What Soft Skills Does Study Abroad Develop?
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Are you considering studying abroad but curious about the benefits beyond academic growth? Studying abroad doesn't just broaden your horizons and immerse you in new cultures, it also helps you develop a toolbox of soft skills – those essential, non-technical abilities that make you great at navigating life's twists and turns.
From building lasting relationships with people from all walks of life to becoming a problem-solving pro, you'll learn invaluable lessons that go far beyond the classroom. Plus, imagine being able to adapt to any situation, communicate like a champ, and develop a deeper understanding of your own values – all thanks to your adventures abroad.
So, are you more excited now about embarking on that life-changing study abroad experience? Get ready to explore the world, embrace new perspectives, and unleash your potential as you foster essential soft skills that will pave the way for success as you become the best version of yourself!
Read More: Is Studying Abroad Worth It? 10 Outcomes of Studying Abroad
What are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are the personal qualities and abilities that help you work well with others, both personally and professionally. They're different from the specific, job-related technical skills and focus more on how you interact with people and navigate situations.
In fact, a 2023 survey of 1,000 members of the workforce reported 84% of employees and managers say new employees must possess soft skills and demonstrate them in the hiring process. Plus, 71% of those employees believe soft skills will be just as important – or more – in the future.
Benefits of Soft Skills
One of the major benefits of soft skills is that they make life so much smoother! They're your secret weapon for thriving in personal and professional settings.
Whether you're building lasting connections, expressing yourself clearly, or tackling unexpected curveballs, your soft skills study will empower you to handle life's ups and downs like an expert. Plus, down the road when it comes to your career, they're the key to unlocking success and finding satisfaction in your work.
Long story short: Leveling up your soft skills is a game-changer for every aspect of your life.
Read More: How to Put Study Abroad on Your Resume
Top 5 Soft Skills You'll Gain from Study Abroad
Let’s take a look at five important soft skills study abroad could help you develop.
Soft Skill #1: Adaptability
Right off the bat, living in a foreign country, attending an international university, and making friends from a variety of backgrounds will test how adaptable you are to new situations.
And that’s especially if residents in your host country don’t speak much English and practice different cultural norms, because you could be in for quite the adjustment.
But that’s a good thing!
You’ll have months to prepare for your study abroad experience, allowing you to build your adaptation skills gradually once you’re there.
In the future, being able to adapt easily to new situations will be a major asset in the workforce, as it shows that you’re flexible and resilient.
Soft Skill #2: Independence
Did you apply to a study abroad program all on your own? Will you be traveling to a country to live away from your family and friends?
That sounds pretty independent to us!
Taking a chance on a solo adventure is exciting. You’ll challenge yourself to make a new friend group. You can decide on your own which excursions and day trips you’ll want to go on. And you’ll be able to take the time to reflect on who you are – and where you want to go.
That confidence and self-reliance will come in handy should you seek out leadership opportunities back at your home college and after graduation.
Read More: Why Does International Education Matter?
Soft Skill #3: Communication
Communication skills – and especially the cross-cultural savvy you’ll develop abroad – are attractive qualities in any situation.
Studying in another country can help you improve both verbal and non-verbal communication. You’ll need to think more about your word choices when speaking to others. And even your body language could say volumes about your confidence and adaptability to your host country.
Developing yourself as a clear communicator in all forms is crucial – whether you’re speaking in front of a group, developing a PowerPoint presentation, or crafting an important email. Ensuring that others understand your messages can help you go far in college and beyond.
Plus, understanding how to communicate with others can set you up for success for international roles in the future, as it can help you develop empathy, tolerance, and cultural awareness.
Soft Skill #4: Time Management
When you arrive in your host country, you may feel overwhelmed and not know what you should be doing or taking advantage of first. You’ll need to strike a nice balance between attending your classes, embracing extracurricular activities, and visiting all the sites you wanted to see.
Don’t worry! That’s called time management. When you plan out your weekday commitments and your weekend fun, you’ll be able to accomplish everything you set out to do during your study abroad experience.
This skill development matters because being able to manage your time effectively will benefit you both professionally and personally in the future. In the workforce, you’ll better understand how to meet deadlines and prioritize projects. Personally, you’ll get to decide how to use your down time – whether you join social clubs, volunteer for an organization, or take on home projects.
Soft Skill #5: Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (or EQ for short) has been a welcome addition to top soft skills that are important to develop. It’s the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and effectively use your own emotions while also being able to recognize, interpret, and influence the emotions of others.
By working on your EQ, you’ll learn to:
- Interact with people from different cultures and beliefs
- Overcome unfamiliar situations and language barriers
- Gain a new perspective and appreciate diverse viewpoints
- Strengthen your decision-making skills
- Manage stress and emotions
- Deepen your empathy
Embracing these skills will open your mind as you make friends who have different opinions from you – as well as become more accepting of future coworkers you may not always click with.
Read More: How Does Studying Abroad Help You Culturally?
Develop Study Abroad Soft Skills
The benefits of soft skills development – combined with the adventure of studying abroad – can position you to do well in a variety of situations, both in your host country and once you join the workforce.
CIEE offers 470+ study abroad programs to help you get there. Which one will you choose?