WHAT'S ON YOUR RESUME...?

Community Service = Leadership Experience

by Rachel Zinn

Many college and graduate students volunteer to help their communities, but they may not realize how much this service experience can help their careers.  "One of the first things I look for in recent college graduates is what kind of extra-curricular activities they've been involved with," said Michelle Flanik, president of the Cleveland Society for Human Resource Management.  "When I see community service on a resume, it says a lot to me about that person's willingness to take initiative."

Community service can give students opportunities to develop skills that are important in a variety of careers, such as problem solving, public speaking, or leadership.  Volunteering can also be a chance to explore different types of interests and career areas.  "Through service, students can learn much about their communities, themselves and career options while forming relationships with others and building skills that will be valuable in the workplace, " said Julie Bishop, assist director of community outreach at Baldwin-Wallace college.                                                                                                                                            

Community service is a good way to get outside the "campus bubble" and meet people from diverse backgrounds.  It can also add real-life experience to classroom learning, helping students to get a deeper understanding of civic issues.  "More and more, the value of the 'real world' experience is being recognized by employers, and community service provides that experience," said Betsy Banks, an assistant director at the Center for Civic Engagement & Learning at Case Western Reserve University.

"Service experience also demonstrates that a student has an interest in getting engaged with their community - a trait that many employers find attractive."  Ms. Flanik said that she has worked for companies in several different industries, and all of them have encouraged employees to do volunteer work.  She said that when she does recruiting, she is especially impressed by candidates who have had leadership positions in community service activities.  "Leadership experience stands out on a resume," she said.

In Northeast Ohio, volunteer opportunities exist for students with many different interests, from tutoring elementary school children to planning fundraising events for local charities.  If you are interested in learning more about community service in our region, check out the section below which can link students to volunteer positions on and off-campus.

Visit these community service and volunteer sites:

You can also get involved in community service through your college or university:

Akron Baldwin-Wallace Case CSU Hiram John Carroll Kent Lake Erie

Lakeland LCCC Notre Dame Oberlin Stark State Tri-C Ursuline Wooster