One of the best ways to add value to your resume these days is to gain international skills and experience. That means boosting your foreign language skills, studying at a foreign business school, or both.

The Right Fit

“Learning a second language is especially desirable” for anyone studying at a U.S. business school, says John Fernandes, president and CEO of AASCB International. The best languages for boosting a resume are Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and possibly French.

Speaking French is a must if you want to study or live in France or if you work for a business that has French clients, says Fernandes. Those who live and work in France find that the French insist on using French. In other countries, such as Germany, many people are willing to do business in English.

Mandarin is arguably the most useful second language in the business world, due to China’s growing economic prowess. If you want to spending time living in China, try to learn Mandarin. The Confucius Institute at the University of Maryland, jointly established by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the Institute for Global Chinese Affairs, provides short-term intensive Mandarin instruction and Chinese culture programs.

Some MBA programs in the U.S. and abroad encourage learning not only a second language, but also a third. Fernandes recommends a third language for anyone pursuing an MBA in Europe. “Many Europeans speak as many as six languages,” he observes.

Degrees Abroad

Several MBA programs in Canada are excellent, and opportunities to study business in Asia continue to grow. Still, Europe remains the top destination for Americans who seek a prestigious international business degree.

Full time MBA programs in Europe tend to be shorter than the standard two years at U.S. schools. In 12 to 18 months, you get an intense, highly compressed curriculum while taking minimum time off the job market. Although many European programs are in English, most students are multilingual. Most European MBA programs require at least three to five years of work experience, compared with one to three years at many U.S. business schools. Some European programs require as much as eight to ten years of job experience.

“Earning an MBA abroad involves significant risk and investment,” Fernandes warns. Before enrolling, ask the school where students go after graduating. Ask yourself: “Will it lead to a job where I want to live?”

An alternative to earning your MBA abroad, of course, is to choose one of the growing number of U.S. programs that let you do part of your studies abroad. For example, the MBA program at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business includes study abroad options during the summer, and second-year students participate in a weeklong international residency.