Are you looking for a way to make your college experience more enjoyable and take a break from your studies? Do you want to get more involved, start networking and meet new people? Then joining a club or organization is a great way to go. Getting involved on campus by joining organizations also has a lot of benefits.

• Gives you a break

College courses are not easy and without a doubt stress provoking. It is always advisable to take breaks and find something that can be enjoyable and beneficial in the long run. Clubs are constantly holding activities to help build relationships between members and create events that are focused on recruiting new ones. For example, student organizations ran this year’s Back to Business event at the Idaho State University College of Business, which involved a free BBQ, recruitment booths, games and a dunking booth. 

• Meet new people and expand your network

When joining a club, you are going to meet new people who might have the same interests and goals as you. Not only will you make new friends, but you will gain the opportunity to network and meet with successful alumni. Many clubs make the effort to reach out to alumni, businesses and potential employers to help you advance further in your career. This can give you a one-on-one experience with someone who is an expert in your area of study.

• Develops soft skills

Soft skills are essentially “people skills,” which are skills that help you effectively interact with others. Examples include communication, attitude, social skills and more. Something that organizations are great at is teaching students how to work in a team successfully. When it comes to jobs, you are always going to be using social skills and working with others. If you can learn and practice these skills from your organization, then you have an advantage over other potential candidates when you go through the interview process.

• Looks great on your resume

Employers will often search for any extracurricular activities on your resume. Adding clubs to your resume proves that you were an engaged and involved student. It also shows that you have practiced leadership and any relevant skills that an employer may be looking for. This can reflect into the workplace and show that you are going to be a great addition to the job.

Still not sure if you should join an organization? We asked Travis Kempf his reasoning on why you should go for it. Travis is President of Alpha Kappa Psi, Vice President of Student Veterans of America and a member of the Financial Management Association at Idaho State.

“Student organizations are an opportunity to practice for the job market,” said Kempf. “You develop soft skills, the ability to work as a team, and a chance to hold a leadership position. All of which are vital to success in any career path. Above all else it is a great way to have fun with other students. 

Students embark on a journey when they go to college. No matter where they end up, they will always be a member of the Bengal family. After speaking with alumni, they always have a story to tell about the events they went to. Whether it was cheering on the Bengal football team together or that time they first crossed the Swanson Arch. The first time they failed a class, their first Idaho Business Leader of the Year event or even the first time they meet life-long friends. We are all here to improve ourselves, why don’t we make memories along the way?”

If you are interested in joining a club or organization but not sure of which one, the Student Leadership and Engagement Center at Idaho State has composed a list that is worth looking into you can also see a list of all of the clubs available to join in the College of Business, here.