How Can Extracurricular Activities Help You Find a Job?

With societies, sports groups and volunteering opportunities available to students, there are plenty of ways to get involved with extracurricular activities at university.

 In addition to meeting people, learning new skills and having fun, extracurricular activities can be a great way to help your CV stand out to employers and will give you something to talk about in job interviews.

A 2018 study of 21 million job adverts in the UK found that soft skills and non-academic achievements are central to getting through the first stage of the recruitment process.

The general manager of CoursesOnline, Sarah-Jane McQueen, gave us her professional insight on how employers really view extracurricular activities and how students can use their extracurricular activities to stand out to employers. 

McQueen said: “Employers will be looking for candidates who can demonstrate a blend of activities and experiences.” 

She emphasized the importance of including extracurricular activities on your CV, particularly when they’re relevant to the role.

These activities should be matched, where possible, to elements of the job description “to highlight how you can translate these skills to a workplace setting,” McQueen explained. 

She said: “Both extracurricular activities and work experience have their place in developing your skill set and having practical examples to call upon during the recruitment and interview process is highly valuable.”

When hiring students and graduates, employers look for a well-rounded individual with the right mix of skills for the role, explained McQueen.

Being involved a range of extracurricular activities shows employers you “have the initiative to seek out a variety of life-enriching experiences,” she said.

Show your personality

McQueen said that while academic grades are important, your personality is also a contributing factor to securing a job. 

Extracurricular activities are a great way to show who you are and what you’re interested in, as well as differentiating yourself from other applicants. 

McQueen said: “Certain skills and ways of operating can be learned but various traits can only be forged through life experiences, so don’t be afraid of fully embracing who you are. 

“Remember, employers want to hire real people, not interchangeable drones.”

Learn transferrable skills

Through participating in extracurricular activities, students will develop soft skills which are highly valued by employers.

These skills may include – but aren’t limited to – teamwork, problem-solving, accountability, decisiveness and interpersonal skills, said McQueen.

For example, volunteering with a charity shows employers that an applicant is willing to work hard for a good cause and is likely to be compassionate to the feelings of others: a trait which is “crucial in any work setting,” explained McQueen.