How to make extra-curricular activities count
Claire Lyell
I have already written on the subject of needing more dimensions than just that of academic excellence. A recent study shows that 70% of businesses believe extra-curricular activities make job-seeking graduates stand out from the crowd. In addition, nearly two-thirds feel that candidates with such experience tend to be more successful employees and progress more quickly in their careers.
最近的一项研究显示，70%的企业认为课外活动使求职毕业生在人群中脱颖而出。此外，近三分之二的人认为，具有这种经验的申请人往往是更成功的员工，并能在他们的职业生涯中进步得更快。
This is not because of some vague reason that such activities make you a fundamentally more interesting person, even though that is obviously true, but it is simply because of the skills and competencies they allow you to develop. Skills like leadership, communication and time management are very much in demand in recruiting companies, and there is a recognition that too many new recruits are technically very able, but lacking the transferable skills that are required to succeed.
这不是仅仅是因为这些课外活动使你变得更加有趣，更重要的是它们使你的技术和能力得以开发。雇主都是很看重比如领导力，交流能力和时间管理能力等这些技能的，他们也常常遇到很多的新员工在技术上很厉害但是缺乏成功所需的那些软技能。
There is a very real worry that UK employers will be stuck with recruiting from a pool of candidates who have excellent grades but little real work experience. There is an awful irony in working hard towards a First Class degree grade, and deciding to drop all other activities in that pursuit. Why? Because it is probably all those other activities which will make the difference in getting you the job.
然而，当今比较大的一个问题是一些英国雇主往往雇佣一批拥有优秀成绩，但是却没有真正的工作经验的学生。说到这，有一个非常大的讽刺，便是大家决定放弃所有课外活动，因为他们都在向获得一等学位而努力。为什么说是个讽刺？那是因为，很多人至今不曾知道，其他的很多活动其实才真正会使你在求职过程中脱颖而出。
Sports are a strong area for exploration, but you do not need to have elite skills. Many university sports clubs are happy to take on beginners, or basic players, as they are interested in your development potential. So, if you played basketball in junior school, and never played again, this might be the time to come back to it. You might make the second team, and that will give you a chance to work in a group, to collaborate, to develop your resilience, to create a positive mindset and more. This will be valued by an interviewer, who is looking for real examples in your life, not just from studies. Next time you think about answering the competency question, “tell me about a time when you worked in a team towards a common goal”, you might be able to avoid telling the same story as all those other Chinese candidates, who don’t typically have much to tell beyond the group work stories that everyone relies on! So, figure out what sport you could go and develop, and work on contributing to the team. Just showing up for rowing practice at 6am, in the cold, will be a great story for you to tell about commitment, loyalty and diligence! And if you have never done the sport before, give it a try… it probably won’t kill you!
体育是个很大的值得探索的领域，但你不需要拥有很精英的像运动员一样的技能。许多大学的体育社团很乐意接受初学者或者初级队员，因为他们对发展你的潜力非常感兴趣。所以，如果你在初中的时候打篮球，但后来就再也没打过，这可能是重新开始打球的时候了。你可以加入或者组织一个团队，这会给你团队合作的机会，提高你的韧性，培养积极的心态以及更多。这些经验将会是面试官想要看到的你在生活中最真实的例子，而不仅仅是学业方面的例子。下一次在你考虑如何回答能力方面的问题时，比如“告诉我一个你在团队里为一个共同目标而努力的例子”，你就能够避免与其他中国申请人一样，依赖于课堂上的学习小组的例子了。因此，找出一个你喜欢的运动，并努力为团队做出贡献。比如，寒冷的早上6点出现在划船的训练中，将会是显示你的承诺，忠诚和勤奋的最好的例子！如果你从来没有做过任何体育运动，给自己个机会去试一试，你是不会吃亏的！
Put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer, or the person reading your application form… they want some means of engaging with you! They want to find a subject to talk about together, and to feel your true interest or passion. Maybe right now you are not sure if you could be passionate about cricket, but if you don’t give it a try, you certainly won’t find out! Not only will the interviewer be happy to have a subject about which to chat with you, but also, as you chat, and the interview becomes more informal as a result, they can realise that you will simply be a nice, fun, interesting person to work with. This is absolutely crucial when they are picking between twenty equally technically qualified candidates!
站在面试官的角度，他们是想要一些能与你互动的方法。他们想要找到一个话题去跟你讨论，来感受你的真正的兴趣或者热情。也许现在你不知道你是否可以对板球有兴趣，但如果你不试试的话，你肯定是得不到答案的。不仅是面试官会乐于与你聊某个话题，而且，当你在聊这些话题的时候，面试过程往往都会变得比较不那么正式，他们就会意识到你将会是个很好、很有趣的同事。这对于面试官要从二十个技术能力都差不多的申请人中挑选出最合适的人选的时候，这是至关重要的！
One thing that you must understand, however: these days, everyone who is able to afford to go to university in the UK can also afford to travel. A list of the countries you have visited will not impress any recruiter at all. Nor will “I love reading”, and even less “I love cooking”. What you need to do is to bring your tastes and passions to life. If you love cooking, tell us why! If it is because you love trying new recipes and adapting them to eastern ingredients, or because you experiment with alternative spices, then please tell us that and then we see who you are! If you love travelling, avoid the list and tell us what you get out of it. Some of you love photographing people, others love to meet locals and explore how they live. Let us see who you truly are via your interests. That is what will make you stand out! And if you stand out, you know what happens next, right?
然而，现实是，现在可以负担得起大学的人也可以负担得起旅游的费用。一个你去过的国家的列表是不会打动任何雇主的。“我喜欢读书”或者“我喜欢烹饪”也是不行的。你需要做的是要展现出你的激情和兴趣。如果你喜欢烹饪，告诉雇主为什么！不论是因为你喜欢尝试新的食谱并且把它们与东方食材结合在一起，还是你只是用不同的香料来试验不同的口味，都要说出来，这样才能使雇主更好的了解你。如果你喜欢旅行，避免列出你到过的国家列表，告诉雇主你从中学到了什么。有的人喜欢摄影，有的喜欢了解当地文化并探索当地人的生活。要让雇主通过你的兴趣爱好来了解真正的你，这才是真正让你脱颖而出的原因。如果你成功的脱颖而出，你知道接下来会发生什么，对吧？
I have been coaching young graduates like you for almost five years now. In that time, I have helped many to get offers from the companies they wanted to work in. I can safely say that not once did a candidate with no true interests and passions get a job. If you don’t pay attention to this very soon, you will find it extremely difficult to get the kind of work you dream of. Find the activity, however small or meaningless you might worry it is, and go and practice it with enthusiasm. If that is being the Secretary of the Kite-Flying Society – so be it! Enjoy it, take the responsibility, and learn to love it. Not only will the employers find you more interesting, but there is also the HUGE risk that you might have fun!
我这五年来一直在指导像你们这样的年轻毕业生。在这段时间里，我已经帮助了许多毕业生从他们想去的公司那得到offer。我可以很放心地说，没有一个真正有兴趣和激情的申请人但最后却得不到他们想要的工作的。如果你能赶紧注意到这些的话，你会发现得到所谓那些你梦想的工作其实并不是那么的困难。找一个活动，不要担心多小或者多没有意义，去积极实践这项活动。如果你是风筝飞行协会的秘书，去享受它，承担责任，并学会去爱上它。不仅雇主会发现你更有趣了，有更大的可能你会从中找到乐趣。