The other side of academics

Identifying the appropriate career path is extremely difficult for most students. Most of the students simply aren't sure what they want to become. There are a multitude of things to consider – one's own interest, monetary rewards, and family influence. This is why to decipher which career path to pursue a student must not only study ardently, particularly those subjects that reflect his ambitions, but must also delve into other forms of recreational or extracurricular activities in order to open their eyes to all existing possibilities. In addition, there is no doubt that undertaking such activities will enhance resumes and attract the attention of potential employers.

We often debate about what matters more in our student life: our grades or our extracurricular activities. Truth be told, both are equally fundamental in shaping one's career and serve diverging purposes. It is important for today's children to be well-rounded active citizens, and engaging in extracurricular activities provides the opportunity to explore their “other side”. Volunteering or playing sports broadens horizons and teaches students the ability to work effectively in teams. These practical skills will be especially necessary once in the workforce.   The message this conveys in a resume is: “I have more than just technical skills to offer”. This is appealing for recruiters particularly to differentiate applicants with similar grades.
Extracurricular activities support students to make friends with common interests. In doing so, it has the potential to expose dormant personality traits. For example, a student who has low confidence may be able to exude bravado in his or her own virtues after undertaking inclusive activity. Extracurricular involvement allows students to link academic knowledge with practical experience, which leads to a better understanding of their own abilities, talents, and career goals.
G. Sumdany Don, Chief Inspirational Officer at Don Sumdany Facilitation & Consultancy, recently conducted a seminar hosted by the International Association of Business Communicator's (IABC), at BRAC University. He provided an interesting overview of the job market for fresh graduates, revealing the common recruitment practice of setting CGPA cut-off points for positions. After the cut-off point came in the role of extra-curricular in setting individuals apart in a sea of fresh graduates. The overarching message was that extracurricular activities work well in helping individuals realise the work they can perform, and in building personalities through practical experience rather than undertaking them simply for the resume.
We cannot choose a career prospect relying on our studies or our hobbies solely. It must be a combination of the two. Extracurricular programs and internship programs offered by notable organisations obviously can help create a better resume and paint a clearer understanding of an individual's career aspirations. A good career prospect relies on passion and dedication, just as Bill Clinton once mentioned, “You want to change the world? You want to make an impact on people? You need a few things then and that does not involve your career or your GPA. You need to have to find a way to be brave. If you really want to do what you want to do, you need to find out a way to learn what it takes, even if it means failing 1,000 times before succeeding.
So necessity or option? Well, that is for each individual to decide.

The author is an Associate in Content & Analytics at GradInsights, the career intelligence service of GradConnect. Please visit www.grad-insights.com for more articles.