Why should you include your study abroad on your resume?

Where should you list your study abroad on your resume?

Examples of Including Study Abroad on Resume

Takeaways: How to include study abroad on your resume?

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How to Include Study Abroad on a Resume

One of the most influential things on your resume could be studying abroad.
It can be for as little as a semester, or as long as a year or more.
No matter the duration, listing your studying abroad can be a great asset to your resume.
It shows that you have the guts to take a risk and that you are interested in other cultures.
Of course, there is no way to summarize your whole experience in a few short bullet points.
But don’t even consider leaving it out of your resume.
When the HR managers see you have studied abroad, they will be all over you.
The difficult part of listing your studying abroad is how to do it right.
But that’s why we’re here.
In this article, we are going to learn:
Why should you include your study abroad on your resume?Where should you list your study abroad on your resume?How to list study abroad on your resume?
And after we are done with the why, where and how, we are going to leave you off with some great examples of everything we have covered.
If your studying abroad is not the only thing about your resume that worries you, we’ve got you covered with another great article - How to Make Your Resume Stand Out.
But if you are hard on learning how to include your study abroad on your resume, stick around.

Why should you include your study abroad on your resume?
The main reasons for including your study abroad on your resume are that you are either a recent college graduate or your experience is highly relevant to the job position.
But there are actually more important perks to that.
And we are going to go through the most significant ones.

Sets you one step ahead of other candidates
Hiring managers have very limited time to spend on a resume.
There are hundreds of resumes going through them on a daily basis.
Listing something unique about you can catch their attention and improve your chances of getting your interview.
And one of the best things to list here is study abroad.

Explains limited job experience
Being a recent college graduate would not mean that your potential employer is not looking for work experience.
Many college students work while studying, and that really helps them get a job after graduation as well.
But by including study abroad in your resume, you both explain your limited job experience, and show something unique about you.

Shows off your skills
Study abroad shows your potential employer that you are willing to take a risk.
But more importantly, it shows them that you are independent enough to learn in a new environment.
That most probably means that you are independent at work as well.
It also shows that you are open-minded and collaborative, as you had to work with people with different backgrounds from yours.
On the other hand, if you have plenty of relevant work experience, you probably don’t need your study abroad on your resume.
But in any other case, don’t miss out on shining a light on that.

Where should you list your study abroad on your resume?
Before figuring out the placement, you need to think about what you want to include on your resume.
Take a stroll down memory lane and think about your study abroad.
List anything you can think of that seems relevant.
Think about what you learned, the people you met and the places you visited.
Don’t forget about the skills you developed and the interests you have taken on.
When you are done with your list, go through it and see which items are relevant to the job position you are applying for.
Once you have the relevant items from your study abroad, it’s time to think about where to list them on your resume.
There are three main options.
You can list your study abroad in your:

