Why should I write about studying abroad on LinkedIn?
Studying abroad is a significant experience that deserves to be highlighted on your LinkedIn profile. Doing so shows employers that you are adventurous, culturally aware, and able to thrive outside your comfort zone.Listing your study abroad experience indicates that you have cross-cultural communication skills, can adapt to new environments, and have a global perspective on business, education, and the world.
Some key reasons to write about studying abroad on LinkedIn include:
- Demonstrates your independence, resourcefulness, and ability to succeed in unfamiliar settings
- Shows your interest and appreciation for different cultures, perspectives, and ways of life
- Proves your ability to step outside your comfort zone and immerse yourself in new places
- Highlights skills gained abroad like language proficiency, cross-cultural communication, and flexibility
- Displays personal growth, self-confidence, and maturity gained from living internationally
- Establishes you as globally minded, well-traveled, and culturally aware
- Distinguishes you from other candidates with primarily domestic experiences
- Opens up conversations about an impactful period in your life and development
Potential employers will recognize the value in hiring someone with international exposure. Your study abroad experience can help you stand out.
How should I highlight studying abroad on my LinkedIn profile?
There are several effective ways to feature your study abroad experience on LinkedIn:
Education Section
List the university or program you studied at abroad under the Education section of your profile. Include details like location, dates, degree/participation, and areas of study.
Experience Section
Add a position like “Study Abroad Participant” or “International Exchange Student” under Experience. Outline responsibilities, cultural experiences, classes, travel, and skills gained.
Featured Section
Use the Featured section to highlight major accomplishments like study abroad. Write an overview of your program, location, dates, and key takeaways.
About or Summary Section
Briefly summarize your study abroad experience in your About or Summary blurb. Focus on one or two key benefits or skills gained abroad.
Projects Section
Did you complete a major project, research, internship or volunteer work abroad? Add it under Projects with an overview of your role and achievements.
Skills Section
Studying abroad likely helped you gain skills like a new language, cross-cultural competency, independence, problem-solving, and adaptability. Make sure to list these in your Skills section.
Customized Headline
Change your headline to include a country or region to showcase your international experience, like “Business Student with Semester Abroad in Spain.”
What details should I include when writing about my study abroad program?
When writing about your study abroad experience, focus on providing specific details and context. Here are some elements to cover:
Location
Where did you study abroad? List the city and country. This immediately tells readers where you gained international experience.
Program Duration
Include the dates and length of your program – was it a summer, semester, or full year abroad? Dates convey the time you spent immersed in another culture.
School/Sponsor
Note the university, provider, or sponsor of your study abroad program. This gives helpful background.
Academics
What classes, courses, or areas of study did you focus on abroad? Listing academics shows the educational aspect.
Housing
Did you live in a homestay, dormitory, or apartment? Describing your housing arrangements provides context.
Cultural Experiences
Share 1-2 highlights of cultural sites, activities, or events you took part in while studying abroad. This adds color to your experience.
Key Takeaways
Summarize 2-3 skills, benefits, or lessons gained from studying abroad. These can focus on personal growth, global perspectives, skill development, and more.
Major Accomplishments
Did you complete a significant project, internship, research, or volunteer work abroad? Including major accomplishments makes your experience stand out.
Should I provide examples of cultural experiences when writing about studying abroad?
Yes, providing 1-2 examples of cultural experiences can help bring your study abroad experience to life for readers. Vivid examples and anecdotes make your time abroad more memorable.
Here are some ideas for cultural experiences you could highlight:
- Local festivals, holidays, or events you attended
- Museums, historical sites, or famous landmarks you visited
- Day or weekend trips to culturally significant places
- Local cuisine you sampled
- Sports, dances, or cultural traditions you observed or took part in
- Notable speakers, performers, exhibits, or conferences you attended
- Volunteer work supporting local community organizations
- Interviews conducted with local residents
- Language or cultural immersion facilitated through a homestay
When choosing an example, select 1-2 highlights that meant the most to you personally and helped expand your cultural horizons. Pick details that tell readers something specific about the place you studied.
