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CVs are a crucial part of any job application, whether for a part-time, full-time, or internship position. Employers and job recruiters are constantly on the lookout for people who go beyond the criteria to just ‘get a job’. Besides just getting good grades in university, extra-curricular activities show employers that you have a versatile skill set that could benefit their organisation. This article will discuss four suggested extra-curricular activities that will give you valuable experience, develop unique skills and broaden your connections and networks with other people.
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Activity One: Volunteering
Volunteering is arguably the most beneficial extra-curricular activity that a person can have on their CV. Volunteering is a way to give back to the community, help others and collaborate with other people towards a common goal. Employers looking at your CV will take notice instantly as it shows that this person is not self-centred and displays a desire to want to help others. If you are looking for a place to volunteer, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with different organisations. Universities usually have a student volunteer force that organises events across campus, and larger organisations like UNICEF, Greenpeace, and WWF are always looking for people to get donations, raise awareness for their causes and recruit other volunteers to bolster their numbers. I personally have an extensive volunteer history, with my time spent volunteering with groups including UN Youth Force, YMCA, and AUT Student Volunteer Force. My time in these organisations taught me valuable skills, including project management, interpersonal communication, and teamwork which I have used in other aspects of my life. Employers have commented on my volunteer background, so I encourage you to seek out organisations that accept volunteers and experience the benefits for both yourself and the people you will be helping.
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Activity Two: Sports
Now, this may seem laughable and more so what an overbearing father or your washed-up P.E. teacher may say, but joining a sports team brings many benefits that aren’t often recognised. Besides the physical aspects of keeping fit and healthy, joining a sports team helps to foster a sense of belonging in a team environment and teaches you to work for others and not for yourself. Sports also help to improve hand-eye coordination and time management which are valuable skills in the workplace. I’ve personally never been the sporty type and shied away from physical activity for years, in favour of academic/artistic activities instead, but recently I have embraced sports as a great way to keep healthy and make new friends. Employers and job recruiters will ask you how you display skills included in your CV (teamwork, communication, leadership, etc.) and this is a great example to wow potential employers into recruiting you for the job!
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Activity Three: Language/Cultural Activities
I’m lumping these two activities together because they are similar to one another and have relevant benefits to add to your CV. Learning a language or being involved in cultural activities (kapa haka, martial arts or cooking, etc.) show cultural awareness and knowledge of communities outside of the mainstream that employers are constantly attempting to engage with. The value that comes with cultural awareness is a unique asset that very few people have. Employers take notice of multi-linguistic people who have connections/ties to different communities and bring their unique experiences to their organisations. As Māori myself, I have a deep cultural understanding of Pasifika cultures and can speak several languages, which have enabled me to access opportunities that others may not get access to, which has benefitted me significantly. I encourage the pursuit of broadening your horizons, not only to strengthen your CV but also to expand your knowledge of other communities different from your own.
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Activity Four: Join/contribute to a publication (magazine, newspaper, podcast etc)
This extracurricular activity is quite a niche and might not immediately come to mind when thinking of ways to add to your CV. As a journalism graduate, I was involved in several different publications throughout my time at university. Even writing this article, I continue to contribute content to a publication (in this regard to the website you are on now). Creating content for these publications often requires research and analysis, interviewing, and writing processes that can be tedious but worthwhile in the long run. I have expanded my vocabulary tenfold since my first news article was written and gained more confidence, thanks to my time interviewing strangers for news stories. See if there is any way to join a publication as a content writer, part-time reporter, or similar job position which will help add to your CV.
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Those are just some ways you can look to improve your CV. Continue to look for opportunities where you can, talk to career experts on campus, and never underestimate the value of extracurricular activities as just a way to ‘kill time'. Being productive and having fun can go side by side, it only takes a little bit of practice to turn that random Thursday afternoon basketball game into a gold medal displayed proudly on your CV. Good luck and go wow those job recruiters!
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