A successful career is a dream of all, even more, when you have decided to pursue studies abroad. This is a crucial period of time, with studies obviously taking a centre stage. But it should never be limited to merely engrossing in studies, a mistake most students commit. Study abroad period can get you loads of international exposure, which should be utilized to transform oneself into a cosmopolitan citizen, one who effortlessly becomes part of any environment, a priced quality, rated higher than academic prowess by foreign employers.  Here are few tips on how to make most use of this period abroad and get transformed.

• Learn the local language

This is very important, as it brings down the language barrier and can make you more acceptable in the new environment.  At least, one should develop an armory with the most essential words and a couple of common salutations; this can help you start a conversation initially. Once you start getting into the communication mode, seeing your passion, it is more likely that locals might volunteer with some valuable language lessons. Though your hold on the new language may not be anything to speak about, it can have a positive bearing on prospective employers.

•  Mingle with fellow students from other cultures 

Once you have necessary vocabulary in your possession, it is time to make the most out of it.  Mingle with people from other cultures; there cannot be a better place than your university to start this. As your campus will have students from different parts of the world with different language, culture, etc, this is the most conducive environment to help develop cross-cultural skills that are highly valued by international employers.

• Take up new responsibilities

This is the right time to prove your worth in the eyes of future employers, these roles however small it might be, can project you as an individual who have the drive and initiative taking capacity. Make use of every small opportunity to showcase your abilities, organizing a small event etc can work in your favor. Volunteering is the key, as this gives opportunity to exhibit your multifaceted skills in a totally different environment.  It wouldn’t be a bad idea to help out a professor as an intern or if that is not possible, volunteer to help a local student with his / her project work. By doing small things like this, you are building up valuable experience and at the same time,  stuffing your resume with experience that make employers interested in hiring you.

• Get to know the outside environment

Don’t limit your world to the four walls of your campus.  Get to know about the community that live outside, this can start from the campus itself. Befriending a couple of local students is the way to go about. when invited to any function, make it a point not miss them, similarly, don’t waste any opportunity to interact with the local population, something which will help you get a lot of valuable information about  the geography, core industries around, local customs, traditions etc, this apart from helping you, know about career opportunities, can come handy during interviews sessions. Your prospective employee would appreciate the rich mine of information you have about the surrounding.

• Venture out of your comfort zones

This is the best time to challenge yourself and bring out the latent power within you. Don’t miss out on any opportunities to explore the country, utilizing all modes of transports possible. Immerse in local food, cultural events etc and truly blend yourself in to the surrounding like a local, this apart from gifting some wonderful experiences will equip you gain valuable knowledge about various parts of the country, travel routes, facilities etc which can really project you as someone who gel well with the local environment with ease, a quality which foreign employers love to see in International students.

Opportunity to study abroad should not only be seen as any other study phase ,it presents the perfect avenue to lean valuable insights, experiences , cross cultural skills that is vital in turning you in to a global  professional,  so make the most out of it.

Need more information on best overseas education destination  that suits your profile?  contact Santa Monica study abroad Pvt. Ltd., the trusted overseas education facilitation with over 13 years of experience in the domain, facilitating admission to over 200 universities/institutions to 20 + countries across the world. Contact us on 0484-4140999.

Preparing for your overseas study journey?  Here are, five common mistakes that you should  avoid while packing your baggage

1) Packing the baggage beyond free baggage limits

 What to carry and what to avoid is a serious dilemma for students going abroad for their studies, where one would like to fit in everything.,  right from clothes to ones favorite books, DVDs, memorable and what not.  Prioritizing things to pack is a tricky job but can save precious money by being selective. Weigh your baggage and ensures that it does not exceed free baggage limits. Some airlines do offer additional baggage for students embarking on overseas study; make sure you make the most out of it.  Check your ticket for details regarding maximum carrying limit allowed. In case of doubt, check with your airlines at least a day before to avoid last minute hassles at the airport.

