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For students preparing to intern abroad, navigating a new city or adapting to a different office culture can be just as challenging as the job itself. That’s why CEA CAPA has made career readiness a central part of its international internship programming, equipping students with the professional skills, cultural awareness, and confidence they need to thrive in a global workplace.
Pre-Departure
Understanding how to present themselves professionally is just as important as mastering their coursework. That’s the driving force behind CEA CAPA’s Professional Presence Workshop, a program designed to help students make a strong, lasting impression in international workplace settings.
Developed by CEA CAPA’s Career and Internship Specialists in collaboration with onsite staff, the workshop introduces students to the essential components of professional readiness, including email etiquette, interviewing, attire, cross-cultural communication, and workplace hierarchy. The interactive format allows for customization by destination or topic, ensuring students are prepared for the specific expectations of their host country.
Earlier this year, the workshop was piloted with 93 business students from The Ohio State University as they prepared for summer internships abroad. Delivered virtually, the session received enthusiastic feedback. One student shared that she was already applying the interview techniques from the session to prepare for a placement interview in Florence. In a post-workshop survey, 97% of respondents rated the experience as good or excellent.
Onsite
Once abroad, students continue building their professional skill sets through hands-on experience and location-specific programming. In Sydney, for example, the LinkedIn Rising Stars Competition encourages students to develop their online presence by refining their profiles, sharing reflections, and engaging with peers in a private LinkedIn group. Initiatives like this complement the core workshop content and help students remain intentional about their professional growth throughout their time abroad.
Alumni
For students returning from their programs, CEA CAPA offers the Articulation Workshop, designed to help them reflect on and communicate the value of their global experience. Grounded in the NACE Career Readiness Competencies, the workshop teaches students how to translate their study abroad journey into compelling narratives for resumes, cover letters, interviews, and LinkedIn.
Whether it's preparing for an interview or crafting a LinkedIn headline, CEA CAPA’s career-focused programming ensures students, throughout their entire experience, are not only academically ready, but professionally. Through workshops that bridge cultural and career fluency, students gain the confidence to navigate, and stand out in, the global workplace.
Learn more about how CEA CAPA internships prepare students for career success abroad at ceastudyabroad.com/internships/about-internships.