I just finished a masters degree in engineering and I'm applying for jobs. My question is about my resume, namely whether I should include the sorority I belonged to in undergrad. I've had it on there along with my other more technical activities to show that I'm well-rounded and social, but I've heard that some recruiters can be disdainful of someone mentioning something frivolous like a sorority.
My undergraduate school was a small technical university so the sorority scene was a far cry from partying animal house antics, and it really was just a way to have a social life in a school with lots of antisocial kids who sat in their rooms playing video games all the time. So many engineers have trouble working with people, that I thought mentioning my sorority might be a good way to show that I am in fact social and good at teamwork etc. But I guess I'm worried it could be misconstrued so I'm thinking about taking it off. Any thoughts on this from people with more experience would be greatly appreciated.
H. Eich
Schuh
Colline
Did your sorority organize any fundraising or events that could look good? Community outreach through your group? Is it at all an engineering sorority that is national? If it was just to meet people and you didn't do anything significant (volunteer, outreach, fund raising, networking) forget it. Good luck
1I list mine always! Sororities nowdays, especially in the South, are striving to show that they are involved citizens. I list committees, and point out the volunteer work I did with the sorority. I also point out that it improved my communication skills. Another thing that I don't list but I will point out if asked about my sorority is that we are held to high standards. My sorority helps you to develop and set standards in academics, character, activities, etc.
2I'm in a hurry and submitted before I read the person above. Depending on your profession, this "didn't do anything significant" may matter. Employeers in most professions say that poor communication skills are what most new hires lack. Fundraising, outreach, vounteer work, and network show initiative, practiced communication skills, and major corporations like someone with volunteer and fundraising expereince to make them look good. The fortune 500 I work for has a chairman in each department who heads fundraising efforts for non profits. These "didn't do anything significant" 's are very significant in some professions!
3oh goodness, I'm just in too big of a hurry. She did say that those things were significant. whatever! sorry!
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