How to Write Your Resume with International Experience

Having a culturally diverse resume is definitely a plus in today’s competitive job market. Listing these experiences on your resume is a great way to display multicultural communications skills and valuable geographical knowledge. So, now that you’ve amassed some impressive international experience, whether it be from studying abroad or working in another country, how do you go about assembling a resume with international experience to present to a prospective employer?

Work Your International Experience into Your Objective

Since a resume with international experience should be one that stands out from the crowd, go ahead and make a brief mention of it in your objective. For example:

  1. Committed Financial Assistant with firsthand experience of the global financial markets seeking a challenging position…
  2. …while bringing an international perspective of the business world from rewarding experiences acquired while working in foreign markets.

Foreign Study Experience

Any international experience you have that involves having studied aboard should be referenced under the “education” section of your resume. Further emphasize international experiences by listing some of the highlights of what you learned while either attending a university or college in another country on a full-time basis or while studying abroad for a semester. You would incorporate international study experience on your resume as follows:

University of Barcelona, 2013

Bachelor of Science, Economics

International Internships

If you completed any international internships, that experience should be referenced under your “work experience” section since an internship is essentially an unpaid job. When referencing an international internship, include some details of duties you performed, for example:

Internships

ABC Finance (Chester, England; January 2013 – April 2013)

• Assisted with daily journal entries.

• Double-checked weekly deposit figures.

Referencing Specific International Skills

Since you had some experience either working abroad, studying in a foreign country or completing an international internship, it’s likely that you acquired some skills that can also be incorporated into your resume. You would list international skills in your “skills” or “highlights” section, which would look something like this:

Highlights

• Fluent in English, Spanish and German

• Familiar with the basic economic structure of the European Union

• Proficient in the use of Chinese accounting software

International Work Experience

There’s really no need to go into any details beyond listing your duties along with the city and country. Any unique skills you acquired from international work experience will already be listed elsewhere on your resume.

Whether you only studied aboard or you spent traveling for extensively to major global markets during your previous job, these are experiences that can definitely give you an advantage. Now that you know how to present these worldly experiences in an easy-to-digest format, you’re ready to dazzle your future employer by presenting a resume with international experience.

• Immersed myself in the Spanish culture while fine-tuning language abilities.

• Interned with a local financial firm (XYZ Finance of Barcelona).

• Gained valuable cultural experience through continual classroom and social interactions.

University of California, New Parkland, 2014

Bachelor of Science, Finance

Study Abroad, The International Institute of Global Studies, Hamburg, Germany

• Firsthand understanding of global markets and the German financial system.

• Worked on group projects involving the practical use of verbal and written skills.

• Immersion into the German culture through classroom instruction and time spent with my host family.

International Internships

If you completed any international internships, that experience should be referenced under your “work experience” section since an internship is essentially an unpaid job. When referencing an international internship, include some details of duties you performed, for example:

Internships

ABC Finance (Chester, England; January 2013 – April 2013)

• Assisted with daily journal entries.

• Double-checked weekly deposit figures.

Referencing Specific International Skills

Since you had some experience either working abroad, studying in a foreign country or completing an international internship, it’s likely that you acquired some skills that can also be incorporated into your resume. You would list international skills in your “skills” or “highlights” section, which would look something like this:

Highlights

• Fluent in English, Spanish and German

• Familiar with the basic economic structure of the European Union

• Proficient in the use of Chinese accounting software

International Work Experience

here’s really no need to go into any details beyond listing your duties along with the city and country. Any unique skills you acquired from international work experience will already be listed elsewhere on your resume.

Whether you only studied aboard or you spent traveling for extensively to major global markets during your previous job, these are experiences that can definitely give you an advantage. Now that you know how to present these worldly experiences in an easy-to-digest format, you’re ready to dazzle your future employer by presenting a resume with international experience.

Need general help? See the list below for more useful resources.

About the Author

LiveCareer Staff Writer

LiveCareer Staff Writer

LiveCareer’s staff writers are career advice experts and Certified Professional Resume Writers (CPRW), accredited by the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our team is dedicated to transforming work lives. Our diverse experts bring valuable insights to help you stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. No matter your career stage, LiveCareer’s contributors are here to help you advance your career and secure the job you want.

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