic advisor, and the study abroad office. After graduation, look for occupations that interest you and highlight the qualifications required for the post. Investigate courses that will help you achieve your professional objectives. Interview a participant in the program you are interested in and a participant in your field of study who has studied abroad. Additionally, bear in mind the following:

  •   Does the course include possibilities for service learning or internships?
  •  Does the program let you stay with a host family to advance your language skills?
  • Are there special classes in your field of study that are only offered through the program and not at your university?

Pre-Departure:
 Before you leave, there are a few things to think about after choosing a program:

Think about how the program you've chosen fits with your job aspirations. Plan how you're going to keep focused on your major and professional objectives. Find out which businesses in your subject of interest have locations or staff in the country you intend to visit. To learn the language of your destination country, think about signing up for a foreign language course or using phone apps or websites (like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone). Consider the following as you become familiar with your destination nation:

  • To check information about your intended destination country, go to the Department of State website.
  • Research the culture, history, and most recent news.
  • Find out the business etiquette in your area.
  • Engage locals from your target nation on your campus or in your neighbourhood to learn the language and discuss their viewpoints.

In Country:

There are several activities you can engage in while in the nation to fully enjoy your stay:

a.Keep a journal or blog where you can describe the experiences you're having and the abilities you're learning. Inquire within:

  • What difficulties are you encountering?
  • How have your perceptions of your culture changed?
  • Think about how ethnocentrism and ethno-relativism could affect your responses.
  • What have you learned about your subject of study and area of interest studying abroad?

b. Interact with residents:

  • Make connections with experts in your area of interest.
  • Arrange meetings or internships in your area of interest.
  • Ask inquiries about how business is done in the area where you are enrolled in school, how culture affects the workplace, and how your area of interest is practised around the world.

Post Study Abroad:

It's crucial to consider your study abroad experience after you get back and figure out how to sell it to prospective employers:

a.    Consider the blog or journal you kept while travelling, and continue to journal as you prepare to return home. Consider the following:

  • What difficulties did you get past?
  • What have you discovered about the subject you are studying and your area of interest?

b.  Update your CV and visit Career Services.

  • On the resume, state the name of the institution or program.
  • If coursework is relevant to the job search, you might want to list it.
  • Take into account mentioning relevant assignments, jobs, or volunteer experience.

c. Update your LinkedIn profile and cover letter. Describe how your experience studying abroad is a benefit to employers.

d.  Create a one-sentence pitch

  • Limit it to 30 to 60 seconds.
  • Learn it by heart and exercise.
  • Emphasize the abilities you acquired while abroad and the encounters that provided you with fresh insight into your topic of study or interest.

e.  Reconnect with contacts.

  • Reconnect with the old contacts you made while travelling.
  • Add them to your LinkedIn connections.

f.    Speak with experts in your area of interest. Inquire about:

  • Their pre-international studies career objectives.
  • The effect studying abroad had on their career.

g.    Attend re-entry workshops to foster reflection and networking opportunities with other former study abroad students.

Conclusion

Careful planning, effort, and a proactive attitude are necessary to match an overseas student's educational path with their employment ambitions. International students can flourish academically and set themselves up for career success by making the most of the tools available, building a network, and committing to ongoing improvement. Do not forget that this is a marathon, not a sprint. The possibilities are endless if you are persistent and determined! Using the resources listed above will assist in guaranteeing that you get the most out of your study abroad experiences. The study abroad experience is genuinely transforming, both personally and professionally.

For more details about Sharda University, visit www.sharda.ac.in

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