Make the Most of Your Opportunity to Study and Work Abroad!
The renowned ERASMUS programme, an acronym for the official name in English, European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students , is a plan managed by various public administrations that supports and facilitates the academic mobility of university students and professors within the Member States of the European Union; as well as the three countries that make up the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), and Switzerland and Turkey.
Last year, it revealed a record number of students born in the United Kingdom who preferred to work and/or enter universities in other European nations (13,668 study periods or jobs), the highest since the programme was launched in 1987; which reaffirms the current trend of observing an increasing number of young people who want to pursue a professional career outside the borders of their countries , but not all of them succeed.
If you are one of the lucky ones, follow these tips to make the experience enriching and unforgettable:
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1) Don’t close the doors to the unknown
Deciding to study or work abroad provides all kinds of skills, even if it’s just a year-long course.
Going to a foreign college or university offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture, and to learn a whole host of things beyond academics.
It’s also a way to develop and acquire valuable social and interpersonal skills, such as communication, poise, confidence and friendships; and to open your mind to new possibilities, such as living anywhere on the planet, if you so choose.
2) Learn a new language
It is very important that if you plan to live permanently outside of your home country, you take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad.
One of the greatest benefits is learning to speak other languages, through classes in university classrooms and daily practice within the community.
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If you immerse yourself fully in that new culture and try to socialize with natives, you will be able to increase your language skills.
These efforts will be worth it, when you become fluent and are well regarded by potential employers.
3) Establish contact networks
Students who have the best connections after graduation are those who were social and willing to attend extracurricular events and activities while in college.
These opportunities are ideal for meeting potential colleagues and clients, as well as potential employers, and they also allow candidates to demonstrate their interest and enthusiasm. The same goes for making friends.
4) Don’t “detach yourself” from your home
Being away from home for long periods of time makes you miss friends, family, and your possessions.
It’s normal to feel this way, and one of the ways to overcome it is to take some of your favorite belongings with you.
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Most international moving companies offer guides for various countries that indicate the rules and regulations for moving items; this way, you can ask your loved ones to send you packages with a lovely flavor, smell, or texture typical of your country from time to time that will make you feel more at home.
5) Make friends
Meeting people and creating lasting friendships is another great way to network, and it also guarantees you a place to stay if you decide to return one day.
Plus, people born in the place where you are studying are the best people to advise you on where to shop at good prices, which bank to open an account at, or where is the best place to live.
6) Know foreign industries
Those who have worked for a year in a country other than their own have valuable experience within a specific industry that they could not have gained at home.
For example, if you are a professional in the technology field , it is very likely that you have chosen Japan or the United States to take the first steps in your career.
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Once established, there are countless growth opportunities for you, even in other markets, where you may be an attractive prospect for companies considered as “competition” for the company where you acquired your initial knowledge.
7) Don’t lose contact
Nowadays, it is very easy to keep in touch with people you know during your travels, jobs and student programs; thanks to social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
It is very important not to lose communication, as you will be able to detect possible employment opportunities or be contacted by potential employers looking for professionals with your profile.