What types of skills should I highlight from my study abroad experience?
Studying abroad likely helped you build skills in areas like:
Language Skills
Did you study a new language or improve fluency in one you already studied? List any language skills gained or strengthened while abroad.
Independence
Living abroad requires independence and resourcefulness to navigate new environments. Emphasize boosted self-reliance.
Cultural Competency
Studying abroad expands cultural horizons. Note increased sensitivity, global perspectives, and ability to connect cross-culturally.
Problem-Solving
Overcoming obstacles while abroad requires creative problem-solving. Highlight your improved ability to devise solutions.
Adaptability
Adjusting to different cultural norms and ways of life builds adaptability. Stress your increased flexibility and resilience.
Confidence
Managing daily life in a new place takes confidence. Indicate how study abroad improved your self-assurance.
Leadership
If you took on a leadership position while abroad, emphasize skills gained leading peers or group projects.
Communication Skills
Interacting daily in a foreign language likely enhanced your communication abilities. Note your improved verbal and written skills.
What are some good summary statements or key takeaways I can highlight?
Here are some examples of strong summary statements or key takeaways to conclude your study abroad description:
Personal Growth
“Studying abroad in France helped me gain independence, resilience, and greater self-confidence navigating new situations.”
Global Perspectives
“Spending a semester in Singapore exposed me to diverse worldviews and gave me a more inclusive, culturally sensitive perspective.”
Career Development
“Completing an international marketing internship in Spain allowed me to strengthen global business strategy skills and Spanish fluency.”
Intercultural Skills
“Living with a host family in Ecuador immersed me in a new culture and enhanced my ability to connect cross-culturally.”
Handling Obstacles
“Overcoming challenges while studying abroad in South Korea grew my problem-solving skills and resilience.”
Life-Changing Experience
“Studying abroad in Australia was a life-changing experience that expanded my worldview and influenced my global approach to education and work.”
Should I add specific metrics or measurable results?
Including measurable results or metrics can further demonstrate the impact of your study abroad experience. Consider adding statistics like:
- Number of countries or cities visited while abroad
- Hours spent volunteering, interning, or working in the local community
- Level achieved in language classes or proficiency exams
- Academic metrics like GPA earned abroad, credits completed, or courses taken
- Dollar amounts of scholarships or grants received to fund study abroad
- Number of local students mentored or assisted through outreach programs
For example:
“During my semester in Germany, I volunteered over 100 hours with local refugee aid organizations, gaining valuable cross-cultural communication abilities.”
Adding key metrics demonstrates the depth of your international experience and skills gained.
Should I include examples outside of academics to showcase personal growth?
Definitely – including personal growth and life lessons beyond pure academics provides a more well-rounded perspective of how studying abroad impacted you.
Some examples could include:
- Trying new foods, sports, or art forms that pushed you out of your comfort zone
- Learning daily skills like navigating public transit in a foreign language
- Developing self-sufficiency by setting up your own banking, phone plan, etc. abroad
- Gaining appreciation for different cultural norms and ways of thinking
- Building relationships and friendships across cultures
- Learning patience and open-mindedness to bridge cultural gaps
- Improving ability to handle unfamiliar or suboptimal living conditions
- Boosting travel skills like navigation, packing, and trip planning
For example:
“Living with a host family in Thailand taught me to communicate despite language barriers and graciously accept cultural differences.”
Providing personal growth examples beyond pure academics demonstrates important soft skills that employers seek like adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and relationship building abilities.
How can I make my study abroad experience stand out?
Here are some tips to make your study abroad experience stand out on LinkedIn:
Showcase Unique Locations
Studying abroad in less common destinations like Southeast Asia, Africa, or the Middle East can help you stand out.
Highlight Uncommon Programs
Participating in niche, highly selective, or uncommon study abroad programs grabs attention.
Demonstrate Leadership
Did you take on leadership roles like teaching, mentoring, or volunteering abroad? Emphasize these.
Quantify Your Impact
Include statistics and metrics demonstrating your time commitment, results, and achievements abroad.