Education SectionWork Experience SectionSkills Section
Other less used options are listing it in your Resume Objective or in an additional section of your resume.
Depending on what you chose, you should also consider the three main resume formats in order to get the best out of it:
Reverse Chronological Resume Format (Focused mainly on your work experience)Functional Resume Format (Focused mainly on your skill set)Hybrid Resume Format (A combination of the other two resume formats)How to list study abroad on your resume?So far, so good.The first hard step is done, you know where you want to place your study abroad on your resume.But we have the biggest challenge ahead - how to list it?Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with each of the three main placements.In Your Education SectionListing your study abroad in your Education Section is the most typical way to go.What you want to do here is draw attention to your education, so that your study abroad would be well noted.The degree on which you would want to do that depends on your work experience.If you have plenty of experience, you would not want to clutter your resume with your education.In that case it would be more than enough to just mention your study abroad with the institution’s name, years of studying there and the degree you earned.But if you are a recent college graduate, you would want the attention to be mainly on your Education Section.That’s why you should swap your sections and make your education section the first under your Resume Header and Contact Information.Don’t forget that you can expand your education section as much as you want.And that’s exactly what you would want to do here.You can include:Relevant Coursework and ProjectsDean's ListGPAIn Your Work Experience SectionListing your study abroad in your Work Experience Section is a great way to go.But on one condition - you should have successfully managed to study and work at the same time.Also keep in mind that you should stick to Internships and  Volunteer Work on that occasion.Apart from that, there is nothing really specific.You need to list it just like you would list any past job:The name of each employerTheir locationThe title of your roleA few bullet points.Don’t forget to list them in reverse chronological order.That’s a great way to stick out in front of other candidates and show your potential employer that you didn’t spend all your time abroad partying.In Your Skills SectionAnother place you can list your study abroad is in your Skills Section through the skills you’ve gained.Think about all the soft, hard and technical skills you gained while abroad and list those which seem relevant.If you learned a new language there, don’t miss out on including it along with your proficiency level.Any specific job skills you have picked up while studying abroad would be a great asset to your resume.Just remember to make them relevant to the job position you are applying for.Where else to mention your study abroad?While you may decide to include your study abroad only on your resume, you can get even more out of it.Including it in just two more places can greatly improve your chances.Including it in Your Cover LetterYour Cover Letter is the second most important document in your job hunt.So why not put your study abroad in the spotlight one more time.It is especially essential to do so if you are a recent college graduate and don't have much experience yet.You can share with your potential employer once again your experience abroad and all the skills you have gained, including the languages you have picked up.Just remember - make it relevant to the job position you are applying for.Updating Your LinkedIn ProfileOne thing you should never ignore is updating your LinkedIn profile with anything relevant.Consider your profile’s education, experience and volunteer section for good potential spots for your abroad experiences.Don’t forget to add some bullet points to emphasize on your accomplishments and the skills you gained.Consider updating your description so that you emphasize on your study abroad once again, and make sure you include any languages you learned in the correct fields.Examples of Including Study Abroad on ResumeAs we promised, we are not going to leave you without examples of everything we talked about.So let’s get started and show you how to include your study abroad in every appropriate section.In Your Education SectionWhen using your Education Section to list your study abroad, you can use this simple template:[INSTITUTION NAME] | [CITY/COUNTRY][DEGREE EARNED] | [DATE]Relevant Coursework: [RELEVANT COURSEWORK AND PROJECTS LIST]Honors: [HONORS LIST]GPA: [GPA]You can also include anything else that seems relevant, but that should do nicely.In order to get a deeper understanding of the template, we’ve got an example for you as well:University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PAComputer Engineering | June 2018Relevant Coursework: Computer Sciences, Software EngineeringHonors: Dean's List 2017-2018GPA: 3.9In Your Work Experience SectionAs we mentioned earlier, including your study abroad in your Work Experience Section is like listing any past job.The model should be pretty clear to you, but we are going to go through it once again, just in case:[COMPANY NAME] | [CITY/COUNTRY][JOB POSITION] | [DATES][ACCOMPLISHMENTS]And just that we are sure there is no misunderstanding, here is one great example:Google | Mountain View, CaliforniaIT Intern | May 2017 - May 2018Any accomplishment you haveAny accomplishment you haveAny accomplishment you haveIn Your Skills SectionFinally, the last place you could include your study abroad on your resume - your Skills Section.You can include them like any other skill.So, for example:Languages: Fluent in Italian and Spanish, Advanced in GermanComputer Skills: Windows and Linux operating systems, Git, Visual Studio CodeProgramming Skills: C#, C++, Java, Python, RubyInterests: International travel, learning about new cultures, photojournalismTakeaways: How to include study abroad on your resume?We are all done.Now you know how to include study abroad on your resume.You are now ready to get the hiring manager’s attention and really show off what you learned abroad.Don’t forget - pick the right resume layout according to the section you include your study abroad in.Check out our examples once again and make your promotions get you your next interview in no time.

Template for name-dropping in a cover letter

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Name-dropping in a cover letter involves mentioning a mutual contact as a referral for your job application. It can be a great asset if done correctly. Learn how to do it here.

How to Name Drop in a Cover Letter

Europe – currencies, cultures, and languages

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Discover the benefits and challenges of building a career in Europe. Learn how to navigate the diverse currencies and cultures and how to find the best job opportunities.

How to Find a Job in Europe as a USA Citizen - Tips & Popular Countries

What does it mean to be a self-taught programmer?

How to add self-taught programmer on your resume?

