Selling Your Experience: Resumes, Cover Letters, and Personal Statements
Including your education abroad experience in your resume, cover letters, and personal statements introduces that experience to prospective employers and graduate schools. Use the ideas and examples below to help you determine how to best include your education abroad experience in your application materials. For personalized advice on how to best market your specific experiences, make an appointment with a Career Advisor in Career Services.
Resume
If you took classes during your time abroad, list this experience in your Education section. Include the name of the school, its location, the duration you were there, and relevant coursework.
EDUCATION
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln NE
Bachelor of Arts, May 20XX (anticipated)
Major: Psychology; GPA#.##/4.00
Scholarships: James Canfield Scholarship and Global Gateway Scholarship
Lincoln University, Christ Church, New Zealand
New Zealand Study Tour, Summer 20XX
History of Intercontinental Development, International Economics
If you participated in an internship abroad, include this in your Experience section.
EXPERIENCE
University of Nebraska Foundation, Lincoln, NE
Phonathon Caller, September 20XX-Present
- Persuade alumni and friends of the University to make financial contributions totaling more than $200,000 in pledges within first three months
- Analyze potential donor information prior to call to identify specific resources for targeted sales approach
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, London, England
Intern, June 20XX-August 20XX
- Planned educational programs for school groups and families
- Marketed events using social media channels including Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr
When including service-learning/volunteer programs abroad on your resume, you may choose to put this in your Experience section or in your Volunteer Work section. When including research programs abroad, you may similarily choose to include this in a specific Research section of your resume or you could include it in your Experience section.
Cover Letter and Personal Statement
Depending on the position or program for which you are applying, you may be able to highlight your education abroad experience in your cover letters and/or personal essays. Use the chart below to identify specific activities you participated in abroad that are directly related to the posted qualifications of the position or program you are applying for. The Transferable Skills Guide is also a good tool to help identify relevant activities.
| Job/Program qualifications | Experience | Action | Skills | How it will help in the position/program |
| Example:Excellent digital communication and interpersonal skills | Example: Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park intern | Example: -Planned educational programs for school groups and families -Marketed events using social media channels | Example: Communication, problem solving, customer service, organizational | Example: Will help me to communicate and connect with YYY Company audiences/Will help me to communicate with students and faculty from other cultures |
Developed in collaboration with University Career Services. For more information on interviewing and other job search activities, visit careers.unl.edu.