Extracurriculars To Join To Boost Your Resume

By Ashley Paskill on March 12, 2021

While you will likely be spending a lot of your time in class and doing assignments and studying, you may decide that you want to be more involved on campus in ways that will help you improve your career skills and boost your resume. Even if the activities you participate in are not related to your field, getting involved can help teach you skills like time management and responsibility that will translate to jobs in your field.

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Join a student organization

One of the most popular ways to get involved on campus is to join a student organization. There are ones that may be related to your major, but you may also decide to join one because it is related to something you are interested in. Either way, joining a student organization can help you meet new people and network within your interests. If you join an organization that is related to your major, it can help boost your resume even more. Being in a leadership role in the organization can help you gain management and communication skills that you may not get by just coming to the meetings and activities as a member.

Choosing an organization that fits your interests and goals can be tough but it can be done. See if you can find a list of organizations on your school’s website with the meeting information and contact information for officers.

Also, if there is something you are interested in and your school does not have an organization for it, you can start one. Putting this on a resume can show future employers that you are willing to take initiative. This will also help boost your leadership skills as you will likely take on a leadership position as the founder of the club.

Get a job on campus

Many students often get a part-time job on campus for the financial benefits, but there are more bonuses than just that. You are able to meet other students outside of your major or your student organizations, which can help expand your network. Any kind of job of experience, even if it is not related to your major exactly, can help you build skills in leadership and communication, especially if you end up in a supervisor or managerial position. Potential jobs include working directly with your school or working in a restaurant, café, or store on campus. Having a job can help you learn time management and boost your confidence.

Campus publication

Even if you are not a journalism or English major, joining your school’s newspaper or other publications can help you develop a portfolio that shows that you are a strong communicator and know about a specific subject matter. If you are going into a field where you will be writing articles, getting involved with a college or university publication can help give you experience in working with an editor, uploading articles to content management systems, and pitching ideas. These are skills that are needed in today’s newsrooms, especially in a digital age. If you are not able to commit to the publication full-time, see if you can get involved on a freelance basis. Many student newspapers and other publications will send out emails at least weekly to let recipients know what articles are left over that need to be covered. This allows you to write something you are interested in and grow your portfolio while still being involved with other things.

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A sports team

Whether you are highly experienced in sports or are just starting out, joining a sports team is a great way to get involved and stay healthy. Being on a team allows you to learn how to work with others, especially if this is something you do not have a lot of experience in. Many schools have intramural sports for those who are less experienced or just want to do sports in a more relaxed atmosphere. Some schools even have sports like Quidditch from Harry Potter so you can combine a literary interest with your sports to make it even more fun.

Relevant research

Participating in research is a great way to boost your resume and get published, especially if you are in a STEM field or are continuing your education beyond a Bachelor’s degree in any field. Team up with a faculty member or take on a solo project and look for ways to publish your work. If you receive an award or recognition for your research, be sure to list this on your resume. Not only will this look good to future employers, but it will also show potential graduate or doctoral programs that you are committed and capable of doing research.

Professional organization

See if your campus has a chapter of a professional organization that is related to your major. This will help you get involved, have a potential leadership position in a relevant group, and network with people in your field. If you can attend local events within your college town or city through the organization, take advantage of this so that you can meet new people. Joining a professional organization can help you learn new skills and keep up-to-date on the latest trends within your chosen field.

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