The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay.
In today’s highly competitive employment market, getting a job is increasingly becoming
difficult and sadly, recruiters are no longer concerned about a good degree. Apart from a well
filled job application form and a good interview, recruiters are also interested in what the
candidate did at the university. One of the key aspects that employers are looking for is
experience – evidence that the applicant has some idea of what the task to be performed is all
about. The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay.Taking part in extracurricular activities is one such way to impress employers. Extra- curricular activities and after- school programs offer university students a supervised and safe
haven and an opportunity to learn new skills like conflict resolution, great interpersonal relations
and successfully prepare for a career (Tchibozo, 2007, p. 39). These attributes are vital and help
graduates to develop in positive manners and avoid conflict and behavior problems. Employers
prefer applicants who participated in extracurricular activities because they are believed to have
acquired skills such as leadership and teamwork while minimizing the possibility of illicit drug
use, alcohol use and behavior related problems. Ming Chia (2005) explains that individuals who
participate in extracurricular activities often have decreased absenteeism and increases
connectedness to work (p. 77). The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay.
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
There are numerous investigations that support either participation, over- participation, or
not participating at all out-of- school activities and how involvement can influence what
becomes of graduates in the future based on engagement in extracurricular activities. According
to Covay and Carbonaro (2010, p. 27) youths spend more than a half a day in leisure activities.
Engagement in these activities has been associated with improved academic and social
outcomes, yet over –involvement may be too stressful for graduates as it may consume a significant amount of their time. There are varying views of what is considered an out – of –
school activity. A few examples of extracurricular activities may comprise pro- social activities
such as team sports, performing arts and dances. Different degrees of activity participation and
involvement may positively influence future workplace performance for those who take part. The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay.
Also, research indicates that both level of involvement and extracurricular programs may
influence the development of an individual. According to Cole et al. (2007, p. 341), research and
theory on positive development of youth emphasizes human development transition and reveal
that cultivating supportive, positive relations with social institutions and people promotes healthy
development. Considering this argument, organized activities like extracurricular activities can
promote healthy development due to the present support and opportunities. Job seekers who were
involved in structured extracurricular activities are more likely to play by the regulations, respect
diversity and contribute as a team player in the organization. So why do employers prefer job
applicants who have a background in extracurricular activities? This issue continues to illicit
interest, partly due to workplace underachievement and increased evidence of workplace
disengagement. Studies continue to investigate the negative and positive impacts. The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay.
Feldman and Matjasko (2005, p.169) established that activity involvement can be
associated with positive workplace outcomes, including enhanced job satisfaction and
productivity. On the other hand, Darling, Caldwell and Smith (2005, p.56) has noted possible
negative impacts of some form of extracurricular activities. If there is over-participation,
individuals may demonstrate several negative impacts of extracurricular participation. Either
way, it is crucial to establish why employees should participate in extracurricular activities and
how to deal with the negative effects of over- involvement. Along with underscoring the
advantages of participating in extracurricular activities, parents and students may wish to strike a
balance between activities and academics in order to have a positive consequence on young
graduates. The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay. In addition, is involvement is extracurricular activities a prognosticator of what
graduated will achieve after college? Darling (2005, p. 493) assert that involvement in
extracurricular activities during college is positively linked with civic, education and to a wide
extent, occupational success among young graduates. Fredricks and Eccles (2006, p. 698) argued
that there is a correlation between the participation of adolescents in extracurricular activities and
educational achievement as adults in income and occupational choice. Also, participation in
extracurricular activities increases employment opportunities because studies show that
participation reduces delinquency and minimizes employee engagement in risky behavior. These
aspects justify why college students should balance their lives between participating in extra-
curricular activities and academics since such well-rounded activities may influence their
employment opportunities in the future. The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay.
