It’s that time of year again! With a new semester rolling in and summer winding down, fall is peaking in around the corner. And as new collegiettes™show up on campus, so does promotional paraphernalia for a million different campus organizations. Amidst the countless activity fairs and sidewalk-chalk-ads lining the steps to Snell Library, it can be difficult to figure out which NEU organizations are right for you.
First thing’s first. Go to the countless activity fairs! Yes, everyone will be trying to promote their own organization, but there is no better way to learn about all the opportunities on campus. If you see an organization that interests you, write it down and get on the email list. (Warning: do not put your email on every single organization’s email list! You will regret it when your email is bombed with messages from organizations you never intended on joining).
An important thing to consider when perusing the activity fairs is finding a group you can see yourself being involved with long-term, possibly for the majority of your time at Northeastern. If there is a particular cause you feel strongly about or an activity you love, join an organization that focuses on that. It will make long-term commitment much more likely. Business and co-op employers like to see focus and commitment. It will be more impressive if you are actively involved in a few organizations for longer periods of time than casually involved in a huge number of organizations. If you commit to a campus organization long term, this dedication can signify traits such as reliability, drive, and accountability, which future employers are constantly looking for. This will help you stand out in their minds.
Another benefit of joining an organization long-term is the opportunity for eventual executive board positions. Positions like these are great resume boosters and show employers you are capable of and have experience being in a leader. When hiring new employees, employers will look for people who can handle responsibility and leadership.
One more thing to consider when looking for organizations to join, is finding one that supplements your field of study. This can help you build connections and give you practical experience that will be useful when applying for and succeeding at future jobs.
Once you have narrowed your search down to a few organizations, find out when the meetings are held, and sit in on one or two. There is no better way to discover what an organization is all about and how it is run. While some organizations may seem great at their informational booths, the meetings may show otherwise. Or, the meetings might be great, and you will feel even better about the idea of joining!
If you do decide to join a particular organization, go all in! If after a period of time, you don’t feel like you have meaningfully contributed or you do not feel strongly about your group’s mission, then drop the organization. There is no sense in spending time promoting or volunteering for an organization that you do not believe in yourself.
Although it’s important to find one or two clubs or organizations that you can meaningfully and actively contribute to, there is nothing wrong with having a few fun organizations on the side that don’t take up too much of your time. It’s helpful to be able to discern between organizations that complete the majority of their work during the meetings and those that require a lot of outside work. You must decide how much time you can and are willing to contribute and find the organizations that will fit into your schedule. There are many recreational or food-based organizations on campus that only have a few meetings a month and don’t require much time. These are great to add volume to your resume, while still leaving you time for everything else.
Check out the Campus Activities site for a look at NEU clubs!