It's the beginning of the semester, which means it's the perfect time to start scouting out different clubs or organizations.
Being heavily involved in college is the best way to enjoy your time there. But it can also be the best way to prepare for your future. Clubs and organizations will not only add to the value of your college experience, but also to your personal value as a future employee. Being involved brings new opportunities into your life that otherwise wouldn’t be there. Being an active member of your college campus allows you to find out your strengths and test them out. You can grow your resumé and add to the value of your name through clubs and organizations. It's certainly good to have a strong GPA in college, but it’s also important to prepare yourself for the future with more than that decimal number.
I’m extremely involved on my campus this year. I’m a member of a sorority, on the executive board for a club, part of a nerdy D&D campaign and so much more. I also work on websites and run social media accounts for various events and companies. There’s so much I’ve learned from being involved in all of these things. I'm certain that what I’ve learned will make me a prime candidate for future employers. Most of what I've learned didn't come from a class, but from experiencing other things in college. From learning time management to figuring out how to use HTML code, being more involved taught me how to do things that future employers are going to expect me to know.
They'll expect it from you, too.
Time management is a big deal to employers. Most employers expect you to know how to multitask and create time for what they want you to do. If you’ve only had to worry about four classes a semester, future employers might not think you can handle the fast pace of their business. Being involved shows that you can manage your time and still maintain your grades.
Multitasking is also very important. Employers want to know that you can handle two or three projects at once and make sure each one is done correctly. If you have to manage club activities, show up to sorority events and keep up with classwork, odds are managing multiple projects at work will be a piece of cake for you. Multitasking is one of the greatest strengths you can have when going into a new job. Employers are looking for useful employees who can do it all.
Being involved also allows you to gain various social skills. Work isn’t just about the things you have to get done, but also about the interactions you have with your boss or other employees. Having strong social skills is necessary to keep the job. People like to work with other people who can keep the office interesting or schmooze a few potential clients for them. Your boss isn’t just looking at your academic nature, but also who you are in social situations. You have to be a good fit for the office and if you aren’t involved, you may not have had the opportunity to work on your social skills. Being in clubs and organizations in college will literally force you to be social every once in awhile.
It’s so important to challenge yourself while in college and to be involved in the areas that interest you. Without that extra experience, you might allow someone else to take your dream job. Get involved in something and start adding to our personal value right away!
