CDC Travel Health Information: Provides travel health tips along with updates on health concerns in specific countries. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
U.S. Department of State Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets: Advises U.S. citizens concerning travel risks in specific countries. http://www.travel.state.gov
The Lonely Planet: Good information on health, maps, subway maps, observations of other travelers, etc. http://www.lonelyplanet.com
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As it is an information portal, it is free to use and has no advertising.
The guides that are most relevant to you as students can be found in the Service section. Country specific articles include:
• Visiting a Doctor in the EU.
• Renting a Property in the EU (also includes visa information and initial formalities)
• Opening a Bank Account in the EU
• Cost of Living in the EU and Budget Calculator.
UCI Center for International Education: An extensive collection of internationally-related websites. http://www.cie.uci.edu/~cie/links.html
Hostelling International (Youth Hostels): Lists cheap lodging abroad for students who have an International Student ID Card. http://www.iyhf.org
OANDA Currency Converter: This site can be used to calculate currency conversions. http://www.oanda.com/cgi-bin/ncc
MapQuest: Good maps of nearly every country, along with good country-specific information. http://www.mapquest.com
The Electronic Embassy: This is the Who’s Who in embassies in Washington, along with interesting related sites. Also check out: http://www.aneki.com/nearest_embassy_consulate.php. http://www.embassy.org
Hotels and Travel:An especially good site if you plan to undertake independent travel. http://www.hotelstravel.com
Shoreland's Travel Health Online:Country profiles (climate & topography), travel health concerns, preventive medications & vaccines, travel illness updates. http://www.tripprep.com
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO): Country health profiles, library services.http://www.paho.org/english/index.htm
Marketing Your Study Abroad Experience to Future Employers
International experience can greatly enhance your candidacy as a potential
employee and, in an increasingly competitive economy, it’s more important than ver to market your credentials as best as possible. However, according to a four year study by Michigan State University, many students are unable to articulate the skills they developed from their experiences abroad in an interview setting. Instead of effectively marketing their study abroad experiences to potential employers, students often portray study abroad as academic tourism. Don’t fall into this trap! In an interview, rather than highlighting the trips you went on and the sights you took in, talk about the traits you developed that can benefit the company you are applying for.
Think about the skills employers most value:
• Interacting with people who hold different interests, values, or perspectives
• Understanding cultural differences in the workplace
• Adapting to situations of change
• Gaining new knowledge from experiences
• Ability to work independently
• Undertaking tasks that are unfamiliar/risky
• Applying information in new or broader contexts
• Identifying new problems/solutions to problems
• Working effectively with co-workers
If you haven’t studied abroad yet, think about what skills and competencies you would like to develop abroad. How can you select a program and be proactive in gaining those skills?
If you have already studied abroad, think about how your experience separates you from the competition. What vital skills did you learn? And more importantly, how does the knowledge you gained make you a more productive and adaptable global citizen? How will it help you contribute to the company?
Like any other activity, such as an internship, your study abroad experience must be “unpacked” and then applied towards future challenges. It’s not enough to simply spend time abroad, you must be able to articulate the skills you gained that will help you in the context of the workplace. If you would like tips or practice, visit the Career Center. They offer a number of resources and services including resume critique and mock interviews!
Career Center
715 South Wright Street
333-0395
careercenter.illinois.edu