How to add self-thaught programmer on resume

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How to Add Self Taught Programmer on Your Resume

Nowadays, more and more programmers are self-taught.
Many of them don’t see value in a university education, as it is expensive, and whether it gets you started in your career is uncertain.
Luckily, that opinion is shared with many employers, as a computer science degree on a resume becomes less and less important for them.
Actually, in some cases employers value self-taught programmers even more, as it takes a great amount of determination and will to teach yourself how to code.
But how to list that you are a self-taught programmer on your resume, so that you get the best result?
We are going to go through the two most important questions on the topic to get you prepared for that:

What does it mean to be a self-taught programmer?
How to add self-taught programmer on your resume?

If you have some doubts about your overall resume performance, you should definitely check out our Resume Builder, and create a unique and eye-catching design in no time.
But if you are ready to learn how to add self taught programmer on your resume, stick around.
What does it mean to be a self-taught programmer?First things first, let’s define what a self-taught programmer means.
Typically, a self-taught programmer does not list a university/college degree in computer science, or other tech-related subject, or even does not have a degree at all.
A self-taught programmer usually learns how to code while working a regular job, or while going to school, or while taking care of their family.
This can be considered as a great asset by hiring managers, because you not only have the determination to learn how to code on your own, but you also show great time management skills and motivation.
Something you might experience as a self-taught programmer is the imposter syndrome.
That’s the feeling that you get when you are unsure of your abilities, and you ask yourself what you will do when people find out that you are self-taught.
You might feel like you don’t belong, as you don’t have a degree, but you should block these thoughts of yours.
You can check out any forum, and see how any programmer, no matter the experience, still can struggle with the simplest tasks.
How to add self-taught programmer on your resume?
Now that you understand what a self-taught programmer on your resume is, it’s time to understand the key aspects of listing it correctly.
List your experience if you have any.
Any relevant experience would be appreciated by an employer more than a degree in computer science.
A degree only shows a potential employer that you can pass an exam, but an actual experience shows them that you can do the job.
That’s why, from any company’s perspective, it makes much more sense to hire someone with experience and without a degree, rather than someone with a degree but without any experience.
However, getting experience might be tough, you will probably have to volunteer at local meetups and hackathons. But that can be often really fun, and it would help you understand the field and create connections.
Once you get your experience, make sure you list in the work experience section of your resume. Learn more about listing entries in it here.
Build a portfolio
A great thing to add to your programming resume, no matter if you have experience or not, or if you have a degree or are self-taught, is a portfolio.
In any case, a portfolio allows your potential employer to see your work in action.
A GitHub profile with constant activity would make your potential employer jump up and down, and give you a call right after they spend some time browsing with interest.
But your portfolio should also have some structure.
As a self-taught programmer, you probably have lots of abandoned repositories which you used once or twice for minor tasks from an online course.
Having too much of these might come across as off putting, and your potential employer might decide that you leave projects halfway done.
Instead of that, try creating a larger scale project which you improve and upgrade constantly with every new skill you acquire.
Show you are passionate and proactive
We already discussed that experience is more valued than a degree from employers.
But the truth is, passion and proactivity trumps both of them.
It does not matter whether you have a degree or not, and whether you have experience or not. You need to convince your potential employer that you are passionate about programming.
And no matter your qualifications, passion and proactivity can be shown mainly in just one way – through your side projects.
So make sure you focus greatly on your portfolio and get it just right.
Takeaways
We are all done, now you know how to add self-taught programmer on your resume.
Let’s go through the steps you need to take to get the best result:

List any relevant experience you have – it is valued much more than a degree, as it shows that you can actually do the job, rather than that you can take an exam
Build a portfolio – preferably GitHub, where you can show your activity on various projects. Try to get rid of any abandoned repositories and stir the hiring manager’s attention towards big projects that you updated constantly with newly acquired skills
Show you are passionate and proactive – that’s what is more important, as your passion can trump both experience and a degree. The best way to show your passion and proactivity is through your portfolio, so focus greatly on that

Now that you know all that, it is time for you to add your self-taught programming knowledge on your resume and get your dream job.

