How Traveling Can Give Your Resume A Great Boost

The world is too big to stay in one place

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” ― St. Augustine

If you are a bit of a globetrotter like me, you might wonder if this is going to increase your chances of getting a job.

The answer is a big YES.

Although I only worked in a few countries, (Ireland the UK and Italy) I found that when I traveled during breaks and vacations, the rewards were priceless.

I did a good chunk of the globe from the US to Russia taking in most European countries, plus China, Brunei, and Thailand. Then I went through a Middle East phase and took trips to Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.

But as a postgrad, can all this globetrotting really help your career?

Another resounding YES.

Here are 10 things hiring managers are looking for when they interview you. Talking about your travel experiences will give them an insight into your character which no resume will ever reveal.

You can easily list these places in your “Other Experience” section of your resume.

1. How curious are you?

If you have traveled at all, it is pretty obvious that you are more than curious about different cultures, languages, and lifestyles. When that curiosity is present in the workplace, it means that you are much more likely to

· Question procedures and policies to discover how to improve them

· Be willing to learn new skills rather than wallow in ignorance

· Be more creative and innovative

In Michael Dell’s opinion, curiosity will be a great asset for the future.

“I would place my bet on curiosity.” — Michael Dell, CEO Dell

2. How open-minded are you?

When traveling, you come across many lifestyles, ethics, and food! You are willing to try most things and also question certain lifestyles with a critical eye. According to the Harvard Business Review, openmindedness is a great leadership trait to possess at any stage in your career.

3. How adaptable are you?

Anybody who has traveled independently and has had to cope with poor accommodation and difficult climates will demonstrate coping skills which will always be useful. Driving in these countries can be a real challenge!

I still talk about how I left Damascus driving a hired car without making one mistake. We were on the right road to Palmyra. Not bad considering all the signs were in Arabic which nobody in the car (including me) understood! You can read about my Syrian adventures here.

Being adaptable is going to be a great plus when the company uses teamwork to forge ahead.

Also, you are much less likely to view change with suspicion and even hostility. You are just more open to adjustments in management and office procedures.

4. How are you on time management?

Getting from A to B can be a challenge when you have to stick to timetables and not miss connections. You have shown great time management skills when you visited a country in X number of days and you got back in one piece! Setting smart travel goals is a great skill that can easily be transferred to the workplace when you have to plan a project for your team.

5. How are your foreign language skills?

Many jobs will be in the frontline of dealing with international clients and your knowledge of a foreign language based on your traveling will be a great asset. Your knowledge of a foreign language will come in handy for networking, attending conferences and communication. You will be on the fast track for promotion if you can use these language skills. You can read about some useful tips which I wrote about here.

6. Give us an example of when you moved out of your comfort zone.

You can talk here about an emergency when traveling — maybe your passport was stolen? Talk about how you coped. You might want to mention a similar experience when studying or when training for a job. Moving out of your comfort zone at work might involve:-

· Asking awkward questions

· Trying something new

· Changing your routine

· Accepting a new challenge

· Giving up control by delegating

7. How are your teamwork skills?

If you have traveled with a group of friends, you need teamwork and how! It’s a great way to show how to collaborate, make decisions and even give up something you really wanted to do or a place you wanted to visit. You did that to meet your group goals when the collaboration was essential. These are great teamwork skills.

Traveling is a win-win. You will experience wonder and beauty in fascinating settings while gaining some great new skills for your dream job.

“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” ― Anita Desai