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It’s no secret that achieving high academic results and mastering a second language such as English will set your CV apart from other candidates when applying for jobs. However, having those decent hard skills written in your CV might not always be enough these days. Indeed, those hard skills are still important, but employers also greatly value soft skills that often derive from life experiences these days. As mentioned by The Balance Careers, employers would demand a balance of hard and soft skills in their staff.
HARD SKILLS vs SOFT SKILLS
Simply put, hard skills are those that have to be learned through formal study. These include academic skills and vocational skills that you can obtain by completing school, vocational education, and universities or higher education. On the other hand, soft skills are those that help you get through life better and get on with people. These include interpersonal skills, mental skills, and practical skills.
Studying abroad in Australia will deliver certain hard skills, especially the language skills that are so valuable in the modern world. However, the experience of learning surrounded another culture will affect you more thoroughly than just increasing your vocabulary.
Classified into 3 categories, here are 9 soft skills that will obtain through living and studying abroad in Australia:
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
1. Cultural Awareness
Studying abroad in Australia gives you the chance to get under the skin of another culture in a way that simply travelling will not reach. As well as learning about the local community, you can meet and study with people from all over the world. In international affairs, cultural understanding will serve you well and will make you more employable. Experiencing new ways will render you more tolerant of the differences between people. In the modern world, interacting with different people is a critical soft skill.
2. Networking
A terrific communication skill will lead you to a great network. Communication does not only refer to the improvement of English as your second language. It also refers to the general communication skills that you can learn through engaging with your friends from all across the world, various university activities, or even part-time jobs. By the end of the day, you’ll be better at conveying thoughts and listening to others in both your first and second languages. You will also be able to network, which will help you get a job.
MENTAL SKILLS
3. Self-Reliant
Studying abroad in Australia takes courage. If you are used to receiving help from people around you such as your parents, studying in Australia will push you out of this comfort zone. Yes, it can be overwhelming to stay in a place where you are not familiar and to spend time with people you have just met. However, with the support of the amazing people you will meet in this country, you will involuntarily learn the true value of becoming independent, handling your own responsibility, and turning into a self-reliant individual.
4. Problem Solving
By dealing with daily challenges that you might encounter while living abroad in Australia, you will develop great problem-solving skills. These challenges will mostly be related to adult matters such as finding a job, managing your finances, arranging your transportation, and many others. With the different resources and surroundings here in Australia, you will be pushed to think creatively and solve these problems independently.
5. Emotional Stability
It is not uncommon for students who are living abroad in Australia to feel homesick. Missing your family and hometown is a natural feeling that is inevitable. However, overcoming homesickness will help you to thicken your skin and gain emotional stability. Ultimately, this will help you to mature and be ready to face potential problems that you may face in your future career.
PRACTICAL SKILLS
6. Adaptability
Initially, it will not be easy to study and settle in Australia as you will need to adapt not just to the English language, but also to the food, weather, culture, laws and many other things. Similarly, the environment that you will encounter in your future workplace will be unpredictable and always dynamic. Thus, being able to quickly adjust to your environment will be helpful to you and desirable to employers.
7. Self-discipline
Nobody is going to force you to wake up in the morning and attend your classes, just as nobody is going to force you to do your assignments. It requires self-discipline to do all of these responsibilities as a student living abroad in Australia. Ultimately, this trait will be molded in your personality and help you in your work environment.
8. Time Management
Your experience in Australia will teach you to be self-motivated and diligent in your approach to class work. The culture of Australian colleges and universities places the burden on you to work and be on time. Being able to prioritise your schedule to fulfil the standards of the professor is something you’ll learn without even understanding it, or maybe learn it the hard way after you turn up late for class!
9. Finance Management
Living abroad in Australia will teach you how to manage your finance independently from your parents. Besides, a part-time job has become an interesting opportunity that most overseas students are willing to pursue. Apart from the experience, you are going to gain in the workplace, you will also have the ability to enjoy every cent you earn through your hard work. With these insights, we assure you that you’re going to be able to handle your finances very well.