What leadership club did you participate in while in college? What did you like and dislike about it? Would you recommend it?

Hi Aiden- I was in 7 student organizations/clubs and held an array of positions that interested me. What is great about most clubs is they all hold a similar hierarchy structure for leadership boards that apply to real life company hierarchies too (ie. President, vice president, secretary, finance chair, social media director, event organizer...). I would try and align the position to your interests/major choice. Example, if you are a business major/finance major I would go for the secretary or finance position as that can provide you real life experience. I have provided some next steps below!

Hi Aiden,

I think it's great that you are looking for more leadership experiences - it will definitely benefit you in the long term. I would recommend finding clubs related to causes/hobbies/sports you are interested in and joining the leadership boards for these clubs. When I was in college, I played on a club sports team and also joined a Greek organization. I really enjoyed having leadership opportunities in both of the organizations because I was really passionate about them both.

The clubs available to you on your campus will depend on where you are going to college, but there are usually tons of options to choose from. I recommend trying a variety of clubs while you're a freshman - it's a great opportunity to meet others with similar interests as you. As you progress through school, you can get a better idea of which organizations you'd like to continue with and what types of leadership opportunities are available.

When I was receiving my undergraduate degree I joined the ROTC Program for the Army. Even though I ended up contracting and going into the Army after college many people don't. You can actually participate in ROTC for two years before having to contract. There are some great skills that you learn in ROTC that you don't learn in the college classroom. Critical Thinking, Leadership skills, Time management, physical and mental health. It can be an excellent program, and many don't know they can test it out without ever signing something to join the military.

Hi, Aiden - sounds like you have some good experience already and it is great that you are exploring more ideas. I was in a club for business majors who were focused on management and leadership. I played a program director role for awhile, which meant I helped to set the calendar of speakers and also reached out to coordinate details with those speakers. Our speakers were leaders in the business community, so this role was a good way to practice networking. I also had to have good pitch to up the chances of them agreeing to speak to our group. These skills have served me well throughout my career. I also got to hear first-hand insights from leaders at all levels. I picked up many tips for when it became my turn to lead. Best of luck! Robin