Have people assured you that your experience abroad “looks great on a job application”? They’re right! However, recruiters may lack study abroad experiences themselves, so it’s up to you to use your resume to communicate the relevant knowledge, skills, and proficiencies you gained. There are three places on your resume where you can highlight the distinctiveness of your study abroad experience:

EDUCATION

List the university where you studied in the education section of your resume. Include location, dates, and major focus of study. Descriptors such as “intensive study abroad program” or “immersive living-learning experience” are commonly used. You may also include your ICRP and the skills and experiences it provided (as you would for a job entry). Following are four examples:

International Sustainable Development Studies Institute, Chiang Mai, Thailand Aug.–Dec. 2024
Spoke at Defiance College’s Global Summit about the effects of modernity on the environment and indigenous cultures of Thailand after completing six months of study.

Ecole Supérieure de Commerce, Clermont-Ferrand, France Aug. 2034–Mar. 2025
• Ameliorated French comprehension and conversation skills during six-month Study Abroad program
• Integrative Cultural Research Project: Intercultural Collaboration and Understanding in Sister-City Relationships.

Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain Sept. 2024–Feb. 2025
Intensive study abroad program focusing on Spanish language, history, and culture. Increased fluency in Spanish language to proficient in oral and written communication.

University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland 2024–2025
• Six month intensive study abroad program
• Acquired deeper cultural communication techniques through living in international community housing.

EXPERIENCE

Listing your ICRP in the experience section of your resume allows you to describe the internship, service experience, or research project in more depth. If you volunteered or worked while abroad, include these in your experience section as well. Here are some examples:

Integrative Cultural Research Project, Cáceres, Spain Sept. 2024–Feb. 2025
Performed hands-on research about the education of the English language in various secondary school classrooms, including an English language for business and marketing class; assisted in the development and teaching of lesson plans.

Mission des Relations Internationales, Intern, Office of the Mayor, Clermont-Ferrand, France Aug.–Dec. 2024
• Assisted in the administration of sister-city projects in Anglophone countries.
• Aided in the organization of a celebration for more than 500 visiting International Students.

SKILLS

Languages can either go in the description of your study abroad in the education section or in the skills section (if you have one). An example is given below:

Language: Proficient in Spanish (intermediate fluency), English (native speaker)
Other descriptors: Novice/Familiar (beginner) Conversant (speak) Proficient/Competent (read/write) Fluent/native speaker

Talking About Study Abroad in Interviews

Adding study abroad to your resume is important, but employers often want to hear more. Remember, interviewers may not have studied abroad themselves, so you’ll need to translate your experience into examples of skills and qualities they value.

1. Use Stories, Not Just Statements
When asked common interview questions like “Tell me about a challenge you faced” or “Give an example of working on a diverse team,” use stories from your time abroad. Use the Challenge–Action–Result (C–A–R) method to structure your answer.

Example:

• Challenge: While studying in Senegal, I lived with a host family that spoke only Wolof, a language I didn’t know.
• Action: I relied on non-verbal communication, practiced daily, and sought help from classmates.
• Result: Within a month, I could hold conversations, which helped me adapt more fully and build strong relationships.

2. Highlight Transferable Skills
Employers want to know what you gained, not just what you did. Focus on skills such as:

• Adaptability and resilience
• Cross-cultural communication
• Problem-solving in unfamiliar environments
• Independence and initiative
• Language acquisition

3. Avoid Clichés
Instead of saying “It was life-changing,” describe how it changed you in ways relevant to the job. Example: “I became comfortable navigating ambiguity and problem-solving on the spot, which will help me adapt quickly in a fast-paced workplace.”

4. Practice Ahead of Time
Think of 2–3 specific stories from abroad you can use in different contexts. Practice saying them out loud so you’re ready when the opportunity comes up.