Choosing outside activities on top of academics is a difficult and delicate task. Careful consideration should go into what you sign up for and the time commitment that is needed. Whether you are participating in several activities or maybe just one or two, any involvement is an excellent opportunity to boost your resume, enhance your skills, learn new ones, expand your network and help you stand out to employers. Here are five activities you can engage in that will elevate your resume.
Community service
The Office of Community Service and Volunteerism promotes many service events throughout the semester, each benefiting a different area of the community. Recently, they have initiated Nights of Service, where for just one hour, one day a week, you can participate in creating crafts for Lebanon Valley Home, kits for Lebanon Family Health Services, and more. These Nights of Service are a great way to learn which agency you are passionate about serving and learn about more opportunities to serve. Many organizations on campus are centered around community service like Colleges Against Cancer and Students Helping Seniors.
Adding service-centered events and clubs to your resume shows employers that you are committed to not only your studies but to your community as well. It can also help employers align your values with the company’s values as some hold their own service events throughout the year and are dedicated to their community.
Athletics
For students passionate about a particular sport and academics, being a part of a sports team is a great way to show time management and leadership skills. There are twenty-five Men’s and Women’s athletic teams at LVC, and almost a third of the student population participates in at least one of them. If the commitment to a group seems too daunting, there are plenty of intramural club teams like Archery club, Soccer club, and the Ultimate Frisbee team.
While athletics is a fun, physical pass-time, it also requires many skills that employers find essential: teamwork, communication, adaptability, and more. By simply including athletic teams on your resume, employers will know you have these qualities and might bump you to the top of the list.
Student employment
For those also looking to make some extra cash as well as enhance involvement, employment on campus is the perfect balance of both. Several entities on campus hire student employees; some positions can even count for internship credit. Whether it be lifeguarding the pool and the sports center or restocking the printers at the LTC, there’s a department on campus that is perfect for you. Check out open positions at Lebanon Valley College’s Handshake page.
Like service and athletics, having a job while in college demonstrates multiple soft skills like time management and problem-solving. Depending on the job, you also might use technical skills like customer support and specific application knowledge. Regardless, student employment is a great aspect to add to your resume to show you are a well-rounded individual.
Greek Life
There are a total of eight greek life organizations on campus, all with their own unique principles and values. For some, joining a Greek organization may be the last thing on their mind. Still, most organizations encompass many aspects already discussed, like service and team-oriented events. Greek life at LVC has built a community of its own with the creation of Greek Council. Two representatives from each organization come together to plan events like greek week and foster relationships.
Again, joining Greek life can have many benefits like connections, leadership experience, and conflict resolution skills, all good things when talking about a resume. But one particular aspect of greek life is you never know when you might meet someone else who was in the same organization or another one. This can be a great benefit when applying to jobs because a hiring manager who has this quality often has a similar experience and knows what qualities you gain from being in Greek life.
Other clubs and organizations
Besides service-oriented organizations, club sports, and Greek life, there are countless other clubs and organizations to get involved with on campus. Whether it’s Musical theater, student government, Valleyfest, or student programming board, there are more than 90 different on-campus organizations to pique your interests. And if, for some reason, you can’t quite connect with an existing club, visit the center for student engagement to establish a new club!
Getting involved in these specific organizations can benefit you and your resume immensely. The clubs you choose can say a lot about your interests, hobbies, and strengths and are great talking points when meeting with a future employer. And while almost all of them are entirely student-run, they offer great leadership opportunities, especially if you choose to start one yourself.
You got involved, now what?
So you got involved with some of the organizations mentioned above, great! But now, how do you incorporate them into your resume? That’s where the Breen Center can help. Our career coaches and peers can help you find the best ways to integrate your involvement so employers can easily know more about you and your skills. Make an appointment today through Handshake or stop by the Breen Center to enhance your resume today.
