Using CSO Abroad

This week’s blog was written by Samantha Rutishauser, senior Communication major at CU-Boulder         

                                                                                

Anyone who has spent a semester abroad, or even those just about to embark on an international journey, knows that there is stress that comes along with the adventure. Anticipating a 4-month departure from your school, your family, your friends, and your country is a huge change. While packing and planning, in the back of your mind are thoughts about the return home and the inevitable question that results: “How am I going to find a job when this is all over?”

The idea of going an entire semester without close proximity to potential jobs and internships is daunting. While they are abroad many students feel helpless in trying to find future employment and end up dismissing the issue until they return home. However, this misconception is risky and completely avoidable. The answer is utilizing online career resources that are available to you no matter where in the world your semester takes you.

CU-Boulder’s Career Services Online, aka CSO, is an online database that posts new and exciting opportunities for jobs and internships available throughout the year. Though away from campus, CU students abroad who sign up for CSO will receive email updates of new opportunities and can use CSO to search and apply for jobs even while they are out of the country. That way when they return home from their semester away this daunting problem will already be taken care. Additionally, counselors at Career Services help students coordinate interviews with potential employers via phone or Skype and provide the resources and assistance students need to feel comfortable interviewing through both mediums.

I spent a semester abroad in Prague last spring. I knew the upcoming summer before my senior year should be spent working, but the longer I waited to start looking, the less chance I had at finding a job or internship. I made it a priority to routinely take a break from exploring my new surroundings to check the Career Services Facebook page, weekly emails, and CSO for any opportunities that struck my interests.

This eventually led me to come across a natural foods company in Denver called Love Grown Foods, looking to hire a marketing intern for the summer. I tailored my resume to the position, wrote a cover letter detailing my interest, and submitted them both through CSO. I heard a response within days and enlisted the help of a career counselor to help me set up an interview that week. We organized a time for me to conduct my interview over Skype with the potential employer. The idea of interviewing via webcam seemed daunting, especially considering the significant time difference between Prague and Colorado. Luckily, CU’s career counselor worked with both the employer and me to schedule a time that was convenient for us both.

After a successful interview and a few days of follow up emails, I heard back that I had gotten the internship at Love Grown Foods and was set to start upon my return home in the summer. Career Services Online made the entire process extremely easy and efficient, despite me being so far away from home and school. In the end, I was able to enjoy my time abroad, and also come home to a rewarding summer job that provided valuable internship experience.

Study Abroad: How This Experience Has Continued to Help Me in My Career Search

This week's post is written by Kai K. Harvey, sophomore economics major at CU-Boulder

Studying abroad is one of the most valuable experiences you can have while in college. Anyone who has spent time studying in another country is sure to tell you that taking the adventure and dedicating time to travel was one of the best decisions they made as an undergrad. There are lots of reasons why studying abroad is a great idea, but what a lot of people don’t realize is just how beneficial it can be for your career.

Last semester, I traveled to Lima, Peru and directly enrolled in a university there. I studied with Peruvians, hung out with Peruvians, and lived with Peruvians. Apart from being an absolute blast, I have just started realizing exactly how much my time abroad will help me advance my career goals and job search. One of the obvious benefits of spending time in Peru was practicing and improving my Spanish with fluent speakers. Before I traveled to Peru I spoke a little Spanish, but I just wasn’t comfortable putting “Fluent in Spanish” as a skill on my resume. Now, my Spanish has greatly improved to the point of fluency! Speaking a second language gives you a huge advantage over other candidates when applying for a job.

Beyond the language skills, I experienced world issues from a unique perspective. I’m an Econ major, so getting to see the issues surrounding economic development in a third-world country in person was invaluable to me. After spending time in Peru, I now have a better understanding of the significance of economic diversification, infrastructure, exchange rates, foreign investment, and the effect that lack of access to higher education has on the stratification of social classes.

Seeing these issues outside of the United States allowed me to draw comparisons and more accurately analyze their roles in countries’ economies. This knowledge is incredibly important for me to have, so when I interview with a potential employer I can bring the information I have learned to the company, whereas many other candidates could not do so.

Aside from everything I’ve already listed, studying abroad can enhance your skills and resume. Studying abroad can be compared to an internship because of the amount of invaluable life skills you learn. My advice to CU students would be to list their study abroad experience on their resume and highlight the skills they learned from this experience.

My time abroad benefited me in more ways than I could have imagined. I had the time of my life, broadened my worldview, became educated on foreign policy and foreign politics and furthered my career. If you’re hesitant about living in a different country, just ask someone who has studied abroad about their experience. I guarantee that the experience will be worth it for you personally and professionally!

Get Involved!

Relevant experience is one of the most important factors employers look for on a recent college graduate's resume, according to CareerBuilder's annual college job forecast.

But what actually qualifies as relevant work experience?  Aside from internships, in CareerBuilder's survey, employers said they also take the following categories into consideration when they're looking for a perspective job candidate:

• Volunteer work
• Involvement in student organizations
• Organizing activities for sororities/fraternities
• Participation in sports
• Class work
• Part time jobs

With Student Involvement week kicking off on Tuesday, September 6, students will have the chance to check out a variety of different ways they can get involved on and off campus while preparing themselves for future careers.  Keep in mind that leadership, in particular, stands out on a resume.  Therefore, think about eventually taking on a leadership role in the above activities.

Lend a helping hand. If you're interested in philanthropic work, make sure to attend the Volunteer Fair from 11-2 p.m. on Tuesday in the UMC, where you can learn about more than 70 different volunteer opportunities!

Love to travel? Check out CU's Study Abroad Fair from 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the UMC, where information will be available about 400 programs in over 70 countries.

Want to learn more about a club on campus? Wander over to the UMC Fountain area from 11-2 p.m. for the Student Involvement Fair, where you can meet members of different student groups and sign up to get involved.

College is only four years long; make sure that you made the most out of your experience and prepared yourself for a future career by checking out every opportunity available to you!