College. Sigh. It’s unlike any other time in your life. It has its own set of rules, its own unique circumstances. And it’s not always easy to navigate. Everyone needs a little guidance now and then (or always) so we’ve pulled together a variety of perspectives (the does-it-all girl, the party girl and Ms. Study Lounge) to weigh in on your life conundrums and give you the best advice we can.

Every week they’ll be tackling your questions about college. From classes to keggers to keggers before classes, they’ll do their best to respond and be your Pez dispenser of collegiate wisdom. Got questions? Unsure of a decision? Need to branch out? Just wanna chat it up with some really awesome chics?

Hit them up in the comments or shoot them an email with the subject “College Q&A”!

Question:
So, I don’t know if you’ll know the answer to this but I’m trying to figure out my plans for the rest of the semester and I’m not sure which will look better on my resume: getting really involved in a student organization or getting a job. I have no idea what I really want to do in my future yet, so it’s not like either of them would apply much to what I end up doing, so I don’t know if it’s more important to get involved in one or the other. Any thoughts?

GPA Girl:
It seems as if either one could be a good option, but I’d lean toward “job,” and here’s why. When you finally do get around to figuring out what you want to do and applying for full-time jobs after college, your prospective employers will look to your previous work experience and references to judge how you’re going to act in their companies. They might look at extracurriculars as well–in fact, I’m sure they probably will–but I personally don’t think they hold quite the same weight. Even if you become a leader in an extracurricular activity, there’s not really anybody there monitoring your progress, paying attention to when you show up, and evaluating the work you do according to rigorous standards. In short, nobody’s paying you to do it and there’s no one there who can prove how good you did it. A job will provide you with verifiable references and experience that you will be able to use in the future, no matter what career path you choose.

Also, I’m sure our resident Busy Bee will suggest this, but why not get involved with both activities? You may not be able to devote quite as much time as you like to the student org, but it could be really enriching and rewarding for you to do both things and enjoy both experiences. (Plus, it will prove your ability to multi-task and handle multiple responsibilities, which looks pretty great on a resume.)

Party Girl:
Having held down a full-time job with 18 credit hours for five semesters, I can tell you that the job will look way better on your resume, regardless of what you’re studying. Employers love the fact that you can handle so much responsibility at such a relatively young age. It shows that you’re ready to enter the work force as a competent and fully capable adult. And, focusing more on the now, having a job means making serious money. Having serious money means financial freedom from your parents. No longer will you have to beg for money for that new dress that you’ve been craving or that fifth of tequila which is absolutely necessary to celebrate…well, anything. Plus, if you’re working anywhere near campus, chances are you’ll be among fellow students, and who couldn’t use a couple more friends? Trust me, once you get your first paycheck, you won’t regret this decision.

Busy Bee:
Oooh, this is a toughie. It depends on which student organization and which job you want to get. Just keep in mind that even though you don’t know what you want to do with your future just yet, you still need to be involved with something that has meaning to you.

Work wise, don’t just grab a job a Burger King if you have no interest in food or the restaurant business. If you decide to get a job and you want it to look good on that resume, it needs to have some relevancy to your interests, hobbies, and passions. Let’s say you love animals – then try getting a job at a pet store or a local vet’s office. This will show future employers that you have strong passions and good focus. It will sound better to say, “I got a job at this pet store because I own 2 dogs and 3 fish and I love knowing that I can help others with my knowledge on animal care taking!” than to say, “I work at this fast food restaurant because I want money and I don’t know what else to do…” This goes for student orgs, too; don’t join something just because your friends are in it. Make sure to have some sort of justification for your membership to the club! Since you’re not getting paid for your time you have to spend it wisely, i.e. in the way that will most benefit you down the line.

When making your decision ask yourself this: Do you think that you will benefit more from joining this club and volunteering your time, or from working mandatory part-time hours getting paid? Whichever you choose, just know that you NEED to make the most of your experience. People don’t necessarily care about where or what it is that you have done, but rather, how you went about it and how you allowed yourself to benefit from it. Explore all possible options!

Dear Tuffy Luv,

I’m graduating from a small liberal arts college in May and I’m starting to get realllllly nervous about job hunting. Everyone says this is a terrible time to start looking for a job. What am I supposed to do?????????

Thanks for your help!

Terrified Senior

Dear Senorita Senior,

Honey, boy do I feel your pain. You think there’s a lotta work out there for stylized advice columnists? Hint: There ain’t.

The economy here in the US definitely sucks right now. As of December, the unemployment rate was up to a very frightening 7.2%. But, listen. Tuffy’s got a few tricks up her sleeve for you. And it’s a very large sleeve. Bell, maybe. Or perhaps kimono.

(1) Consider staying in school.

I know this seems counterintuitive, but look at it this way: The job market’s bad. It might be slightly better in a couple of years when you come out of grad or professional school–and you’ll have a better degree. Just a thought.

(2) Choose your field wisely.

Maybe getting that degree in mortgage lending ain’t such a good idea right now. You know what we always need? Teachers. Health care providers. Target your job search to find occupations that need you as much as you need them.

(3) Rework (and rework and rework) your resume.

Change that shiz for each and every job. Make sure your objectives and all that jazz stay specific to the position and company.

(4) Email your friends.

And your family. And any other contacts you have. Send them your resume and a couple of paragraphs about your skills and goals. The idea is to ask them if they can pass your info along to someone who can help you, or even if they can help you themselves.

(5) Stay positive.

It’s easy to get discouraged, Terrified Senior. But keep your chin high and keep sending out that stuff and stay confident and you’ll eventually land something. Be nice to everyone. Always be polite to any and all contacts. And do one thing for your job hunt every day. Believe me, it’ll be much less overwhelming.

Honey, good luck to you. And good luck to everyone else out there searching for a job in this sh*tty economy.

Hearts & Skulls,

Tuffy Luv

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