“I don’t enjoy part-time work; how do I keep myself occupied during term-time?”
Clubs and societies may be the solution. Your university or college should have a large selection of clubs and societies that you can join. Visit your university’s website or their clubs and societies fair to find out which one suits you. Clubs and societies are great because they provide the opportunity to do what you enjoy while increasing your employability. You will gain soft skills such as time management, teamwork, organisation, and communication. They are also a great way to meet likeminded people and build friendships.
The Main Types of Clubs and Societies
Sports Clubs and Societies
If you have represented your school’s sports team or you just want a way to keep fit, consider joining your university’s sports clubs. Using Sunway University as an example, they have 30 sports clubs to pick and choose from. Join sports such as Football, Rugby, and Basketball if you like team sports. There are also martial arts such as Muay Thai, Taekwondo, and Judo for those who want to learn self-defence. Don’t be afraid to try something new! Most sports clubs accept complete novices and university is where you should get out of your comfort zone. Participating in sports also helps reduce stress and improves your health. Exercising, in general, can help release endorphins which act as stress relief especially with upcoming deadlines and exams.
Academic Clubs and Societies
These are societies that go more in-depth into the academic subjects you study at university. This may include societies such as Law, Economics, Accounting, and Machine Learning. These societies typically host conferences and seminars with guest speakers who comment on current issues or events affecting the industry. They are also a great way to network with industry professionals and other students. You should join them if you want to deepen your knowledge or have a career in academia.
Career Clubs and Societies
For those career-oriented folks, these societies may be the tool to help you land a job in your chosen career path. Your university may have a wide array from career-focused societies such as Entrepreneurship, Investment Banking, Consulting, Blockchain, and Engineering. Like academic societies, they typically organise events and conferences with numerous industry professionals. Join and mingle with them, they could be your future employer! Also, most societies offer sub-committee and committee positions which we highly encourage you to apply for. Having positions of leadership on your resume is very impressive to your potential employers.
Special Interest Clubs and Societies
These are great clubs to showcase your hobbies and to meet new friends. These could range from very niche interests such as a music album discussion group or wine tasting to very common interests such as video games or film. You should join these societies if you just want to have fun and possibly meet a new friend group to chill and hang out with.
Charities and Volunteering Organisations
Your university may also have dedicated clubs and societies for charity and volunteering. We highly encourage you to join this due to the many benefits associated with volunteering. For more info, check out our article on volunteering.
Tips to Make the Most Out of Your Clubs and Societies Experience
Think About Commitment
You will have to set aside time to join sessions hosted by your chosen club or society. You should think about whether you will be able to commit the necessary time to attend those sessions. Also, if you are already working and have a part-time job, the amount of time you will have to allocate to the society will be limited. In this case, you should pick a society that doesn’t require too much commitment and is more casual.
Don’t Force Yourself to Join a Club
Although we encourage you to try out new things during university, we understand that some societies may not be for you. Don’t get peer pressured into joining a club that you don’t enjoy. For instance, just because your friends are all joining Boxing doesn’t mean you have to follow them if you are uncomfortable.
Try Out Many but Commit to a Few
We encourage that you try out as many societies as possible during the start of your university year. This will help you find which one suits you the best. However, once the term starts rolling, it is best to commit to a few societies that you enjoy and would like to put the most effort in. This is to avoid spreading yourself too thin and prevent burnout.
To Conclude
There are numerous benefits to joining your university’s clubs or societies that include meeting new people and trying out new experiences. Whatever club or society you choose to join, we encourage you to make the most out of your time at university. Don’t make the mistake of focusing too much on academics as employers prefer more well-rounded candidates.
