Employers today want to see a little bit more of this from applicants. If you want to stay in the same country to find a career, to really stand out, you might want to complement your international student status with some volunteer work. Often this is where foreign students go wrong, since during the holidays they prefer to go back home outside of term to spend time with relatives.

In order to help you adjust to a whole new world, studying abroad is perfect, while soaking up the culture and studying what you love. What it does not do, though, is assist you to adjust to the real world of work to prepare you after you graduate. Employers may believe that you have a strong ability to work in any kind of environment and take on a variety of roles with trust by volunteering abroad. Most definitely, this would make a strong impact. When throwing yourself into the deep end, it is best to have a good understanding of your personality and consider your strengths and weaknesses. Taking on volunteering is a perfect example, as often the activities you are going to do can be very demanding and overwhelming, but you will learn so much about yourself and your skills. This will make you feel ready to step into a work interview feeling positive about sharing your strengths and being able to offer unique examples.

Being able to lead and work with a team is a very useful ability to have as well. When volunteering, there will be plenty of possibilities for you to get stuck in and lead team ventures, so never turn it down. The deciding factor that sets you apart from other applicants when applying for a job may be this leadership asset. It will demonstrate that you are coordinated and can lead a team with confidence.

Usually, volunteer work may include taking care of small children and leading team projects that require tremendous responsibility. Although it can seem a daunting prospect, get trapped in it and enjoy it. When given daunting tasks like these, you'll be shocked at how intuitive and responsible you are. This will also pay off in the long run, as employers will see you from your experience as a mature and responsible person in tackling strenuous tasks.

This piece is not intended to make you think that it is not worthwhile to study abroad, because it is a wonderful experience. However, when in another country, make sure that you make the most of fantastic opportunities. To enrich your experience abroad, have some job experience down on your CV.