I help college students and interns stand out from their peers | Associate Director of Career Services for Alumni | Lecturer | Interested in a workshop for your students, interns, or career services staff? DM me!
Most students are involved on their campuses. But many of them make the same mistake: They get over-involved If you want to leverage your campus involvement to land an internship/job, don't focus on collecting general memberships in 5+ orgs. Instead, focus on 1-2 orgs and find ways to (eg.): • Lead projects • Plan and facilitate events • Contribute to strategic plans Anything where your actions directly contribute to a positive outcome. Now you'll have something impactful to share in your resume and interviews. This is often not realistic as a general member. Which is why it's better to prioritize 1-2 orgs and work your way to a leadership position. Any student can get involved in orgs. But few become leaders whose actions lift those orgs to new heights. That's how you stand out to recruiters. — PS. Unsure which org is the right fit for you? Try out a handful of them before deciding which one(s) you're most committed to. Can't find an org that resonates with you? Go and start one — you'll learn a lot by going through the founding process! (And it looks great on a resume.)
Yep, in our careers preparedness tracker we make a huge distinction between membership to a society and being committee or leading an event in a society. Community is built by action and sometimes a criticism I have of societies at university is they allow for too often for very shallow engagement from members.
This was 100% me my freshman year. I had an older student help me to see that my time was better spent on few things really well. Honestly, I had lots of FOMO until my junior year when I was elected president of my organization. It clicked. Focus begets opportunity!
I’m not sure I gave my leadership roles enough credit. Love this advice!
While focusing on a few organizations can be helpful, individual circumstances and goals matter. My involvement in various campus organizations helped me develop diverse skills and gain experience in different industries. This versatility has given me greater career flexibility. Ultimately, the best approach to campus involvement depends on individual goals and priorities.
Wish I had known this when starting college, Lasse Palomaki, but it's so true!
People see through the candidate that every single club and organization their campus offers on the resume. Loving the call out to the go and start one, a different approach Lasse!
This is such an important and key piece of advice! It is not about how many organizations you can be a part of, it is about the impact that you can have in the ones that you are a part of!
Lasse Palomaki Very interesting. Thank you for sharing
Great reminder. It's so easy to over do it in the beginning. There's a whole big world out there to try.
Peer-to-Peer Coaching for Students Looking for Career Purpose | Chairman of the Student Senate | Aspiring Educator Leader
1wThere is definitely a trial and error process when it comes to on-campus memberships. Like you said Lasse, it is better to start with more and figure out which 1-2 orgs you can be more dedicated to but also align with your interests and career goals. However, that’s not to say you can’t be a part of orgs that are strictly for fun! I know I am a memeber of the Disney club, but I have no aspiration to lead that; I just enjoy the community and events that club plans. I’m not in that club to build my resume. There needs to be a balance between the business orgs which will advance you, and the fun orgs which give you a break from the business!