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| Gillian Kay Career Services Management Consultant |
One great thing that I love about UC Merced is the countless
leadership opportunities and campus involvement that are available to all
students. I’ve encountered a sophomore who became president of her sorority, to
a junior who serves as a resident assistant for over 80 freshmen students.
Getting involved on campus or in the Merced community is something all students
should consider doing while going through the collegiate experience. Campus
involvement can vary from research, to part-time jobs, clubs, and
activities. Getting involved is so
important because they are stellar resume builders especially for candidates
who have had no previous work experience.
My first leadership role on campus was at my
first job, the Career Services Center. When I first started applying for jobs I
had no previous work experience to put on my resume. However, I had plenty of
leadership experience in community service and student government during high
school. My high school leadership experience portrayed to recruiters that I had
relevant skills that could be applicable for the position such as teamwork,
time management, and event planning. So if you don’t have any work experience,
start changing that today by joining a club on campus that interests you
because who knows, maybe employers would also like to know what you like to do
and what you are involved in.
Employers consider
leadership and volunteer experience as a substitute for real work experience because
essentially the skills that they look for in a prospective employee can be
found in different ways like through a campus club. The most popular skill that
recruiters look for in a prospective employee is communication, and the best
way to enhance communication is through campus involvement. Being a part of two
organizations and a part-time job has really strengthened my correspondence and
communication techniques. The most common forms of communication that I use on
the job or as Chapter President are emails and phone. Having professional
correspondence skills are critical because you are not only representing
yourself, but a company or organization. In other words, you are being held to
a higher standard and that’s what some companies and departments on campus look
for in their prospective employees. This example displays how a simple skill
like communication can be built from previous work or organizational
experience. If joining an established club on campus is not for you then
consider creating one at UC Merced.
Entrepreneurial
and innovation are prime skills to have on your resume, especially in today’s
economy. Creating a club that you are passionate about is almost like starting
your own company. You have to create a plan, propose the idea to certain
officials, look for members, do some paperwork, and the list carries on.
Creating a club on campus not only gets you involved but others too, and the
dedication put forth into creating it displays an entrepreneurial spirit and
leadership skills to hiring managers. Getting involved on campus can benefit
you in so many ways from the work force to personal skill enhancement.