How to write a resignation letter (with a template) - blog header image

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How to Write a Resignation Letter (Templates Included)

You are ready to leave your old job and dive into new opportunities in your career.
And you might have heard that a resignation letter is important in these moments.
But what raises quite a few questions – what is a resignation letter, why is it important, and how to write one when you need it?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.And once we have the answers to all these questions, we are going to leave you off with a template for a resignation letter, as well as a great example of one.
So, if you are ready to learn how to use a resignation letter to leave your old job, let’s dive in.
What is a resignation letter?A resignation letter is a formal document that notifies your current employer about your decision to leave your job.
It formalizes your departure and can be submitted either by email, or as a printed letter.
Your resignation letter serves as a written notice for your departure from the company, and provides any details about it, including date of resignation and the end date of your employment.
Should you write a resignation letter?
Writing a resignation letter is the professional thing to do when leaving a job, as it officially gives notice to your superiors that you are leaving your job, and a replacement should be found to take on your responsibilities.
And even though most employers don't require a resignation letter with their contacts, it is still a good idea to write one for 4 simple reasons:

It creates a paper trail – even if a resignation letter is not required, you would want to leave a paper trail for your departure, which will also help with the paperwork around your final paycheck and transition of your responsibilities
It is the professional thing to do – depending on where you work, it might be expected of you to provide a resignation letter, even if it is not a legal requirement. Just to be sure, you can ask around and contact someone who has left the company recently and see whether they submitted a resignation letter
It might help manage the conversation – telling your manager about your departure might feel awkward, and a great way to make things a little smoother is by emailing your resignation letter before your meeting, so that your manager would know what the meeting is about and would have a few minutes to process the information
Helps you control the message about your departure – writing a letter of resignation can help you be clear about when you are leaving and why. If you are worried that your manager might still spin your leaving in a way that suits them, you can also send the letter out to HR or the upper management

What to include in a resignation letter?
When you write your resignation letter, you need to make sure it sounds professional. It needs all the important information about your departure, but lengthy explanations are unnecessary.
Here is what your resignation letter should include:

Your intent to resign – your letter should start and be clear about your decision to resign
Your last day of employment – it is essential to provide information about the last day you plan to work at the company
An offer to assist with the transition – often employees often to help by recruiting or training a replacement for their position, which leaves the feeling of closure and a sense of respect in both the employer and the employee
Any question you may have – don’t be afraid to ask any question about your final pay or benefits in your resignation letter
Your contact information – include your personal contact information so that the company can easily get in touch with you
Signature (optional) – this one is only applicable if you are using a hard copy of your resignation letter
Thank the employer (optional) – if you want to make sure you leave things off on a positive note, you can always thank the employer for all the opportunities and experiences gained at the company, and how you enjoyed your time there

How to write a resignation letter?
Now you know what your resignation letter should include, so let’s take a look at the overall structure it should follow:

Contact information – A written letter should include your employer’s and your contact information, and the data of the letter, all before the start of the actual letter. If you have chosen to write it as an email, you can only leave your contact information, but move it under your signature and name at the bottom, and move the date to the subject line
Greeting – Address the resignation letter to your manager – Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. [Name]
Paragraph 1 – Notify your manager about your resignation from your job and state your last day of employment. This gives the employer an official notice for your personal file
Paragraph 2 (optional) – You can mention the reason for your departure, but it is not required. If you decide to write one, make sure it is positive one, like starting a new job, or going back to school
Paragraph 3 (optional) – If you are able to, offer to assist with the transition by recruiting or training a replacement for your position
Paragraph 4 (optional) – Mention your gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity of working in the company. You can go in more detail, if you would like, with something that you found especially rewarding
Closing – Use a professional sign-off, such as “Sincerely” or “Regards”
Signature – If you are using a hard copy for your resignation letter, you can take the chance to include your handwritten signature, followed by your names. However, if you are sending out an email, just your names would do fine, but don’t forget to follow them with your contact information

How to format a resignation letter?
Resignation letters should be simple, short and should look professional. To do so, stick to the basics:

Make your resignation at most 1 page long
Use a traditional font like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri
Keep your font size between 10 and 12pt
Make your letter single-spaced with a space between each paragraph
Use one-inch margins
Align text to the left

Resignation letter templateResignation letter exampleTakeaways
We are all done, now you know how to write a professional resignation letter. Remember to pay special attention to the important things like intent to resign, last day of employment, and an offer to assist with the transition. 
Now go get your resignation letter ready, and move on to your next job opportunity.

