I can think of many reasons why you should join a society at university but in one sentence – it’s a great opportunity for you get involved in something that you feel passionate about and meet other people with the same passion. In addition to that it may seriously help you gain the necessary skills to get your dream graduate job.
I do find it frustrating seeing job applications from graduates who have clearly worked hard to achieve a great degree at university but have nothing else to show on their CV/Application. A degree is simply not enough to get you a graduate job anymore – there is so much competition out there so you need to make sure you are doing everything you can throughout your time at university to improve your chances of securing your dream career and ensuring that your application really stands out from the rest.
Fresher’s fair season is fast approaching so what better time to get yourself out there and get signed up to a society? From sports to religion to politics, most interests are covered, including some of the more unconventional ones, such as The Curry Society at Leicester University and the Harry Potter Society at Cardiff University.
Whatever you choose you will only gain from the opportunity to develop leadership, organisation, communication and networking skills, most of which you probably won’t realise you’re gaining as you’re taking part in the various activities.
There are plenty of graduate employers out there who would love the opportunity to get involved and support your societies, whether it be through sponsorship or mentoring ask about and see what relationships you can build with potential future employers. This could be a great way to get your foot in the door with them and also gain some financial support for your society.
I view over 100 job applications per week for our management trainee scheme at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and so many people leave the ‘personal interests’ and ‘hobbies’ section blank. As a student/graduate you may be wondering what skills you have that you could list here or may even think this section is pointless to fill out. Joining a society at university will give you something to talk about in this section. For some applications this section can be the difference between an initial rejection and getting an interview. If you haven’t had a large amount of work experience within a professional environment then this section is a great opportunity to show off the skills you have built up outside of the workplace.
When you are walking around your fresher’s fair make sure you sign up to something, whether it’s the rowing, real ale or the photography society it will be a great way to meet new people, build up skills that employers are looking for and will also be an extra excuse to make the most of the night life while you’re at university.
We’re always on the lookout for graduates who have made the most of their time at university, as well as undergraduates who want to apply for our internship scheme. Take a look at our latest opportunities and apply now.