Convey Serious Study
Taking challenging courses and earning strong grades abroad proves your academic commitment.
Share Interesting Stories
Vivid cultural examples and anecdotes make your experience memorable.
List Major Accomplishments
Big projects, published research, grants won, or scholarships received make impressive additions.
Explain Personal Growth
Share specific life skills, attitudes, and global perspectives you gained from immersive cultural experiences.
Emphasize Unique Skills Gained
Foreign language proficiency, specialized cultural knowledge, and overseas internships are assets.
Highlighting these types of unique elements can help your study abroad experience stand out from the pack. The more distinctive your time abroad, the more memorable it will be.
What are some LinkedIn headline examples for study abroad?
Here are some examples of LinkedIn headlines featuring study abroad:
Location Focused
– Marketing Student with Semester Abroad in Spain
– Business Analyst with International Experience in China
– Engineer with Study Abroad in Germany
Skill Focused
– Accounting Intern with Cross-Cultural Communication Skills Gained Abroad
– Global Health Scholar with Fluent Spanish from Semester in Ecuador
– STEM Major with Project Management and Problem-Solving Abilities from Studies in Singapore
Career Focused
– International Business Major with Marketing Internship Abroad in France
– Chemical Engineering Student with Research Project Experience in the UK
– International Relations Graduate with Public Policy Internship in South Africa
Hybrid Focus
– MBA Candidate with Global Business Skills from Study Abroad in Hong Kong
– Medical Student with Public Health Research and Spanish Fluency from Semester in Peru
– Engineering Major and Former Exchange Student in Brazil
Getting creative with your headline is an easy way to showcase your study abroad background to connections.
Should I get recommendations from professors or advisors familiar with my study abroad experience?
Yes, getting recommendations on LinkedIn from professors, faculty advisors, or program leaders familiar with your time abroad can significantly boost your profile.
Their recommendations can speak to:
- Your success navigating coursework, internships, or research abroad
- Growth in independence, confidence, problem-solving abilities
- How you embraced cultural experiences and exchanges
- Ways you served as a global ambassador for your home institution
- How you overcame challenges or obstacles faced abroad
- Foreign language proficiency attained or intercultural skills demonstrated
- How you added global perspectives to academic discussions
- Leadership exhibited through mentoring, volunteering, or organization abroad
For example:
“John fully immersed himself in Spanish culture during his semester in Madrid. He seized every opportunity to practice language skills and showed remarkable confidence navigating daily life abroad.”
Recommendations from faculty familiar with your program can vividly convey the value of your study abroad experience to potential employers.
How can I portray cultural competency gained through studying abroad?
Here are some ways to demonstrate increased cultural awareness and competency from your study abroad program:
Show Humility
Note how living abroad taught you humility and openness to new customs and ways of thinking.
Discuss Challenging Stereotypes
Share how you gained deeper understanding of diversity and individual differences within cultures.
Explain New Perspectives
Express how you expanded your global outlook, political attitudes, and worldview.
Give Examples
Provide anecdotes illustrating patience, curiosity, and respect you showed for aspects of your host culture.
Highlight Relationships
Discuss cross-cultural friendships formed and how bridging differences enriched you.
Note Personal Growth
Explain how exposure to different cultural norms grew your adaptability and open-mindedness.
List Relevant Courses
Cite related academic classes in areas like social sciences, global studies, or regional culture.
Acknowledge Privilege
If applicable, mention how facing relative hardship abroad built understanding of your privilege.
Conveying cultural insights with humility and respect will show the value of your study abroad experience.
Conclusion
Studying abroad is a remarkable life experience that deserves prominent showcase on your LinkedIn profile. Highlighting details about your program, location, academics, cultural immersion, skills gained, accomplishments, and growth can demonstrate your global mindset and competencies to potential employers. With rich descriptions, specific anecdotes, and measurable results, you can effectively communicate the impact of your time abroad. Studying overseas likely shaped you in meaningful ways – your LinkedIn profile is a perfect platform to articulate those lessons and achievements to others.