College Experiences Employers Love

By Alexandra Sehmer

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  1. Volunteering

  Having unpaid work outside of classes demonstrates time management skills, initiative and altruism—all desirable qualities in an inexperienced potential hire. Even better? Landing a volunteer role in the field you’re interested in pursuing after college. Whether it’s helping on a local political campaign or volunteering at the hospital, relevant volunteer experience will make you stand out from the competition.

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  2. Running a Business

  Don’t let this one intimidate you. Rest assured, we’re not asking you to start your own Apple or Nike. However, entrepreneurship is a skill that never fails to wow employers, and it’s easier than you might think. Whether you’re tutoring elementary school students for a little extra pocket money, selling those handmade lip balms you love to make on Etsy or even maintaining a blog, doing something on the side shows potential employers that you’re industrious, enterprising and motivated.

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  3. Excelling in Coursework

  Believe it or not, many classes offer unique opportunities to gain work-applicable experience. Any assignment that involves analyzing data, conducting in-depth research or presenting a comprehensive presentation to the class equips you with skills that can prove attractive to prospective employers.

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  4. Working Part-Time

  Whether it’s as basic as working at your local coffee shop or as strategic as landing a gig as an assistant in a local lab while pursuing a degree and career in science, getting a part-time job will supercharge your resume. Apart from requiring excellent time management skills, being able to hold down a part-time job indicates a level of professionalism, communication and work ethic that will prove indispensable in obtaining a post-grad gig.

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  5. Participating in Extracurricular Activities

  Employers appreciate candidates with a range of experiences under their belt. Participating in extracurricular activities, whether you join a sports team, write for the student newspaper or start a gardening club, demonstrates initiative, motivation and the ability to work as part of a team. Better yet? Start your own club, or volunteer for a leadership role to get leadership experience—a highly sought-after trait in potential candidates.

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  6. Doing an Internship

  Ask any CEO or hiring managers and they’ll tell you this: internships are the number one best way to make yourself an enticing candidate when applying for jobs after college. Find a summer internship in your field of choice to gain relevant skills, get your name out there and start building your network of business contacts. Who knows? After graduation, the company you interned for might just be the one that hires you.