An internship in a foreign country (and a foreign language) helps a job candidate to stand out among the others.
If you have been paying any attention to the news lately, then you already know that the job climate is in bad shape and there are currently few signs of any improvement. Every year more and more students are graduating from college with scarce job opportunities available. While now is an unfortunate time to be graduating, it is important to realize that things will improve. However, you need to do something to ride out the economic downturn in the meantime. If you are currently seeking employment, it is important to get proactive. If your resume reflects that you sat around did nothing for a series of years, it will not look good for you as a potential job candidate. When recruiters see mysterious gaps on resumes, they will be led to believe that you are either not very serious or that no one else would hire you. In fact, statistics show that employers are far less likely to hire people who are currently unemployed.
Savvy graduates are turning to the idea of going to study Spanish overseas. When potential employers find out that you have traveled the world and furthered your education in the process, they will see it as a major advantage. In fact, this type of experience shows that you seek to keep improving and learning. They will get the impression that your educational goals go far beyond merely seeking credits to graduate. These are the types of candidates that employers want to hire!
When you interview for jobs, you can also spin your attendance at a Spanish immersion program to your advantage. Point out that you value resourcefulness and, in fact, you learned a new language for a fraction of the cost of what you would have paid in college. When you explain what a great deal it is to study Spanish overseas in Latin America, your potential employer will see that you are a person who things on your feet and makes intelligent decisions. The fact of the matter is that these programs cost far less than classes in a typical university setting. Plus, due to smaller classes, you receive more personalized attention from teachers.
Further, there are ways to make your Spanish immersion program pay off even further. During your studies many programs will allow you to add an internship or volunteer experience. Having these types of additional experiences under your belt will also make you a better candidate.
With these types of unique experiences on your resume, before too long you’ll find yourself shooting past other job applicants. Potential employers will realize that you have had valuable experiences that can translate well to your performance at the workplace. You have learned about other cultures and made the most of the time during which you were not employed. Not only will these educational programs provide you with the lifelong skill of speaking Spanish, the experience alone will really make you stand out as a potential job candidate.