Does your school have any organizations or clubs in the careers or industries of your desire?

Basically, all colleges and universities offer students clubs and organizations. According to Inside Higher Education roughly 36% of students have not participated where 64% have which is somewhat similar to National Survey of Student Engagement at 55 to 58%.

This question can be easily tied back into whether a student should select a specific school.

Most colleges highlight their clubs and organizations on their website. If they coincide with the student’s goals, then it might be a solid choice. When touring potential colleges, I highly recommend students schedule a meeting with a few club presidents to learn their goals and agendas of the clubs.

Starting a club is also an option, but getting turned down when you’re at school would be a drag. If you are considering this route, Marisa Upson wrote “How to Start a Club in College: 8-Step Guide” on BestColleges.com in 2023. This article illustrates that, if you start a club, it demonstrates that you took initiative. Meaning, it could be an exceptional resume booster, as it’ll demonstrate leadership and vision from day one. And if you start a club on career/workforce readiness? Please invite me to speak.

My feeling is that student organizations and clubs should automatically be on every student’s resume and LinkedIn. With a wide variety of organizations and clubs available, students have the opportunity to build skills in networking, leadership, marketing, and a diversity of activities that are transferable to future employment. Moreover, they get to connect with peers who have similar goals and interests. Also, it’s a fascinating and thorough way to investigate industries. For example, during my time at UMass, I had a piqued interest in politics, so I tested the waters in student government by running for and getting elected to the student senate. It was fun for a bit, but the bickering got exhausting. A few student senators went on to regional and national politics. Seeing them on TV is always noteworthy, but I’m not envious.