Remember the Days?!
Remember when extracurricular activities were almost a necessity. Our childhood schedules were marked up with different clubs, lessons and sports. Eighty three percent of students ages 6-7, participate in at least one extracurricular activity. Even though some kids are parentally encouraged to join a team or club, you can’t deny that the kids have gained skills outside of their in-school learning.
We’re no longer kids but if participating in extracurricular activities helped us gain skills apart from school, then it should do the same for us now as adults with our careers. Here are some Industrious Framework - encouraged activities you might want to consider.
Learn a Foreign Language
As the world becomes more and more connected through globalization and technology the means to network is becoming that much more available. A great way to capitalize on networking opportunities is to learn a foriegn language. There are many ways to start learning a new language with the simplest way: a language learning app. DuoLingo, is probably the most popular language app, with 40 different languages to choose from, the app is free and easy to use. With a phone app, you can practice and learn wherever you want and it can be a great way to maximize any dead time you find throughout your day; like waiting for a bus, or waiting for a doctor's appointment or anytime you find yourself waiting for something. It is also a great time filler for anyone who commutes, among other things you can do on your commute.
If you don’t want to use an app, try finding a foreign language course, perhaps at a local community center or college. Or find someone in your city who speaks another language and offer a language exchange. This is a fun and intimate way to learn a language. You are able to have a one on one conversation, usually in a comfortable setting like a coffee shop, with another person who is there to help you and you can talk about anything. If you are in a big city, chances are there are people from many different countries looking to improve their English. But, if the person you are exchanging with already knows English, you can offer to teach them another skill, like a sport, painting, coding, etc.
Learning a new language is one of the more challenging extra curricular activities because it will require time and practice to master but the payoff will be rewarding. You can put the language on your resume and it will indicate to employers that you have skills for international networking and can give you opportunities for relocation.
Skills earned: Memory, multitasking, cultural awareness
Join a Sports Team
Hear me out on this one.
Joining a sports team as an adult is one of the ultimate experiences one can have. That may be an extreme statement, but I personally love being on a competitive basketball team at the age 29. I made a group of friends and the nostalgia of being back on my high school courts is a great feeling. But it’s more than that, because playing and strategizing with teammates has enriched my teamwork, communication and decisiveness skills. The plays that happen in team sports are fast and require snap effective decisions and the ability to communicate with others about it successfully. Whether it’s a pass to a teammate for the assist or deciding to go for the three pointer, I find myself using some critical thinking.
Another great perk of joining a team is quite simply; engaging in physical activity which has many of its own benefits of productive side effects, like sharpening your mind from released endorphins or increasing your life expectancy(sounds a bit much, but it’s true, read here).
Skills earned: Teamwork, critical-thinking, confidence.
Participate in a club, society or organization
Hone in on one of your interests and join a related club, meetup or society. You can network, connect and learn while engaging in one of your favorite topics. If you love to read, join a book club. If you are all about technology, attend tech meetups or local tech hackathons. If you're looking for charitable experience, you can volunteer through an organization and if you dreadfully enjoy the occasional scotch, you can dress up and get to that scotch tasting weekly get together.
There are so many online resources to find local communities and there are platforms built on making these live connections. Meetup, for example, is a great platform to use. It helps you find groups and events for networking and meeting people who share your interests. My interest in Jewish Mysticism or Kabbala led me to join a group of students and young professionals who shared my interest. We meet once a week through an organization and engage in mystical topics. Discussions can get passionate and this has led me to work on exercising my problem solving, abstract thinking and public speaking skills. Clubs also allow you to take on leadership roles. You can become a mentor, host your own events and initiate hot discussions. Take your interests and make them productive.
Skills earned: Leadership, abstract thinking, public speaking.
Study or Intern Abroad
If the stars align in your favor and you have the resources to spend time in another country, go for it! Moving to a new country is not an extracurricular activity on its own but basically opens the door to so many new opportunities and activities to engage in. Besides being able to learn a new language, you learn a whole new culture. You most probably will be meeting new people and each interaction exercises your intercultural communication and multidisciplinary thinking skills.
You will learn nuances of cultural norms which will require you to draw in on your own thoughts and ideologies while being aware of the new ones around you. This can broaden your understanding, tolerance, and appreciation for the unfamiliar. Being abroad also gives you international experience and strengthens your ability to adapt which is a skill any employer will be satisfied with. This experience also opportunes you with global networking and reaching connections you might not have had, while on your own turf. Networking in another country is worthwhile because those connections can become relevant and beneficial even years after your time appendabroad. Overall, living in a different country for a year or more offers so many productive skills to bring back home.
Skills earned: Cultural awareness, adaptability, multidisciplinary thinking.
Embrace
You can build a great resume on the skills you gained outside of the workplace. So, take a lesson from your former childhood self and start filling your schedule with at least one ‘extracurricular-like’ activity and not only will you immensely enjoy the engagement and challenges but you’re giving yourself an outlet to further practice and naturally gain great skills.