How to get a job in International Education?

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You have had the first study abroad experience.  It ignited a curiosity in cultures, in global perspectives, and given you a passion to do more travel.  Now what?  Barring leaving the country every other week, how do you sustain that passion for all things global? Your brain starts thinking about future careers, and the study abroad office comes to mind....but how to get in?

I get lots of questions from current students and graduates about wanting to work in study abroad or international student services, and sometime international admissions.  So often, in fact, that I thought it might be helpful to put my thoughts (and some helpful resources) down in one place.  Others out there are going to have different opinions than me, but after over 10 years of hiring graduate interns and professional staff, I have a pretty good idea of what you are up against.  To be clear - I LOVE IT!  I can't wait for people like you to be part of my network.  There is nothing I love more than running into former students or alumni in the field!  I was you once.  But it is not a super easy field to get into. How did I get in?  That is another post for the future, but the short answer - a lot of high level volunteering and work study while in school, 2 internships and graduate school.  Below are some thoughts and tips that are meant to help you.  I tried to approach this from my hiring manager lens:

  • Studying Abroad is Not Enough: I am the person that thinks everyone needs to step outside their comfort zone and learn about other perspectives.  BUT.  First of all, what you did on your experience abroad matters, and what you can articulate in terms of your learning matters too. If you haven't put in the time to figure out the competencies from your experience, you aren't ready.  Put in that work  (your study abroad or career office can help with this!).  But let's pretend you can articulate the value of that experience. PERFECT!  For work in my field, your study abroad experience will likely check off a box or two of skills or competencies I am looking for.  But the job description is asking for more.  What other experiences have you had that can check the other boxes?  Many positions want you to have some professional work experience too -and that is about what other professional competencies we are looking for:
    • The NACE Career-Readiness skills from Employers are a good place to start https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/
    • Digital Technology: in-depth knowledge of software programs
      • Learn all the Microsoft Office programs (MS Teams, Outlook, Excel, Powerpoint, Word).
      • Learn to do simple design and layout in a desktop publishing program.
      • Learn how to design and maintain a website.
      • Learn how to use a database program
    • Oral/Written Communications: get project based experience
      • Social Media campaigns
      • Marketing: developing materials and making presentations
      • Design: how to make things look nice, learn about branding.
      • Gain functional language skills - not needed everyday, but ALWAYS helpful.
    • Leadership/Teamwork: You are almost never going to be able to work in isolation.  How do you "leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals, and use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others."  Are you able to disagree agreeably?

  • Didn't study abroad: Cool. (wait, what?)  There are many people who have not had the opportunity or finances or ability to take advantage of this opportunity.  I don't need you to have studied or interned or worked abroad.  I'm going to ask for that as a preference - because I generally know what it gets me.  So how have your life experiences intersected with people different from you?  What have you actively done to be able to show intercultural sensitivity?  Global competency?  Tell me about it.  What do you bring that others don't have?

  • Get other Experiences: How can you show your ability to engage with people different from you. (Continue doing it when you come home!)  How can you build other related skills and demonstrate that this isn't a passing phase?  
    • Take more courses in international areas. 
    • Work as an international ambassador (at MC - iMentor or Study Abroad Ambassador)
    • Reach out to your study abroad provider to see if they have an ambassador program
    • Be a leader of an international organization (MC: GCO, SAA), and then be a rockstar.
    • Get hired as a work study student or intern in your school's study abroad or international student office. Blow their minds with your innovation, creativity, hard work, and dependability!
    • Volunteer in an international office or for an international organization.  Or any organization to develop the skills you need.
    • Do a global or virtual international internship.  (Virtual internships still have you working globally but are often more affordable)

  • Connect the Dots: I'm in the middle of a search, so this is on my mind, and not directly related to International Education at all.  Your cover letter is not a place to repeat your resume items or tell me that you want this job.  It is a place for you to show me how your skills match the skills I'm looking for.  It is a place to show me your personality.  I want you to use my language. By that I mean I want you to get yourself familiar with the world of international education and translate your experiences into the language of my job posting.

  • International Education is a Professional Field: Some people in the industry have fallen into their positions, but over time this field has professionalized.  Connect yourself to the professional organizations in this field.  Learn about the field. There are many, but some of the big ones are
  • Education Requirements: In general, a Bachelors degree is required for most international education positions. However, a Master's degree is often preferred. The majority of applicants I get have a Master's degree. It can make it hard to break in without one.  Here is what having a Master's degree tells me - 
    • that person has had to think critically and analytically; 
    • they have likely had to manage and complete a big project or data set; 
    • they may have had a practical experience directly tied to their field of study at a higher level.  (a graduate assistantship is a great PAID way to get experience in the field)
    • If that degree is in International Education, then I also know they have theoretical knowledge about the field (and my interview is going to test if they can put that into practice).  This may be my own bias, but I have seen the difference in employees with and without a Master's degree and have found that the skills learned in a Master's degree to be able to both broaden your thinking, recognize biases, and focus have made a difference in long-term hires.

  • Entry-Level Positions: There are entry-level positions in the field. Look for titles such as Regional Representative, University Relations Coordinator, Many of these are remote positions. You'll need stand-out verbal/written communication skills, flexibility, stamina to travel domestically, and killer organization/multi-tasking skills. Recruiter. They will be looking for oral/written communication skills, flexibility, ability to travel domestically, and organization/multi-tasking skills (actually EVERYONE wants this.  Work on it). This is a good way to see what you like in the field because you are often visiting schools, going to conferences and fairs and meeting a lot of people.  Getting excited - here are some other places to get experience, or to work in International Education (it is not just universities and colleges):
    • Teaching English Abroad - longer term experience overseas.
    • Law Offices (practicing immigration law!)
    • Education Abroad Program Providers
    • Community Organizations with a Global focus (Bridge Refugees, for example)
    • International Education Associations
    • US Government
    • Where else to look?  NAFSA, Higheredjobs.com, listserves

  • Returning from Teaching English Abroad: See above section on "Studying Abroad is Not Enough."  Seriously.  I get GREAT applications from people who have taught English abroad, and I get terrible ones. The skills and competencies you get as a teacher are different from the ones needed to work in other areas of international education.  Show me that you know how your teaching skills will help me and what else you got. What you do while you are there is important.  Translate your experiences there to what I am looking for!  
    • Do you want to work in International Admissions?  How can you translate your understanding of foreign academic systems to the role?  How will your network there help you in the role?  
    • Do you want to work in Study Abroad? What have you done related to student advising, marketing, problem solving?  How will your knowledge of your host country help?  Did you do any local orientations?  Competency development in students?
    • Do you want to work in International Student Services? What did you learn from your experience as an international student?  Did you do programming for students there?  What immigration knowledge will you bring? (Also study https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/)

  • A Note about Changing Careers: Take a skills inventory. (some career centers offer this service to alumni) What prior work experience do you have? Teaching, training, sales, marketing, multi-media platforms (video, photo, social media, SEO, web management),  risk/legal work, database administration.  Use your cover  letter to tell me what is unique about you and what you bring to the table.

  • Be Flexible About Where You Will Work: There are a gazillion universities/colleges/community colleges in this country, all offering study abroad, as well as innumerable "third-party providers" to consider in your job search. If you have the right background and skills set, and are flexible about where you work, with some research and networking, chances are good that you'll find a position in one of them.
Other Resources and References: