If American students needed convincing about whether to study abroad or not, a new survey should help make up their minds: nearly 90% of study abroad alumni surveyed reported that they found a job within six months, compared with a typical average across the graduate population of 49%.
The survey, undertaken by placement agency IES Abroad, also indicated that study abroad alumni were more satisfied with their job and likely to earn US$7,000 more than their internationally-challenged counterparts.
IES Abroad surveyed just over 1,000 study abroad alumni who had studied abroad between 2006 and 2011.
“We believe that more and more employers are realising the extraordinary benefits of study abroad, and are seeking out graduates who have had study abroad experiences,” said Mary M. Dwyer, President and CEO of IES Abroad.
“Key jobs skills such as adaptability, global understanding, leadership, and independence are directly fostered by learning and living abroad,” she added. “For parents concerned about the return on their investment, studying abroad offers some very clear benefits for graduates.”
Other findings:
• 50% felt the overseas experience helped them get their first jobs
• 84% felt that studying abroad helped them build valuable job skills such as foreign language skills,
cultural training, tolerance for ambiguity, adaptability, communication, and more
• 90% got into their first or second choice graduate or professional school
