The International Labour Organization, or ILO, estimates that 1 in 5 young people are unemployed. A worrisome tendency that is once again on the rise. A lack of chances, additional education, and training is to blame.
Additionally, the unemployment rate for young people will probably increase due to growing inflation, recessionary fears, and various other events that negatively impact the world.
However, I continue to get opportunities on my LinkedIn. Seven in a month were the most.
Surprisingly, the only thing visible on my profile then was my AIESEC experience. My time working for AIESEC was well spent, and I am now prepared for any circumstance.
What made my profile so attractive to several recruiters?
Here are four reasons:
1. International exposure
I've been drawn to new experiences ever since kindergarten. Even before crossing the border, I became passionate about other cultures and nations.
I didn't know why, but I began to understand after taking my Big 5 test. My top quality is "openness," which means I'm always looking to try something new.
This has motivated me to face my fears and venture to locations some of my peers would be too afraid to visit.
So, in 2015, I ended up taking an exchange to Mexico. I had the opportunity to teach German to students, and even though I was shy in front of others, the experience helped me to improve. After the exchange, I felt considerably more at ease speaking in front of a group.
I traveled to Mainland of China for my second exchange the following year—this time, educating students on the value of the environment and supporting sustainability.
Later, I worked as one of the national directors for one of the exchange programs in Thailand for an entire year.
I gained a better understanding of other cultures and working methods thanks to my travels. Given how interconnected we are today, this talent is desperately needed in the workforce.
To my advantage, 3 in 5 employers prefer candidates with international experience.
Studies also show that 97% of students with international experience will find a job faster than someone who has yet to take this step.
2. Diversified experiences
However, not everyone can afford an international experience. But luckily, at AIESEC, we offer a variety of experiences, from virtual ones to local ones, where you can upgrade.
Some of the experiences that offered me an international outlook without leaving my house were the ones where I acted as a support system for different teams.
One of my most significant experiences was as regional support for the Asia Pacific region. Not only did it offer me a different cultural outlook, but it also offered me a deeper understanding of project management.
Some of my daily tasks included communicating with different members running the internship program. Once I understood the improvement points, I could develop and implement a project that would bring results. One outcome was that 2 AIESEC national branches reintroduced the internship program I worked for.
I made sure to diversify my areas of work in AIESEC as much as possible. Taking on roles from different work fields. It allows me to engage in different conversations.
But that wasn’t all. I also aimed higher each time.
My various roles show recruiters visiting my profile a strong commitment and learning potential.
Seeing and experiencing different areas in AIESEC enabled me to see how a company works.
3. Languages spoken
Another eye-catcher on my profile has to be the languages I am speaking. Besides my native language, Romanian, I speak English and German fluently.
I love learning new languages. It gives me access to a different mindset and improves brain activity. And it gives me a competitive advantage while looking for a job.
If I were only to speak my native language, then I wouldn’t have anything more to give than everyone in Romania. That is at least how I always thought regarding languages.
Speaking an international language like English is already seen as a given when applying for a corporate job.
Soon enough, I’ll be moving to another country for a couple of months, forcing me to learn Spanish. Yet again, with an experience enabled by AIESEC as the regional manager for the American continent. And with this, I am hoping to have an opening to even more offers.
4. Profile setup
Now, none of the points mentioned above would be useful to my profile if I didn’t present it in a good way.
The last reason why I still receive job opportunities to apply to is because I managed to set up my profile.
I studied a lot about how to write a good summary for my bio, how to highlight my accomplishments, and what words to use. My previous role as a blogger for AIESEC, came in handy this time.
While writing blogs and Instagram captions, it was always a challenge to find the right words to grab the reader's attention in seconds. I learned, practicing this, how to communicate my skills and knowledge in a way that people outside AIESEC will understand.
In AIESEC, probably 90% of the time, we are doing a process or a project that will make you say “hello” again in your corporate job. But most of the time, as members of AIESEC, we have a hard time expressing this, mainly due to a lack of experience with the corporate lingo.
In conclusion
It is possible to draw an employer to you simply by your AIESEC expertise. All you need to do is learn how to make your experiences shine.
Future employers will see you more favorably the more experiences you have, especially if those experiences are diverse. It is clear to see why.
Climbing the leadership ladder in AIESEC demonstrates to potential employers that you are dedicated, committed, and aspirational because you wouldn't be in a higher position without these qualities.
Therefore, seek out the opportunities in AIESEC, national or global. You will not regret it a bit. Your future self will thank you for it.
Author: Brigitte Roji - Regional Manager of Americas 2023