How To Use Study Abroad To Get the Career You Want

[CEAStudyAbroad]

We are starting this topic to encourage those of you who have studied abroad to share the ways you have used the experience to advance your career or academic pursuits.

[Evan at CEA]

Of course, mention of study abroad experience looks great on your resume, especially if you plan to work for a company or organization that conducts some of their business overseas. But my experience went further than that.

A semester in Spain forced me to do some serious introspection and to make some serious decisions about what I wanted out of life. Upon my return to the US, everything changed. Luckily, it was only my sophomore year, which gave me plenty of time to make a drastic switch of majors to international relations (but I probably would have switched even if it were my senior year). While I may no longer be making crazy money ten years from now, I know I’ll be happy working in a field that motivates and engages me.

Study abroad can certainly help you climb your current ladder of success if it doesn’t first compel you to change ladders altogether.

[gabita]

Hi Evan,

Reading your response made me curious to how your studying abroad changed your prospective so much on your career path that you decided to change majors. English is my second language and I have always had the prospective of living abroad but would very much like to learn, assuming that you are an English native, what impressed you, what raised your interest into the international field that you decided to switch majors. I am confident others contemplating studying abroad would love to learn more from your experiences....