Jack Coughlin: Alumni Profile

Posted on: 30 January 2019 by Jack Coughlin in Alumni Profiles

Study Abroad alum Jack Coughlin tells us why studying abroad was one of the best decisions he made

Choosing to study abroad was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I spent a semester on exchange at Copenhagen Business School in 2014 and will always look back on my time there very fondly. The experience of living and studying in another country, immersing myself in a new culture and being surrounded by hundreds of other exchange students from across the globe was one I very much enjoyed.

Upon returning to the UK and readjusting to life at home, the immediate benefits of my time abroad were clear; I’d become more independent, more determined to forge a career in my chosen path and I had an increased willingness to learn, which would help my studies a great deal throughout the rest of my degree. Only later did I begin to fully appreciate just how much I would benefit post-graduation from studying abroad.

For instance, I found that I had a lot more experiences to talk about at job interviews, and that interviewers were genuinely interested in hearing more about them. As only a small percentage of UK students study abroad, choosing to do so can help make you stand out from the crowd.

The personal development I underwent during my time in Copenhagen also enhanced my employability. I particularly improved my interpersonal skills, my cross-cultural awareness and my ability to adapt to diverse situations, all of which are highly valued by employers nowadays.

Perhaps most importantly, I built friendships with people from all around the world. Thanks to this, not only did I have a much more memorable experience, but I now also have a network of contacts that span nations and industries worldwide. This network has already proved highly beneficial in recent years and will only do so even more in the future.

Find out where you can Study Abroad with the University of Liverpool.