Have you ever wondered how much an international experience can add not only to your resume, but also to your cultural baggage?
Professionally and academically, international experience will bring your resume a competitive edge. Currently, the market is looking for professionals who have differentials that go beyond technical knowledge, and a good way to add value to your curriculum is by investing in an international experience.
In addition, the international experience can enhance your cultural baggage, contributing to your personal development. A new culture, far from home with different connections: all this promotes the absorption of new personal skills and unique experiences.
In this article, you will understand what the main types of international experience are, in order to help you choose which one is most suitable for your current moment. See below!
Types of international experience
When choosing which international experience best fits your profile, many doubts and questions may arise. Below are the 4 most common types and how each one works in practice.
1 – Exchange to learn and improve a language
The most famous international experience that you should already know is the exchange with the aim of learning or perfecting a language.
With an increasingly globalized world, acquiring deep knowledge in more than one language is crucial to stand out in the professional market. In an exchange program, you can spend a period of time legally in another country, studying at a private school or university to practice or learn a language.
For example, IBS Americas has an intensive 3-week program focusing on Business English. The student can take this program at the University of La Verne (California) or SUNY – University at Albany (New York).
There are 3 weeks of classes focused on improving fluency in the business context. Learn more by clicking here.
2 – Long-term educational exchange
Ideal for those who are looking for a new lifestyle, this type of international experience allows you to study and/or work abroad for long periods, usually 6 months or 1 year.
It is the main choice of those who finish high school and aim to expand their personal experience before entering college. In these cases, it is important to have a minimum of prior knowledge in the native language of the chosen destination.
3 – Short-term educational exchange
Although long-term exchange is the most sought after for those who are leaving high school, there is another group of people who yearn for an international experience, but do not want to give up their stability in the local country.
This is the case of university students who do not want to drop out of college, or professionals who are stabilized in their jobs and are unable to resign to travel abroad.
In these cases, the best options are short international courses, which allow an immersion in topics of interest over a period of 3 weeks: ideal for work and college vacation periods, since most classes open in the months of January and July.
You can learn about the top universities offering these short courses by visiting the IBS Americas website.
4 – Volunteer work
For those seeking to develop the spirit of empathy and humanity, volunteer work is the right option.
In volunteering, you will spend a season in another country providing services or supporting humanitarian causes, receiving housing and food in return. The choice of activities varies according to the volunteer’s profile; there are options from caring for animals to participating in environmental initiatives.
Tips for a good international experience
Take the opportunity to create a network of contacts, expand your network, develop and put your skills into practice, stay focused on your career goals, research your destination a lot to make your experience even more transformative.
International experience is a great differential for the curriculum, in addition to being an effective way to enhance the career and attract the attention of recruiters.
Now that you know a little about how an international experience works, check out the International Executive programs that IBS Americas has and choose the one that best matches your profile. The institution, which was founded in 2003, is one of the leading international business schools, with students of more than 80 nationalities.