4 May 2015
RYAN CHEE
Here are some tips on how you can make use of co-curricular opportunities during your university years to boost your employability.
1. Start by reflecting on the things that you’re interested in
Skills: Self-reflection
First of all, you have to decide what are you really interested in, there is no point joining a society that you have no interest in just because it will enhance your CV. Same goes for your career, without the right motivation and passion, you will not be able to dedicate 100% and chances are you might give up halfway. Therefore, do take time to consider what you’re really interested in, there are a multitude of options, be it sports, volunteering or even better – related to the industry you want to work in. For me, that’s the Trading and Investment Society!
2. Attend Open Days
Skills: Communication, interpersonal
There’s no better way to get first-hand advice and answers from committee members of societies than doing so at a fresher’s fair! Attending in person allows you to speak to people during these networking events. You get a feel for what the people are like in the society, and if you have prepared some questions to ask them, your questions will most probably be answered on the spot. What’s more, most societies give out freebies at their booths, so why not pop by and find out more about your prospective society, practice your communication and interpersonal skills as well as grab a pick-n-mix?
3. Apply to be an ambassador for your faculty
Skills: Teamwork, work experience, communication, leadership, time management
One of my favorite and most rewarding roles in the university is being an ambassador for the business school. I applied to be an ambassador when given the opportunity and was selected for the position by my student community. There are numerous benefits being an ambassador for the business school – skills gained through working with the admissions team and collaborating with other ambassadors, the flexible schedule means that your studies will not be affected. Most importantly, the ambassador position serves as great experience for your CV (getting paid isn’t too bad either).
4. Run for a committee position in your society
Skills: Leadership, interpersonal, communication, teamwork, time management, Confidence
By running for a committee position, you are demonstrating that you would like to assume a leadership role, and you will be one of the key influencers toward developing the society’s success. It takes great confidence to deliver your speech in front of everyone in the AGM (annual general meeting), however if you’re already familiar with the members during your first year, you will have already built up the necessary rapport. Testing and perfecting your interpersonal and communication skills will improve your chances of being voted into the committee. Do remember to read through the specific roles of each position and decide which ones are more suitable for you, do not run for the sake of running a position, committee roles require a lot of commitment and if you do not enjoy the role you’re doing, it will be a tough year for you.
5. Be open-minded and try something new
For those of you who can’t decide on point 1 and for those who would like to pick up something new, I would strongly recommend you to try out a new sport, language or volunteering. From personal experience, most people who successfully land a good graduate role are those who are disciplined, have a specific sport or volunteering activity they have committed to throughout university, showing determination and passion for a specific role. This is what employers seek in a graduate, and these are points that you can discuss during job applications, as well as demonstrate that you will be able to take up the challenges faced in the future.
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MEET Ryan Chee
Ryan is currently pursuing his Bachelors (Hons) in Economics and Finance at the University of Leeds, He is extremely passionate about businesses, stock markets and volunteering for animal related causes, he wishes to be a management consultant someday.
