Imagine yourself in a job interview after you’ve finished at University. It doesn’t matter whether you intend to get a job or not in the near future, the likelihood is that after you’ve finished your time at University you will need to go to an interview and they will ask you about your time at University. Understandably a lot of your attention went on your degree. If you get lower than a 2.1 you haven’t failed, but it’s certainly going to be an uphill struggle. For some companies they may turn you down straight away if you haven’t got a 2.1. Getting that grade is crucial, so at points at University you’ll wonder why you should do anything that doesn’t directly contribute towards getting the grade.
The company/interviwer/organisation naturally wants someone bright, but don’t they want someone with a personality? If you are you going to be working with them personally or selling on their behalf then you need a personality. As a result it’s also crucial that you get involved with extra-curricular things so that you develop all those other skills, such as organising a society, volunteering or fundraising.
So continue to imagine yourself at that interview. You need a good degree. But you also need all those extra-curricular things. The problem comes when trying to balance them. To feel that you have a law degree and therefore will go into ‘law’ (if it can be described so vaguely) is naieve. To go to University without trying to do well in your degree is detrimental in the long run and also a great waste of an opportunity.
Whilst doing well at your degree and getting involved in any extra-curricular projects all help with getting a job, they should not be treated as a check-list. The key is finding the right balance so that you can make the most out of both. The way to get the most out of both though is to ensure you’re doing it for the right reasons. You won’t enjoy it if you’re doing it to build your career, and it’s unlikely you’ll do it very well. One of the main reasons for coming to University is to develop as a person, and that can involve both the degree and extra-curricular. Just remember, that when you inevitably have that interview one day, you’ll need to show all those skills. They key is to think about what is best for you (and I would argue that would inevitably mean a bit of both) and ensuring that you do the right parts of them in the right quantities.
