Page 8 - euroguidance-insight-newsletter-2015-autumn

Summary: The extended understanding of international
experience

Curiosity, productivity, and resilience are attributes that employers are looking for when recruiting skilled employ-
ees. However, in a Finnish study on international mobility it was discovered that many employers are not able to
link these competences and people’s international experiences at recruitment.

Hidden competences international skills and competenc- search, and experience; interest
Many of the key competences es? What skills and competences are towards new issues; intercultural
required from new staff members associated with international expe- knowledge; and networking ability.
are the same that employers who riences? And what are the qualities These factors help us understand the
operate internationally link with driving working life now and in the value of international experience.
international experience, such as future? Productivity, resilience, and curiosity
creativity, networking ability, and can help to gain competitive advan-
general interest in new things. These The main findings of the study are tage in the working life in general,
competences clearly differ from the that employers do not necessarily not only in international organisa-
ones traditionally associated with value all learning mobility experienc- tions.
international experience, such as lan- es when recruiting new employees.
guage skills and cultural understand- The research calls for employers
ing, tolerance and broad-minded- Towards a deeper understanding of to develop a better understanding
ness. International mobility produces international competences of the new skills and competences
the kind of competences that the The Finnish study added three new needed in workplaces. They must
employers seek for, but they are not attributes to the hidden aspects of also come to understand the key
able to link these competences and international competences: pro- role international experiences play in
people’s international experiences at ductivity, resilience, and curiosity. developing these skills and compe-
recruitment. Productivity can be understood as tences.
efficiency, analytical ability, prob-
In 2012–13, the Centre for Interna- lem-solving ability, and credibility. New tools for understanding inter-
tional Mobility (CIMO) and the think Resilient employees are able to national skills and competences
tank Demos Helsinki examined how adapt, they know their limits and The study showed that tools were
employers rated the skills and knowl- strengths and are confident and per- lacking for a better understanding
edge acquired through international sistent. Curiosity forms the basis for of the international key competenc-
experiences within their recruitment many attributes linked with interna- es that young people and students
procedures. How do employers value tional experiences: the urge to learn, might have. The task of creating

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