The debating society
Michael Parker, a second year History and Politics student at the University of Newcastle thinks that his role as president of the University’s debating society has put him in a great position when it comes to applying for jobs.
‘The skills required in public speaking – style, rhetoric, following a line of argument and thinking on your feet - are all things that I feel are transferable to the employment sector, and are highly desirable.’
‘If you can handle yourself at the head of a table, speaking confidently for seven minutes on the nuclear situation in Korea, then you can probably handle most situations thrown at you by a variety of jobs.’
Cricket and rowing sports clubs
Sarah Berman, a final year Maths student at Oxford University, also thinks that the experience she has gained through taking up active positions in cricket and rowing clubs will help her career prospects.
‘Through being on the committee of sports clubs, I have learned to manage people and delegate responsibility. I have also acquired the basics of accountancy through my work as a club treasurer, and gained event management experience whilst helping organise inter-collegiate rowing races.’
‘I shall leave Oxford with skills that I'll probably be using for the rest of my working life. One of the most important things I've gained is the ability to organise my time effectively, so I am able to do my work and socialise on top of all of these commitments.’
‘I may have had a hectic four years but I have absolutely no regrets!’
Develop key business relevant skills
Michael and Sarah are not the only ones who think their involvement with university clubs and societies will help them secure a good job. Emma Fripp, Arcadia Group Resourcing Manager, agrees.
‘Students can develop business relevant skills through clubs and societies. From a retail perspective, leadership and team working are crucial competencies, and these can often be demonstrated by students who have had specific roles within sporting or even social societies.’
Your involvement with clubs or societies can also be the crucial element that makes your CV stand out amongst a pile of similar CVs from graduate applicants.
Offering a bit more looks great on your CV
‘I am often faced with several individuals with suitable academic qualifications,’ says Jim Alford, who recruits graduates to work in Sefton Council.
I am therefore looking for those candidates who show they can offer that bit more. Involvement in clubs and societies can be used to demonstrate some of the qualities we are looking for.’
‘These include general skills such as teamwork, project and people management, and the ability to prioritise. Sometimes involvement in voluntary organisations can also lead to specific qualifications that may be relevant to the workplace.'
Keep a record of all your achievements
To make the most of your experiences with clubs and societies, don’t forget to keep a record of challenges you have overcome. Read through this before you attend interviews, as employers will often ask you to describe a situation in which you have used a particular skill.
So if you have captained the Ultimate Frisbee team or lead the Swing Dance troop to glory, don’t forget to make the most of it in your job applications.
If you can draw upon specific experiences that present practical evidence of your talents, you’ll soon have employers asking you to join their club.
