The Importance of Non-Academic Extracurriculars
Throughout college, I found it difficult to find an experience that was relevant to what I wanted to do. I wanted to get involved in writing and marketing music. I applied for jobs for months with no success, and I started to feel hopeless. All the jobs I would apply for had 1,000+ applicants. I felt like I needed to create that experience by myself. It’s important to have a skill that you aren’t able to explore through schools or programs.
Paving My Own Way
My sister and I came together to collaborate on a business that puts together our two passions - fashion and music. We’re investing our time and money into something that we believe is right in our hearts. It drives our creative side that corporate jobs may not be able to reach. We’re able to capture whatever pictures we want, pick themes, and write the articles we want - no restrictions. To us, that is what art is about. There isn’t a specific parameter around it. We’ve bought a website, put our time into creating it, took pictures, and are now investing in a professional digital camera.
Showcase Your Skills
Not only does a creative extracurricular drive your creativity, employers like to see it on a resume as well. According to a UK study, an analysis of the relationship between education and the labor market by Brown and Souto-Otero, soft skills and non-academic involvements are essential in interviews. They show employers a different side of you that academics may not be able to. It helps you stand out from the crowd of resumes. It shows that on top of working, on top of school, you take time to put care into something else you are passionate about. If you care about it, put it on your resume. Nothing is more important than being well-rounded and diverse.
One of my favorite quotes that I like to live by is from my favorite artist, Harry Styles: “If you’re happy doing what you’re doing, people can’t tell you that you aren’t successful”. Easier said than done, of course. It’s important to do extracurriculars not only to impress employers but to also allow yourself a creative outlet. It doesn’t have to be particularly creative - just something that sparks something inside you.
Check out my sister’s and my blog at www.DZYmagazine.com