Broaden Your College Experience
Attending and doing well in your classes is only one of the ways to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to be successful in your future career. Since the world of work is changing so rapidly, employers are looking for people who are adaptable. The skills that are important include:
- written and oral communication skills
- leadership skills
- the ability to work with a team
- technical and computer skills
- the ability to organize
Some of these will be developed in the process of completing your coursework, but others will be refined and perfected in your extracurricular activities and work experience. Some of the ways you might gain experience and become involved include the ones described below.
Internships
You can gain valuable experience and develop your self-confidence by participating in an internship. Many students do them over the summer quarter so that they won't get behind in their coursework. But many of them are available throughout the year. Check with Career Services or your department office for listings of available internships. Usually announcements about summer internships are available in December and January. Some internships are with specific companies where you work alongside regular employees on projects. Other internships are with universities or national labs and are more research oriented. Both kinds of experience can be valuable depending on what your career goals are.
Volunteering
Volunteering can be another way to get good experience. It is not as formal as an internship and can be on-going throughout your college career rather than for a specified amount of time. Many community organizations are looking for volunteers to work with them. These can be with environmental groups, social service organizations, political groups and many more. Many of these volunteering experiences can be wonderful skill builders and some may lead to paid positions. Check the community page of the newspaper to find out when various groups meet or call a group you are particularly interested in.
Student Community Services
Cal Poly's Student Community Services offers many ways to become involved in the local community. From being a big brother/big sister to helping out with various environmental projects, you have the opportunity to gain valuable experience and experience the joy of giving back to the local community. Their website-- http://scs.calpoly.edu/ --will give you many ideas for how you can become involved.
Study Abroad
International Programs
The California State University sponsors a number of international programs where students can study in a different country. Most of these are year-long programs. These are great opportunities to gain experience in your field and learn about another cultural as well.
There are also a few Cal Poly programs where a student can study for one quarter. These include the Cal Poly in Australia, Peru, Thailand, and London Study Programs.
Clubs
Student Organizations/Clubs
There are nearly 400 active clubs and organizations affording students the opportunity to become active in campus life. Clubs vary from academically-related and professional organizations to hobby-interest clubs, honor societies, service clubs, sororities and fraternities, residential groups, multicultural organizations, and spiritually-based groups. Here's a complete list of all clubs on campus, their meeting dates, locations, and contact people.
Joining a club or an organization is a great way to become involved in the university. It offers you a chance to meet other students with your same interests, or in your major field of study, and develop leadership skills. Just make sure that academics come first and do not over-extend yourself.
Student Government
Being involved in student government is another good way to contribute to the Cal Poly community while gaining valuable leadership experience that will benefit you throughout your life. Check it out at here.
Work Experience
Having a part-time job while you are in college can be an excellent way to help pay some of your expenses while you also gain valuable skills. Visit the Career Services job board in Bldg 124 for the most recent listings of available jobs, or check the want ads in the newspaper.
If you need help putting together a resume, make an appointment with our career counselor for the College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences by calling Career Services at 756-2501.
Enterprise Projects
Enterprise projects are an opportunity through course work where students can develop commodities for sale. They present another valuable experience for students to gain exposure to industry, build professional communication and business skills, and further broaden their experience through co-curricular activities.