FALL & WINTER EDITION

Brio Skills invites you to reflect and move forward to success. Brio Skills can work with you and your academic institution to set and achieve your goals while wishing you joy, happiness, and a healthy lifestyle in 2021! In 2021, we look forward to continuing our prosperous partnership. Thank you for being our clients and suppliers. To all of you, thank you for your kindness and rewarding moments from everyone at Brio Skills! Let's work together towards a new strategy, consultancy, and educational training plan for success in 2021!

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 18th, 2021.

THE NETWORK: YOUNG LEADERSHIP STYLE

BRIO SKILLS INTERVIEWED: RITA GUZMAN

In this edition, Brio Skills brings the perspectives of a young and dynamic professional with a strong interest in international programs.

Let's meet Rita!

BRIO SKILLS INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. How can a young professional select the best international experience? If you are in an undergraduate or graduate program, I always suggest speaking to the study abroad office of your home university first. If you are a young professional that has graduated, there are programs such as the Fulbright or auxiliary programs where you can teach English or do research abroad. In selecting an international experience, ask yourself the following questions: Is there a location I've wanted to travel to and explore? Possibly return to in the future to live or work? Do I want to improve my skills in another language? Do I need or want course credit? Are there current events I should know about? What is the culture like in that country? These questions will help narrow the many options available in international experiences.
2. Why might an employer value an international experience? International experiences have many benefits for employers. They teach you how to be incredibly adaptable, see other viewpoints (through intercultural communication), and solve problems. These skills are critical in the workplace with any employer. Your ability to put yourself in an unfamiliar international setting speaks volumes about what you will be able to handle and contribute to in your work.
3. Would you provide three tips on how to highlight an international experience on a resume?
   • Tip 1: You can highlight an international experience in its own section on your resume.
   • Tip 2: If you did an international internship or job, you could list the job title along with your other work experiences in chronological order. Be sure to designate where the internship was and the internship employer or provider.
   • Tip 3: If you have space, you can add the skills obtained from the internship in a “Skills” section. If you learned or improved a language, add a section on your language proficiencies
4. How does the remote virtual environment contribute to the international experience?  What are the pros and cons? The remote virtual environment has provided a lot of great experiences that may not have been as accessible before. Virtual internships have been an alternative option that not only showcases what it’s like to work in a remote environment, but also obtain international professional experience. Virtual international experiences still give you the benefits of in-person internships and even allow for exploration or collaboration with multiple locations (instead of just one in person). In terms of pros and cons, starting with the cons: “meeting” up with colleagues for lunch or after work may be a little more difficult given time differences, you need to be aware of the time differences and be ready to deliver projects on a timely basis, and you wouldn’t be in-person to see the sights abroad. As for pros: virtual international experiences are a lot more flexible in terms of time (could be program length or hours). You can also typically balance the experience with other commitments and could do the experience from anywhere! This option is also much lower in cost than in-person experiences and allows for diverse people (for example, those with other personal commitments, those with disabilities, and those concerned about traveling abroad) to participate in international programs. 
5. What would be the best advice you could give to a young person starting out in business life? My advice is to advocate for yourself and your ideas. It’s better to let your company know you have something to contribute early on, so speak up if you have thoughts or questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance if needed or develop mentors in the field. Having a support network in business life is essential to keeping you focusing and looking ahead to what you can accomplish! 

BRIO SKILLS VIRTUAL PROGRAM FOR STAFF, ADULTS & PARENT DEVELOPMENT

Spanish or English, you can choose the language!

And Brio Skills can develop new content or curriculum for your academic institution, program, or engagement strategy.

BRIO SKILLS HUMANITARIAN RESOURCES WINDOW