If you’ve ever considered joining a student organization but have no idea where to start, you’re not alone. Maybe you don’t think a student organization is “right for you”- you’re not alone either. Irrespective of where you stand with student organizations, in the event that you do take the jump to get involved outside of the classroom, it is important that you know where to look for the student organization that is right for you.
Follow this checklist when picking the lucky organization.
- Do some research and get in contact with the different organizations. The College of Business and Business College Council has made it easy for you to reach their organizations. You can either stop by the Professional Development Center in Room 104 and ask for a pamphlet with a tentative listing of all BCC student organizations, or you can visit the “Join an Org.” page of this website and view a dynamic and up-to-date listing of all the same BCC organizations. Our online listing has every organization’s mission statement, list of activities, email contact, and website address (when available).
- Find an organization who has a theme and mission that interests you. First and foremost, if you’re not interested in the organization you get involved in, you will not have the initiative to contribute to the organization’s projects or engage in the organization’s professional and social activities. If you aren’t interested and thus don’t get involved with the organization you join, you are back to square one but probably short 50 bucks. Before joining an organization, ask the members the most fundamental question: what is your organization about and what do you do?
- Know why you want to join an organization. If you don’t know why you want to join an organization, hopefully the prospective organizations you inquire about can give you a few reasons to hang onto. If they can’t, you found the wrong organization. In all seriousness, joining an organization can look good on a resume, allow you to get professional experience before joining the workforce, help you find internship and employment opportunities, introduce you to a great network of students and professionals, and help you satisfy your thirst for a more well-rounded college experience.
If you are serious about getting an internship, ask the organization how many internships they secure on a semester basis. If you want an organization that can introduce you to more people and “social venues”, ask the organization how many members they have and how many parties and social events they organize a year. Be sure to ask for proof. This should not be an absurd request because the type of organization who loves to party is the same type of organization who likes to take pictures of said parties.
- Make sure your personal life is compatible with the organization. Some organizations are more time-demanding than others. Others only hold meetings at a time that may conflice with your work or school schedule. Verify that your prospective organization is willing and able to work around your schedule and academic standing (aka your GPA).
- Ask for help! The Professional Development Center in CoBA Room 104 and the BCC at ProfessionalDevelopment101.com both exist to make sure you find the organization that fits you. Send us an email (prodevelopment101@gmail.com) or “Ask a Pro Miner” on the homepage of the site.
Good luck!
