For this blog post, I would like to introduce a company that specializes in connecting China and the global community through internships and study abroad programs. As the leading provider of internships in China, CRCC Asia works with the best companies in Beijing and Shanghai to provide students and graduates the opportunity to further their personal and professional development in a dynamic international setting. CRCC Asia intern, Monette Yee, comments on the importance of internationalizing your resume for the increasingly competitive university admissions process and job market.
The Importance of Being “International”
As a former high school and current college student, I can understand the pains, worries and concerns you may be having over college applications, grad school, or post-graduation unemployment. You may be in the midst of applying for college and wondering how you can make your application more impressive. Alternatively, you may be a university student nearing graduation and wondering how you will ever land a decent job. Thankfully, the solution to both of these questions is fairly simple and straightforward.
We’ve all heard the typical advice before: maintain decent grades, score well on standardized exams, partake in extracurricular activities, and do your fair share of community service. This advice is all well-founded, however it must be acknowledged that applicants with such credentials are a dime a dozen nowadays. Recruiters and admissions officers are also looking for someone who stands out from the rest, someone with the skills, the experience, and the potential to excel in school and in the working world.
If you need that extra asset to distinguish yourself from your competition, then consider internationalizing your transcript or resume with experience abroad. In today’s globalized society, where unemployment at home seems ever more bleak when compared to the booming emerging markets overseas, it’s no wonder international experience will be a plus. In addition, experience abroad will prove you have the courage, ambition, independence and work ethic to adapt and thrive in a foreign environment.
So, how can you go about internationalizing your resume? Below are a few ways you can do so!
1) Study abroad. Studying abroad provides you cultural and linguistic immersion, intense academic study, and ample opportunity to broaden your horizons and perspective. Many universities offer internal study abroad options for university students, while some students may choose to apply directly to a local university’s degree program. High school students can also take advantage of various independent study abroad organizations. During most programs, which can range from a few months to more than a year, students live in school dormitories or with a host family, and take courses at a local high school or university. Courses may revolve around language study or various academic curricula depending on your field of study, and are almost always supplemented by daily interactions and life in the foreign country of choice.
2) Intern abroad. If professional development and career exploration is what you seek, then consider interning abroad as a way to internationalize yourself. Not only will you gain marketable work experience and enhance your resume, but you will also gain international exposure to give you an edge in your future applications. There are a variety of organizations that help to place interns in relevant companies overseas, particularly in emerging economies such as China and India that may be difficult to navigate independently. After interning internationally, many students boast greater job prospects, boosted confidence, more defined career goals.
3) Teach abroad. For native speakers, English teaching programs abroad are bountiful. Most programs provide ESL (English as a Second Language) training and certification, and some even go so far as to offer a salary, housing stipend and reimbursement of airfare. Typical contracts run for a year, and depending on your preference, you may be placed in a large, urban city or in a smaller, rural town. This is a fantastic and relatively affordable way to gain international exposure and knowledge of a foreign culture!
4) Volunteer abroad. If you are looking to make a difference, volunteering abroad may be the way to go. Projects range widely from working at local schools and orphanages, to building houses, to doing translation work for a local NGO. Helping others and working towards a meaningful cause is a fantastic reason to volunteer abroad – plus, from this experience you can demonstrate your cultural sensitivity, values, passions, and humanitarianism. Learning more about yourself and about the world around you are just two added benefits of volunteering abroad. Future employers or recruiters will also take notice of your global experience and expertise.
--Monette Yee
About CRCC Asia
CRCC Asia provides internship opportunities and study abroad courses for students in Beijing and Shanghai, China. CRCC Asia has placed over 3000 students placements within both international companies and domestic firms in China to gain professional and academic experience. They offer several different programs of varying length and intensity and have been reviewed by the Wall Street Journal and the BBC, among other media organizations.
