In nowadays’ developing business environment, employment has become a challenging task for newly graduates, mainly due to the increasing competition in the UK graduate labour market (High Fliers, 2015). With the purpose to distinguish themselves from others and to increase their employment opportunities, many students engage in extra-curricular activities while still studying at university, considering that such activities will give them a leap ahead in the labour market (Roulin and Bangerter, 2013). This essay aims to investigate the direct relationship between extra-curricular activities and the graduate labour market by analyzing the extent to which such activities influence graduates’ employment opportunities. Firstly, an analysis of the
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Extra-curricular activities can be of benefit to graduates and give them competitive advantages in the graduate labour market (nus.org.uk, 2014). By definition, extra-curricular activities (ECAs) are those activities that take place “beyond the classroom” and include a broad range of activities such as student unions, volunteer or paid work, sports, arts etc. (Stuart et al., 2009, pg. 1). For convenience, they can be categorized as work-related activities which include employment opportunities while studying such as part-time jobs or internships and as social and leisure activities like participation in student unions, volunteer work, sports or art (Tchibozo, …show more content…
For instance, students who engage in university-linked activities like student unions, organizations or team sports tend to reveal increased interpersonal skills (e.g. “decision-making, teamwork, communication, initiative”) compared to other students who are not participants (Rubin, Boomer & Baldwin, 2002, pg. 447-449). However, the level of impact on future employability depends on the nature that the extra-curricular activity has (Tchibozo, 2007). For instance, students who have participated in student unions or organizations where they have held leadership positions tent to have better employment opportunities in the future and even have the possibility of reaching managerial roles in their first job (ibid). Meanwhile, those students who have engaged in solitary activities (e.g. reading) or have been committed for a long-term to an ECAs (e.g. campaigns) are actually seen as disadvantaged in the labour market, as such ECAs can create job insecurity and higher unemployment (ibid.). Employers actually seek for graduates who have participated in extrovert ECAs, such as student unions, team sports or different groups as such activities are great indicators of confidence, responsibility teamwork and other transferable skills
Extra-curricular activities can be of benefit to graduates and give them competitive advantages in the graduate labour market (nus.org.uk, 2014). By definition, extra-curricular activities (ECAs) are those activities that take place “beyond the classroom” and include a broad range of activities such as student unions, volunteer or paid work, sports, arts etc. (Stuart et al., 2009, pg. 1). For convenience, they can be categorized as work-related activities which include employment opportunities while studying such as part-time jobs or internships and as social and leisure activities like participation in student unions, volunteer work, sports or art (Tchibozo, …show more content…
For instance, students who engage in university-linked activities like student unions, organizations or team sports tend to reveal increased interpersonal skills (e.g. “decision-making, teamwork, communication, initiative”) compared to other students who are not participants (Rubin, Boomer & Baldwin, 2002, pg. 447-449). However, the level of impact on future employability depends on the nature that the extra-curricular activity has (Tchibozo, 2007). For instance, students who have participated in student unions or organizations where they have held leadership positions tent to have better employment opportunities in the future and even have the possibility of reaching managerial roles in their first job (ibid). Meanwhile, those students who have engaged in solitary activities (e.g. reading) or have been committed for a long-term to an ECAs (e.g. campaigns) are actually seen as disadvantaged in the labour market, as such ECAs can create job insecurity and higher unemployment (ibid.). Employers actually seek for graduates who have participated in extrovert ECAs, such as student unions, team sports or different groups as such activities are great indicators of confidence, responsibility teamwork and other transferable skills