How To Update Your Resume After Living Abroad
So, you’ve been living overseas and not working a traditional job. And now you have a “gap” on your resume? You’ve come to the right place. I feel your anxiousness but I’m here to tell you there doesn’t need to be a gap on your resume. You were doing amazing things abroad and learning new skills that will serve you well in your future career. I will help you fill in that “gap” so future potential employers will be intrigued and impressed with your resume rather than driven away from it.
Now let’s clean up that resume.
What Have You Been Doing?
First, tell the reader what you have been doing since your last job. I understand how living overseas can quickly fill your days but you need to assume the reader of your resume knows nothing about living overseas. Have you been volunteering? Have you been taking care of your household? Spending time exploring your surroundings or learning a new language? Started a side hustle to earn money?
These are all great things that future employers would love to know about. They show initiative, that you’re able to think outside the box and that you’re a hard worker. If you only have a big blank on your resume, they’re going to assume you didn’t do anything.
Skills Learned While Living Overseas
What skills have you learned living overseas that will directly correlate to the workplace? I actually think there are soo many that you’ll have trouble narrowing it down. The biggest one that I think everyone should include is communication skills.
If you’ve been living in a country that does not speak your native language, you have had to use verbal and nonverbal communication skills like crazy! Think about it, every time you leave your house (and sometimes in your home!), you’re put into a world that you cannot easily communicate with. Whether it’s ordering food, asking for help, or reading street signs. You have to learn ways to communicate to make a life in a new country. And it’s not easy.
Your communication skills have definitely been refined while living abroad. And employers are always looking for people who can communicate well.
Other Skills
Other skills that come to mind are adaptability or flexibility. Other cultures are not as rigid as Western cultures. This takes getting used to and adapting to your new destination. Employers love this because it shows you can thrive outside your comfort zone.
Were you a stay-at-home-mom-or-wife? Did you have a maid, nanny or driver? Or anyone that you paid for their services, such as a repair person?
I’m sure your negotiating skills were put to the test almost monthly when it came to pay, time off and services. These things aren’t as clearly defined in other countries and it’s definitely a negotiation that gets revisited several times a year. Being able to handle yourself during a negotiation (much less in a different language!) is a rare skill employers will appreciate.
A Separate Skills Section
Create a separate “skills acquired while living overseas” section. You have gained specialized skills most people don’t have and it deserves its own space on your resume. Don’t sell yourself short! The skills you learned living overseas will be a great advantage to your new employer.
A Diverse Mindset
Side note - anyone that has lived abroad understands how diversity is a huge part of their life. And employers are looking for potential employees that will thrive in a diverse environment.
This not only means race and nationality, but diversity of thought as well. Remember that culture that was nothing like yours? Well, you gained a whole new perspective living and assimilating to that culture. And your new way of looking at things will always be a part of your decision making.
Employers want someone who can bring new and diverse ideas to the table. Having a diverse mindset is not easy to find on the job market and simply by living in a new country, you have expanded this for yourself. Be sure to play this up on your resume!
How do These Skills Benefit the Employer?
Employers need to be shown how the new skills you gained while living overseas will translate into their workplace. You need to fit the pieces together for them.
To do this, review the job description and write out the requirements, job duties or skills they’re seeking which correlate directly with the skills you’ve learned. These are the bullet points you’ll want to include under your most recent experience, titled “Expat Living in __ Country”.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
For example, let’s say one line in the job description of a job you’re interested in applying for says “Coordinate and manage a project between multiple internal groups”.
Next, think about how over the past few years you’ve had to coordinate things. Maybe you had to coordinate your move overseas. Were there a lot of moving parts? Visas? Finances? Selling goods? Buying goods? Packing for the entire family? Juggling packing in suitcases, air shipments and sea shipment? Well, that’s a lot of coordinating. That's serious real world experience that correlates to “Coordinate and manage a project from multiple internal groups”. Don’t you think?!
Now put that on your resume! Something along the lines of “Coordinated 2 international moves”. And be ready to explain in a phone or in-person interview what all it entailed.
This is a great way to tie the skills you learned while living overseas in with the job description and stand out as an ideal candidate. Even if you haven’t had a traditional job for the past few years.
Examples for your Resume:
Below, I’ve provided some examples of how you can show future employers what you’ve done overseas and the skills required for those activities.
Taught English to local population. Including preparing lessons, communicating in foreign language & offline help
Held Treasurer position for the Women's Association. Responsible for collecting dues, balancing association budget & organizing monthly meeting notes
Helped organize fundraiser for local orphanage
Managed household staff of 3. Included interviewing, negotiating & having difficult conversations
Coordinated weekly women's group, including organizing food, entertainment & logistics
Copywriting & photography skills by creating an instagram account @insertname
If you follow these steps when updating your resume, that gap you were concerned about will disappear. In its place you’ll have an awesome section that highlights what you did with your time overseas. And the skills you learned while living overseas. I’m so excited for you because this will actually help you stand out to employers in today's diverse job market!
Be sure to follow me on instagram @melissarespinosa for more expat living content.
