Believe it or not, having an international high school student exchange program on your resume might just help you land your dream job someday. That’s right: in addition to being an enriching educational opportunity that can boost your foreign language skills and give you a deep knowledge and appreciation for a culture other than your own, studying abroad can also be a big resume booster. The benefits of this unique experience don’t only apply to employment either. High school exchange programs look good on university applications and can help you get to the next step of your educational ladder.
Three Ways Study Abroad Experience Improves a Resume
So why do employers or university admissions boards love seeing study abroad experience on an application so much? There are many, many reasons why this kind of experience is so respected in educational and professional circles alike, but here are three of the big ones:
- It helps you stand out: Universities are receiving thousands upon thousands of applications every day. Employers get resumes and applications in bulk every time they post a reasonably well-paying job online. It goes without saying that both entities are looking for applicants with that ‘x-factor’ that immediately makes them stand out from the pack. Having been a part of an international exchange program for high school students is a unique story, and can be your key to catching the eye of an admissions director or hiring manager.
- It suggests strong communication skills: If you are applying for a foreign university or a globally-minded job, foreign language skills are almost definitely going to be a make-or-break factor. However, even leaving aside lingual fluency for a moment, being a part of an international high school student exchange program is also an experience that can improve your communication skills across the board. Learning how to communicate with people who not only speak a different language than you but who also have different cultural backgrounds, views, ideals and customs is no small feat and is a skill that can be applied to virtually any industry or educational opportunity.
- It gives you foreign language fluency: More and more jobs—especially those in the tech and consulting industries—are demanding or favouring employees who are bilingual. Having fluency in multiple different languages is something that can only help you in landing a job and it’s one of the most important things you learn while studying abroad. Experts say that immersion and necessity are the best ways to become fluent in a non-native language, and you get both of those things when you enrol in a foreign exchange program.
Learn More About International Exchange Programs for High School Students
At Campus Exchange Australia, we offer high school student exchange programs in six countries: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. Do you want to learn more about how spending time in one of these countries now could help make you a more competitive applicant later? Contact CEA today, at admin@campus.com.au.
