For those who work in International Education and see the rewards of students returning home from abroad, wiser, more confident and more mature, we naturally think that Study Abroad is a great step toward a rewarding career. For students who have overcome all the obstacles that study abroad puts in their way, they too think that the eye opening experiences, greater independence and self-awareness should give them a jump-start in their career. Unfortunately, there are many hiring managers and employers who haven’t seen it.<\/p>\n
The following two quotes are just a sampling of some of the biases that exist against study abroad:<\/p>\n
“People put ‘study abroad’ on their resume. I actually like when they don’t study abroad because that means they aren’t entitled.”\u00a0– Millard Drexler<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.brainyquote.com\/quotes\/quotes\/m\/millarddre532208.html<\/p>\n
Millard “Mickey” S. Drexler is the current chairman and CEO of J.Crew Group and formerly the CEO of Gap Inc. He has been a director at Apple Inc. since 1999.<\/em><\/p>\n “Studying abroad can be a nice \u201cadd on\u201d in theory, but it also can be a waste of time, or simply a good time, for an unfocused \u2013 and privileged \u2013 high school or university student.” And “And even the best programs will do little for an unmotivated student.”\u00a0– Curtis S. Chin<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/roomfordebate\/2013\/10\/17\/should-more-americans-study-abroad\/studying-abroad-can-be-an-expensive-waste-of-time<\/p>\n Curtis S. Chin, the United States ambassador to the Asian Development Bank from 2007 to 2010, is the managing director of RiverPeak Group, an advisory firm.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ” The Studies Abroad Myth – Many students give a lot of weight to studies abroad. These are those classes where someone goes off to some exotic place and spends 2-4 weeks on some field project. Many students (and I suspect their parents) think that this will give them an edge. Sure, being exposed to other cultures can only be a good thing, getting field experience is admirable, and seeing the Galapagos or Kenya up close and personal is a chance in a lifetime. But, don’t kid yourself. None of these experiences is going to matter when you are getting hired for a Biology position. I look at these experiences as nice but they don’t enter one whit into my decision.” – Eric L. Walters<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.ericlwalters.org\/myths.htm<\/p>\n \u00a0Eric L. Walters is Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University in Virginia<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Entitled. Privileged. We also hear that study abroad returnees are viewed as unmanageable, always with a cause, always want to change things and even anti-corporate. These are stereotypes and just like you had stereotypes of the place you visited before you left, you now have a label associated with you. How you handle this label and the associated bias will affect how your career unfolds.<\/p>\n Study Abroad is not the secret ticket to getting a jump start in the career place. Many human resources professionals and line managers do not value experiences abroad when making hiring decisions and while corporate and organizational leaders talk about the global workplace, your study abroad alumni card isn’t your FAST-PASS to the front of the line.<\/p>\n \u201cStudy abroad doesn\u2019t count to an employer unless the job candidate can say how it has made them a better person, scholar, citizen, and professional\u2026\u201d –\u00a0Linda S. Gross, Associate Director of Career Services, Michigan State University<\/p>\n