2)Taking items that you can easily procure in your destination country

It is a common practice for students to shop for their entire stay period, this apart from burning a hole in your pocket can bulk up your baggage It is noticed that students take three to four pull over’s, boots etc considering the cold climate of the destination country, while you can easy procure these   at your destination country, that too at a discount and the product also would be suitable for the climatic conditions there.  This not only makes your packing east, it won’t cause extra baggage charge and storage problem in future.

3) Packing toiletries without proper care

This looks simple, but can cause unwanted delay as you might be interrogated if any visible spillage is detected during security checks.  Apart from causing extreme in convenience, this can also stain the materials one is carrying. Pack you toiletries and any other permitted liquid in proper containers which are sealed using tapes and wrapped in plastic bags.

4) Carrying prohibited or restricted items

Though not intentional, one may end up carrying prohibited or restricted items which can result in being holed up by Airport authorities and can invite trouble and can even jeopardize your travel plan.  List of prohibited and restricted items are easily available on the Internet. In case you are unsure that a particular items fall in this list. Intimate the same to the airport officials before actually getting detected by them.

5) Packing things in a jumbled up manner

Most of us are infamous for this type of packing,  where it is difficult to find locate things without having to open all the baggage this not only causes physical exertion it can cause mental discomfort. Though everyone cannot do impeccable packing, one can at least pack the most essential things together so that in case of emergency this can be found out without spending too much time.

Taking care of few small things like these can ensure that you have a stress free travel experience to your destination country. Need more information about moving to a new country for education.  Contact Santa Monica study abroad Pvt. Ltd., the trusted overseas education facilitation with over 13 years of experience in the domain, facilitating admission to over 200 universities/institutions to 20 + countries across the world. Contact us on 0484-4140999.

The world is already border less in various contexts and in such an environment, skills, knowledge and a flexible way of thinking gained through international education and experience is becoming increasingly essential.

So what are the benefits of studying abroad?

•  Opportunity to become a global specialist in line with your passion and skills
•  Advanced education system with modern facilities and learning methods
•  Practical knowledge and training by world renowned professors
•  Chance to learn new languages and mingle with different nationalities
•  Opportunity to independently handle unfamiliar situations
•  Value addition to profile with a degree from world class institutions
•  Opportunity to develop trade skills and leadership skills
•  Financial supports through scholarships, stipends, bursaries and paid Internships
•  Work opportunities for self and spouse while studying
•  Prospects for settling with family post study in PR/Work permit status

Unlike Indian education, though with the exception of a few IITs and some premier institutions focus more on the theoretical aspects, solely aiming at top grades without factoring in the employability part whereas International Universities/colleges have collaborations with industries, employers and researchers in different study fields and have partnered with them for training, lectures and campus placements and Internships, help gain real-time work experience and give students an edge over others when they begin their work life.

UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are some of the most preferred study abroad destinations for higher studies in IT, Engineering, Accounting, Business, Hospitality, Nursing, etc.

While USA tops for IT studies, engineering qualifications earned from Germany, Sweden and Norway are gaining global attention. Singapore is increasingly becoming popular for cost-effective western university qualifications. Countries like Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Latvia, and Lithuania Poland Hungary Malaysia Philippines offer quality and cost effective courses in medicine studies.

Embarking on higher studies abroad have never been this simple with easy availability of education loans and scholarships, bursaries, and paid internships.

Many countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and UK provide students with part-time work rights during academic sessions and during vacations. While Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and an increasing number of countries provide stay back options with full work rights for students to explore job opportunities and permanent residency prospects after studies provided they meet the eligibility prerequisites and the conditions for part-time and stay back.

Want a detailed counseling session on studying abroad ? contact  Santa Monica study abroad,your trusted overseas education consultant with over 13 years of experience with association across 10+ countries and over 200 universities/institutions of repute with services ranging from Colleges short listing to application submission, liaising with Universities, visa guidance, scholarship assistance , financial aid, education loan assistance to predeparture and post landing assistance.  Please feel free to reach us on 0484 -4140999.