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Building Your Entry Level Resume

Participation in Campus Activities Creates a Stronger Resume

May 5, 2008

Getting involved in campus activities can help college students create a better resume.

Every college offers a plethora of campus activities for students to choose from. While the dizzying array may make choosing an appropriate campus activity to participate in overwhelming, what activity you choose to participate in is not as important as simply choosing to participate.

Why Get Involved

To further explore an academic interest
To expand knowledge of a personal hobby
To meet new people
To find a mentor
To get to know your professors
To become a student leader

Exploring Academic Interests

Joining an academically-oriented campus activity will allow you to learn more about a specific topic. By deepening your knowledge of a specific topic, you build expertise and can then list this academic interest as a specialty on your resume.

Specialties can set entry-level job seekers apart. Would you rather hire a History major? Or a History major with a specialty in Euro-American trade conflict?

Maybe your college or university's academic clubs are more generic and less specific. If so, this provides a great opportunity for you to create a subcommittee within the club to focus on your specific academic interest. This provides your and others with an opportunity to become specialists and to explore academic areas that the majors and minors at your school might overlook.

Expanding a Personal Hobby

Even if you aren't a science major, you may still be interested in working to preserve the environment. Even if you are a mathematics major, you may still be interested in education and helping children learn math. Don't be limited by your major! If you have a hobby explore it by joining an appropriate campus activity.

Campus groups and college clubs are not typically limited to those of a specific educational or ethnic background. Just as an academic specialty can push your resume above other entry-level job seekers, so can expertise with a hobby. Let your resume show your many interests and your diverse knowledge.

As a recent college graduate your resume may be light on previous work experience, but it can be rich with experience, expertise, and specialties gained through participation in a campus activity.

Meeting New People

Every year a new college class is welcomed at every community college, four-year college, and university. How do you expand your networking? How do you create a larger circle of friends? Join a club!

Don't limit yourself to people you already know and friends of friends. Take a leap and put yourself out there by joining a campus activity you've never tried before! You might meet the man or woman of your dreams, meet a contact that can help you land your dream job, or just have more options for your Friday nights.

Finding a Mentor

Many college professors mentor students as part of their work with the college, but what if you're looking for a mentor that you can more easily relate to? You can find a mentor within a college club. Seniors hope to leave a favorable impression upon the younger classes and may be willing to mentor a like-minded freshman or sophomore.

Lots of campus activities actively recruit distinguished off-campus speakers to hold lectures and other activities. One of the off-campus speakers could be your best contact, leading into a healthy mentoring relationship. A mentor is essential to have, as he or she can make sure your entry level resume makes it into the hands of the people who can be most helpful to you in your job search.

Getting to Know Your Professors

Professors are people, too. They have pet peeves, families, and favorite TV shows. By joining a club that is sponsored by a specific department or professor you can get to know your professor outside of the classroom.

Getting to know your professor outside of the classroom can help you better understand his or her grading philosophy and help you avoid any pet peeves in your projects and assignments, leading to better grades. If your GPA is impressive enough, it can be included on your resume. Don't forget, many companies with entry level positions require a college transcript to be submitted. Don't let a poor GPA be the reason your dream job slips away.

Becoming a Student Leader

Specialties and areas of expertise are certainly important and should be listed on a resume, but even more important is a record of your leadership activities. It's not enough to be the go to person when group projects are assigns. Holding an executive position within a campus activities allows you to show that you aren't afraid of commitment, that you dedicate yourself to doing a job well, and that you have the potential to advance in any arena.

Proudly list your involvements in campus activities, student groups, and student government administrations (SGA) on your resume. Show potential employers that you're management material, that you have the drive to succeed, and that you're better qualified than the other candidates.

Regardless of your major, minor, or career goals, get involved in campus activities to set your resume and experience apart from other job seekers.

The copyright of the article Building Your Entry Level Resume in Campus Activities is owned by Tracey Carter. Permission to republish Building Your Entry Level Resume in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.