studying abroad

7 ways studying abroad helps students land sought-after jobs


New survey reveals how studying abroad helps students build stronger 21st century skills.

Studying abroad can lead to significant increases in critical 21st century workplace skills, according to a new survey from IIE.

IIE’s study, Gaining an Employment Edge: The Impact of Study Abroad on 21st Century Skills & Career Prospects, investigates the connection between study abroad programs and the development of skills that contribute to employment and career development in today’s workforce.

The survey looked at what specific features of study abroad programs contribute to career success, in order to help educators better develop programs that prepare students for the global workforce.

IIE developed a specific list of 15 soft and hard skills drawn from those identified as most-wanted by 21st century employers, and then explored their link to studying abroad.

Based on the survey responses from more than 4,500 U.S. college and university alumni at various stages of their careers, as well as in-depth interviews, the report offers evidence that studying abroad helps students develop and grow certain skills that translate to positive employment gains.

(Next page: 7 findings about studying abroad)

Seven findings stand out among the results:

1. Study abroad has an overall positive impact on the development of a wide range of 21st century job skills. Of the 15 skills surveyed, the largest portion of respondents reported developing a broad range of cognitive, intrapersonal, and interpersonal skills to a significant degree through study abroad, namely: intercultural skills, curiosity, flexibility & adaptability, confidence, self-awareness, interpersonal skills, communication, problem solving, language, tolerance for ambiguity, and course or major-related knowledge.

2. Study abroad expands career possibilities. Studying abroad gave interviewees both a broader understanding of career possibilities, and the confidence to pursue these career paths. The survey data and the information gleaned from interviews suggest that studying abroad had unintended benefits in terms of not only developing skills and shifting attitudes, but also opening career pathways and opportunities that had been either previously unknown or  simply unconsidered. It also helped participants feel more ambitious and less tentative in their careers, in addition to opening up unanticipated career pathways.

3. The skills gained through studying abroad have a long-term impact on career progression and promotion. More than half of survey respondents reported that they believe their study abroad experience contributed to a job offer at some point.

4. Longer periods of studying abroad have a high impact on subsequent job offers and the development of most skills. Short term programs are most effective at developing teamwork skills. The strongest impact of length on skill development was seen in foreign language and communication skills.

5. STEM majors highly value the gains made in skills outside of their majors while studying abroad. Among surveyed science majors who went on a program outside of the sciences, 47 percent reported their study abroad contributed to a job offer, whereas among those who went on a science focused experience, and 28 percent reported it contributed to a job offer.

6. Choosing a less familiar destination was positively associated with skill development and sense of career impact. Interviewees who described wanting to choose a “different” location, often meaning a country or region they had not previously visited or a location they viewed as less traveled or culturally similar to the United States, were more likely to describe a clear impact on skill development and career utility.

7. Student intentionality and highly structured programs contribute to skill development. Having career prospects in mind prior to studying abroad had an overall positive impact on the ability of those interviewed to articulate their skill development and the impact it had on their career.

“In today’s globally interconnected economy, most students will develop careers where they work for or do business with international companies,” said Allan Goodman, IIE president. “Our goal is to help educators and employers better understand the specific links between study abroad and career skills, to advance their mutual interest in developing global talent. Alumni report that the skills gained through studying abroad can be powerful tools for long term career success.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Newsletter: Innovations in K12 Education
By submitting your information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Laura Ascione

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Sign up for our newsletter

Newsletter: Innovations in K12 Education
By submitting your information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.