Why you'd want to send an Introduction email?

 How to Send an Introduction Email to a Recruiter (Sample Included)

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How to Send an Introduction Email to a Recruiter (Sample Included)

Emails are the most common form of communication in the business world, and a great way to start a communication about a position that you desire to get.
And a great way to introduce yourself as a candidate for an open position is to write an introduction email.
The problem is, most professionals receive tons of emails on a daily basis, and to capture their interest is a hard task.
We are here to help you, in this article, we are going to explore the following questions:

Why would you want to send an introduction email?
How to write an introduction email?

And we are going to leave you off with a template for you to use, as well as an introduction email example to get you started.
The next step after your introduction email would be to send out your application documents, so make sure they are as good as possible. Check out our Resume Builder and Cover letter builder, and create a unique design in no time.
But if you are ready to learn how to write an introduction email, stick around.
Why you'd want to send an Introduction email?Contacting someone you don’t know via email might seem awkward, or even scary, but it is a great way to start off a communication.
The most common reasons for you to write an introduction email are:

Asking about more information about a job position
Asking for advice
Trying to sell a product or service

No matter your reason, you need to make sure you can catch the recipient’s attention, and engage their interest.
How to write introduction email
Now that you understand why you need an introduction email, it is time to learn how to write one.
You can do so in just a few quick steps.
Find a contact that connects you with the recipient
The first step to your introduction email requires some research on your part.
A great way to capture the recipient’s attention is to mention a mutual contact of yours.
It might be someone who works in the same company as them, or someone who they know through college, or any other way.
A great place to look for mutual connections is within the recipient’s LinkedIn profile.
If you find a mutual contact, try asking them if they would be willing to introduce you, or let you mention them in your introduction email.
Use a good subject line
When it comes to writing your introduction email, the first and most important step you need to take is to give it a clear subject line.
That’s what would make the recipient open your email, or ignore it.
You need to make sure your subject line is professional, informative, and brief.
It needs to show the recipient exactly why you are reaching out to them.
Write a proper greeting
After the recipient have opened your email, you need to start off with a proper greeting.
You might think that you can use the same greeting no matter what, but that is not entirely true.
If you are contacting someone in the industry of finance or law, you should stick to the traditional “Dear Ms./Mrs./Mr.”, but that is not the best approach for every industry.
For example, if you are reaching out to someone in the tech or media business, the much more informal “Hello” followed by their name might be perceived better.
To get this right, make sure you know who you are contacting, and consider the industry they work in.
Get to the reason for reaching out fast
As professionals receive tons of emails on a daily basis, you would want to quickly get to the point, before you lose their interest.
You can start your email with pleasantries, but make sure you keep them short.
Share with them how you have their contact, and move on to the reason for contacting them.
Add a call to action
Once you have explained the reason for contacting the recipient, it is time for the most important part of your introduction email body – a call to action.
That’s the place you need to invite them to act on your email.
Keep your request brief, but specific, such as asking to meet to discuss the details about an open position, or organize a job interview.
Make sure your call to action sounds like a polite request, instead of a demand.
Close professionally
Finishing your email professionally is just as significant as anything else, so don’t rush through it.
That’s where it is essential for you to thank the recipient for their time and acknowledge their busy schedule.
Make sure you include your contact information if they want to contact you, and include any portfolio or online professional profile.
Last but not least, use a professional sign-off for your email, like:

Sincerely
Regards
Best regards

Introduction email samplesTakeaways
We are all done, now you know how to write a great introduction email.
Let’s do a quick recap of everything you need to do:

Find a mutual contact – do your research and find if you have a mutual contact who can introduce you, or if they would let you use their name in your introduction email
Use a good subject line – that’s what would make the recipient open your email, or ignore it, so make sure it is brief and clear
Write a proper greeting – pick the best greeting according to the industry the recipient is working in
Quickly get to the point – don’t write long emails, as the recipient might be busy. Instead, quickly get to the reason you are reaching out to them
Add a call to action – invite the recipient to take action toward your reason for contacting them
Close professionally – make sure you thank the recipient for their time, provide your contact information, and use a professional sign-off

Check out our template and example one last time, and write your own introduction email for your next opportunity.