It’s 2009. What are you doing to make yourself attractive to new employers?
Yes, many of us were involved in numerous extracurricular activities in college, sprinkling enough gold stars on the resume to land that first position, but what if you don’t like your first job or are facing the possibility of being laid off? If you haven’t involved yourself in anything outside of work since college, it’s time to pony up.
The time constraints of the real world can make staying involved tough, and let’s face it, work is tiring, but when you’re light on professional experience, prospective employers need to see something that allows them to get to know you better – and being lazy is just a waste!
In my opinion, a good start to community involvement that doesn’t consume every non working hour of your life consists of (at least) the following four activities:
1. Hold a leadership position. Employers look for leaders. Holding a leadership position in an organization forces you to become more involved in that organization and allows you to hone your leadership skills. Pick a non-profit or professional organization you truly care about because this activity will be the most time consuming.
2. Volunteer. Spend time volunteering. It’s important and I promise you’ll have fun.
3. Join a professional organization. Be a part of one or more professional organizations relating to your chosen occupation. Go to the meetings. Learn. Network. (hey, free lunch!)
4. Pursue a hobby. No, not stamp collecting. This has to be an activity that forces you out of the house. Golf, YMCA basketball, wine tasting – anything that requires interacting with others – ideally, business associates.
