Life After College

Why academic merit alone won't cut it.

Whether it's GAA, lacrosse, charity, debating or juggling, it seems employers are growing ever more enthused by what students have done outside of the exam hall while they expend their time in college.

Record numbers of students are enrolled in third level courses, and they are sticking out their degrees to graduation. This invariably means that among a vast pool of graduates, employers are in search of ‘individuals'; people who have peppered their time in university by delving into the multitude of activities available and left their mark thereon.

Those heavily involved in societies and organisations in our own university have gone onto great success. Brendan Grehan (BA, LL.B.) SC, a previous auditor of Lit ‘n Deb, is now regarded as the foremost criminal barrister of his generation. The gregarious Pat Rabbitte (BA), T.D. is a previous president of the Students' Union at NUI Galway.

Most recently, Dannie Hanna (BCL), a recipient of the ALIVE award for volunteering, worked with death row inmates in Texas and the Law Reform Commission in Dublin. These are but examples of the importance and recognition of ‘off the books' activity in college.

In a study commissioned by the Dublin Institute of Technology, students who partook in extra-curricular activities were found to be far less likely to drop out of college than their non-participating counterparts. That in itself speaks volumes of the positive impact of such a balance between business and pleasure in college life.

While undeniably time consuming, clubs, societies and the SU provide a valuable outlet and interest focus for us all. It's a fantastic way to meet new and interesting people that, without being involved, we would never have met. Employers have taken the correct decision to weight extra-curricular involvement nearly on a par with academic merit. For, in finding the perfect employee; you really can't have one without the other!

16 Jan 2012

by Declan Higgins