In an article for University World News, Melanie Siegfried (Expertise in Labour Mobility [ELM]), Kellie McMullin (Nova Scotia Community College) and Nannette Ripmeester (ELM) discuss recent research on how study abroad experiences influence Canadian graduates’ career prospects. The authors identify five of the top skills that employers typically seek: communication; adaptability; problem solving; teamwork; and time- and self-management. While international experiences can often enhance these abilities, they stress that employability ultimately depends on a student’s capacity to translate those experiences into job-relevant skills. The authors recommend that postsecondary institutions provide students with guidance on how to effectively showcase the skills they gained abroad to better prepare them for the job market.
