In a competitive job market, it is crucial for university students, recent graduates, and professionals to participate in new experiences to stand out. Therefore, one of the main opportunities is to participate in extracurricular activities, especially those that take place within the universities themselves.
Participating in these activities is very important for a student's academic and professional life. Besides adding value to their resume, they provide increased knowledge in different areas—and who knows, you might discover something you never imagined yourself doing.
In this post, we'll talk about the importance of extracurricular activities in college, and you'll learn about some of them. Let's go?
What are extracurricular activities?
As the name suggests, extracurricular activities are practical experiences that are not part of the curriculum of a university course. Although many students think they are tiring and not relevant to put on a resume, if you know how to choose them well, they can be quite fun.
Why are these activities important?
The main reason for participating in extracurricular activities is to increase knowledge. For students who are not yet in the job market and need new experiences, they are fundamental for... learn about professional areas which can be completely different. Even though some young people do internships alongside their university studies, these experiences are valuable for delving deeper into these discoveries.
It's worth highlighting that extracurricular activities are essential for enhancing an academic degree—in addition to contributing to students' personal and professional development. Many HR professionals consider whether a candidate has dedicated themselves to extracurricular studies throughout their university life, which can be very helpful in future career prospects. job interviews.
What are some examples of these activities?
Extracurricular activities can be divided into several categories. Some university students prefer social work, while others enjoy sports or cultural activities. The important thing is to identify what suits you best and invest your time in it so that it truly makes a difference in your education.
Keep reading to see some of these examples below.
Volunteer work
Volunteering is one of the most enriching jobs a young person can do. Besides helping others, this type of experience brings a very positive feeling to those who do it. Several institutions are responsible for projects that help build houses for people with limited financial resources and the homeless, for example.
This extracurricular activity is highly valued by companies hiring new employees. This is because it demonstrates that the person possesses several characteristics, such as the ability to multitask and proactivity. In an interview, it is crucial that the candidate can explain their role.
With the advancements of the internet, it has even become possible to volunteer online. This is especially helpful for those with busy schedules that involve... study and work, This is an ideal practice, as it doesn't even require leaving home. Some examples of this modality are producing texts for NGOs and managing social media.
Sports practices
Sport is one of the activities that most promotes social interaction, leadership skills, and teamwork. Participating in university competitions can be an option for young people who enjoy physical activity and want to improve their skills. curriculum in college. In several institutions, they even count as supplementary hours, which are necessary for the student to graduate.
In higher education, sports also foster networking among students. To form teams, they often have to go beyond their circle of friends and connect with young people from other fields. During training sessions, it's possible for various exchanges of experiences and valuable knowledge to occur, contributing to their development.
Besides improving physical fitness, sports also enhance psychological and reasoning abilities. Football, for example, is an activity that allows young people to develop a sense of community and respect for others. In addition to making professionals more balanced at work, it also helps them cope better with adversity.
Scientific initiation
A very interesting extracurricular activity for young university students is scientific initiation. Several colleges offer students the chance to research a topic of their interest in depth. If they wish, they can present this project to the institution—if approved, they can receive a scholarship and support from their professors to continue its development.
This activity is a great option for those interested in pursuing an academic career or wishing to delve deeper into theoretical content. Because it starts with study and research, scientific initiation greatly enriches the degree and the university student's resume.
Junior Enterprise
Although not present in all universities, junior enterprises are excellent institutions for increasing the knowledge of young people who are starting out in the field. labor market. Generally, they are able to convey some of the professional experience that the university student will have when practicing the profession.
Many junior enterprises offer the chance to lead large projects, experience a professional routine, and... improve networking with major business leaders who are already established in the market. This extracurricular activity offers the opportunity to learn in practice what works and what needs improvement in the area where the student wishes to pursue their career.
Student unions
Participating in student unions is a way to demonstrate your ability to lead university movements focused on social issues. In addition to increasing your knowledge of how to interact with people in general, this activity also expands your network of contacts—after all, it's necessary to constantly communicate with other students and academic centers.
For students who want to acquire new knowledge and wish to pursue a political career, for example, being part of a student union is a great way to start. Furthermore, it puts them in situations where they need to make important decisions for the students at their college.
Exchange
O exchange This can be considered the extracurricular activity that will demand the most responsibility from you. This is because a trip to another country will require you to fend for yourself, whether it's paying a bill, planning your logistics on-site, or simply making a shopping list.
That's without even mentioning that you'll be in contact with a different culture and language.
These are different environments that present significant challenges for exchange students. It takes courage and, above all, the ability to adapt quickly to a new reality.
In this scenario, a language course is another extracurricular activity you can invest in. English, for example, is considered a universal language, facilitating communication with people of other nationalities. It will also help in your undergraduate studies, in those research projects where there is no translation into Portuguese.
Extra courses
Learning beyond the walls of the university is always a good idea, as it makes you a professional with a broad worldly knowledge. In this sense, taking extra courses is a good option — even if you choose one that is not directly related to the profession you intend to pursue after graduation.
Often, you can find free courses Even at the university you attend. Just do a quick search on the institution's website to find them. Short in duration, they can be taken during breaks between studies and work, for example, or even during vacations.
The topics are also very varied: from cosmology until Design Thinking in practice. In one way or another, they can occupy your mind and bring new insights to your professional performance.
Experiences with art
Just like sports, the arts are also good for the mind and the rest of the body. After all, they offer the opportunity for expression and awaken skills such as creativity, sensitivity, empathy, focus, and determination. Not to mention that they can even supplement your income if your financial control gets out of hand.
Among the arts, two good career options are theater and music. It's possible to find very interesting materials about them online and even form study groups at university with other students who are also interested.
Where and how should extracurricular activities be included in a resume?
That it is possible to learn a lot from the extracurricular activities, We already know that. But it's worth remembering that they can also enhance the resumes of professionals who are graduating—especially those who don't have internship experience, for example.
To do this, simply enter the activities you performed in a field right after your training. Briefly describe how you participated and the benefits you gained from this experience: learning new languages through an exchange program or raising social awareness through volunteering.
Try not to ramble and be as objective as possible, communicating only what is necessary. If you participated in several extracurricular activities during your undergraduate studies, choose those that contributed most to your personal and professional growth.
When selecting these practices, be sure to be discerning and put yourself in the recruiter's shoes. Is the activity you are listing truly a differentiator for good performance in the profession? Side jobs in other areas, participation in neighborhood associations, and union activities may add a lot to your experiences. However, in terms of career advancement, they are not accepted as professional experience.
As we have seen, extracurricular activities are great options for improving your professional qualifications. Therefore, it is essential to be open to possibilities and participate in new experiences. Despite the difficulty of balancing studies with other activities, it is well worth trying to make time for them.
So, did you like our post? Did you understand more about the importance of extracurricular activities in college? Then don't forget to share this text and follow us on social media. We are present on... Facebook, no LinkedIn, no Instagram and in YouTube.
