An internship abroad is an excellent way to build your resume while also having an unforgettable international experience. Learn how an international internship is the ultimate resume builder and how it can make you a more competitive professional in the current job market. The opportunity to work abroad will spur immeasurable personal and professional growth, making you a more mature, savvy and cosmopolitan person.
7 reasons why an international internship is good for your CV:
1. It gives you work experience in your industry.
Many entry level positions these days require previous work experience in the industry. An internship abroad is a great way to gain this experience in a competitive foreign job market. Upon completing your internship, you’ll be better prepared to work in your field and you’ll become a better, more experienced and knowledgeable job candidate.
2. It's a unique experience that catches hiring managers' attention.
Everybody has an extracurricular on their CV, but not many have practical work experience abroad! International internship experience is still pretty new and many hiring managers will be genuinely impressed to see it on a resume. Although you need smarts to sell yourself in the interview, having international professional experience on your resume will add some intrigue and likely snag you a job interview as people will want to hear about it and see what you've learned.
3. It proves that you have essential soft skills.
Completing an international internship tells a potential employer certain things about you. It shows that you’re braver than the average applicant, more open-minded, and adventurous, and you have strong interpersonal skills. Not everyone is willing to jump on a plane and go to a country they’ve never been to live and work. Employers like to hire people with courage. They’re the kind of people that you want beside you in business negotiations, for example, because they know how to keep calm and get the job done. Crucially, you'll have developed plenty of soft skills and transferable skills that are perfect for the workplace wherever you are!
4. It adds foreign language skills.
As the world becomes more globalized, there's a growing need for bilingual professionals. Having experience with a second language in a professional setting will make your resume more attractive to whoever is hiring. Being bilingual can be very useful in any number of industries. It makes you a more valuable prospect from the outset, especially for organizations looking to expand elsewhere, even if those language skills aren’t immediately necessary.
5. It shows dedication to the career field and to your own professional development.
While many young people go on study abroad programs or take a backpacking trip, students who take internships abroad are unique. They took the time during their adventures to work within their career field to become more insightful professionals. This shows they are dedicated and have a real passion for the field, which will be valuable when entering a full-time job role.
6. It indicates that you’re a globally minded individual.
As the world becomes globalized, there’s a need for professionals to progress in the same way. Understanding how the world is interconnected across borders is pertinent to many industries. In business, for example, without a global mindset, you won’t fully understand expansion opportunities and how to make an expansion to another country successful.
7. It improves cultural sensitivity
Global migration means that the ethnic makeup of the communities we live in is changing. Those who have experienced immersing themselves in new cultures and communities will be better equipped to welcome people of different backgrounds. Cultural sensitivity improves the overall climate of a workplace and makes you a more valuable and caring part of the team.
