Study Abroad Tips

Whether you are a sophomore, junior, or senior, you will greatly benefit from studying and living abroad. You must understand, however, that this experience will have an impact on your part-time, summer, or full-time job search. Although the internet and other technical resources have made listings and other job information more accessible from almost any location in the world, the reality is that most employers will hire an applicant only after an in-person interview(s).

Nevertheless, the benefits of a global educational experience are great and often a once in a lifetime experience. Moreover, the transferable skills you garner from a study abroad experience (e.g., language ability, global and cultural awareness, maturity) can often far outweigh the skills you would have acquired from a local work experience had you elected to stay on campus for another semester.

The lesson here is to enjoy your study abroad experience, but recognize the importance of positioning yourself to obtain a rewarding work experience upon your return. Following are some tips which will allow you to “hit the ground running” when you return home.

• Meet with a Wasserman Center Career Counselor for a strategy session.
• Update your resume (U.S. address, phone number, and email) and have it critiqued by a Center staff member during walk-in hours.
• Write a practice cover letter and let a Center staff member review it. You always need this type of introduction letter when you send your resume.
• Upload your resume and cover letter to NYU CareerNet and additional online resources. Bring hard copies and your disk with you when you leave on your trip.
• Register for the appropriate Wasserman Center listserv to receive important career-related information via email while you are away. Simply go to our website, under Student Services, Programs and Events, Center Listservs, and follow the instructions.
• If you know the type of position you want, try to arrange interviews before you leave. Keep in mind, however, this may not be possible for many fields since employers do not always know what openings they will have in the future.
• Arrange informational interviews, which may result in a job offer when you return home.
• If you are awarded Federal Work Study for the 2005– 2006 academic year, you may use these funds for on-campus employment from July 1, 2005– June 30, 2006. This includes part-time employment at NYU study abroad sites; however, these NYU positions are very limited.

• Check NYU CareerNet, the Center web site, and other job sites frequently.
• Keep in contact with job-related contacts, so you can take advantage of this network upon your return.
• Identify transferable skills and new skills that you are developing while you are abroad, including language, adaptability, flexibility, maturity, and cultural sensitivity.
• Experience the international work culture while you are abroad by keeping abreast of industry news in your host country and speaking to your site director about the possibility of arranging an internship or volunteer experience with an organization that interests you.
• Consider arranging a cluster of interviews and flying home for a few days especially if you are spending two semesters abroad and it is financially feasible. Make sure to confirm the interviews before you invest in this option.
• E-mail the Center (career.development@nyu.edu) with any career-related questions that you may have.

• Meet with a Career Counselor and attend the appropriate Center seminars and events.
• Update your resume and cover letter.
• Utilize The Wasserman Center for Career Development and additional job search resources and network with your job-related contacts.