Do you dream of spending a semester abroad jet setting to nearby countries every weekend, taste-testing foreign cuisine, and absorbing all new cultures and ways of life?
Myself and two friends in Vienna, Austria.
For some of you, it may be your parents getting in the way of fulfilling this dream. But, you’re in luck as a recent survey shows the return on investment of studying abroad and the clear benefits it has for recent graduates in the job search.
From first-hand experience, I know I cannot put a price on what I brought away with me from my summer spent in Barcelona, Spain. I grew as an individual. I found my independence and developed a better understanding about the world around me. My experience interning abroad has been brought up in every single interview I have had since my special summer of 2011. Although I have work experience in a foreign country, I truly believe employers have been more intrigued with my personal stories of adapting to a new culture, working through language barriers, and landing in Barcelona with only one friend and lost baggage.
IES Abroad, a leading not-for-profit provider of study abroad programs for U.S. college and university students, conducted a survey discovering that studying abroad may be one of the best ways for college students to find a job sooner after graduation, related to their majors, and at a higher starting salary.
Along with my personal testimonial of the benefits of studying abroad, here some of the survey results from the 2012 IES Abroad Recent Graduate Study:
- Nearly 90% of IES study abroad alumni found their job within six months of graduation, as compared to only 49% of general college population.
- More than 65% of study abroad students found a career-related position within a timeframe meeting or exceeding their expectations.
- College students from the IES study abroad programs, on average, earned $7,000 more in starting salaries.
- About 90% of study abroad students were accepted into their first or second graduate or professional school.
Myself and 84% of the 1,008 IES alumni feel as though studying abroad has helped to build valuable job skills such as foreign language skills, cultural training, tolerance for ambiguity, adaptability, communication, and more.
As employers are beginning to recognize the benefits of studying abroad, your decision will guarantee a life-changing experience along with an added advantage to life after graduation.
Are you a study abroad alum? Share with us the invaluable experience you gained from your time abroad in the comments section below!