Extracurricular can be crucial for the development of individual abilities that they will
carry into workplace environment. Yet, if college students do not engage, they may not benefit
from what these activities offer and are not likely to be prioritized during employment
opportunities. The study by Tchibozo (2007, p. 51) show that it is vital to look at the level and
intensity of participation the college student has with the activity. When stating the gains of
involvement in extracurricular activities, Ming Chia (2005, p. 74) believe that this results in
positive youth development. Fredricks and Eccles (2006, p. 498) explains that positive youth
development entails five constructs: a) academic, vocational and social competence; b)
connection to peers, community and family; c) caring and compassion; d) confidence; and e)
character. It has been suggested by Darling, Caldwell and Smith (2005, p. 62) that involvement
in extracurricular activities increases the productivity of individuals later in life. This occurs because it facilitates: 1) the acquisition of positive social norms and interpersonal skills, and 2)
stronger social and emotional connections to one’s workplace. The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay. It then stands to argue that
involvement may lead to an increase of mental health wellness, enhanced workplace engagement
and productivity, and find that engagement may minimize problem behaviors.
A study by Covay and Carbonaro (2010, p. 47) discussed how participating in
extracurricular activities may enhance self-perceptions. It is crucial to understand that
involvement in physical extracurricular activities may impact the mental health wellness of
young graduates by minimizing stress, generally feeling better about their appearances and
keeping fit. Those who participated in extra-curricular activities reported higher self- perceptions
as compared to those who do not engage. College student who engage in physical extracurricular
activities can learn crucial workplace skills such as leadership skills or teamwork and these skills
assist them later in their workplace (Feldman & Matjasko, 2005, p. 202). When employed, those
who engaged in extracurricular activities are likely to make friends, adjust to new ecosystem and
demonstrate leadership bade on earlier experience acquired through out- of- class activities.
In brief, competition for limited employment opportunities has hit a notch higher and
employers are considering more than academic qualification during their recruitment and
selection process. Extracurricular activities have gained a new position in the recruitment
exercise as employers are becoming more attracted towards applicants with some background in
extracurricular activities during their college life. The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay. The reasoning behind this preference is that
applicants with a background in extracurricular activities have an opportunity to learn new skills
like conflict resolution, great interpersonal relations and successfully prepare for a career. These
attributes are crucial and help graduates to develop in positive manners and avoid conflict and
behavior problems. Therefore, employers prefer applicants who participated in extracurricular
activities because they are believed to have acquired skills such as leadership and teamwork
while minimizing the possibility of illicit drug use, alcohol use and behavior related problems.
Further, extracurricular can be crucial for the development of student abilities that they will carry
into workplace environment. The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay.
ORDER A CUSTOM-WRITTEN, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
Bibliography
Cole, M. S., Rubin, R. S., Feild, H. S., & Giles, W. F. 2007. Recruiters’ perceptions and use of
applicant résumé information: Screening the recent graduate. Applied Psychology, 56(2),
319-343.
Covay, E., & Carbonaro, W. 2010. After the bell participation in extracurricular activities,
classroom behavior, and academic achievement. Sociology of Education, 83(1), 20-45.
Darling, N. 2005. Participation in extracurricular activities and adolescent adjustment: Cross-
sectional and longitudinal findings. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 34(5), 493-505.
Darling, N., Caldwell, L. L., & Smith, R. 2005. Participation in school-based extracurricular
activities and adolescent adjustment. Journal of Leisure Research, 37(1), 51-76.
Feldman, A. F., & Matjasko, J. L. 2005. The role of school-based extracurricular activities in
adolescent development: A comprehensive review and future directions. Review of
educational research, 75(2), 159-210. The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay.
Fredricks, J. A., & Eccles, J. S. 2006. Is extracurricular participation associated with beneficial
outcomes? Concurrent and longitudinal relations. Developmental psychology, 42(4), 698.
Ming Chia, Y. 2005. Job offers of multi-national accounting firms: The effects of emotional
intelligence, extra-curricular activities, and academic performance. Accounting
Education, 14(1), 75-93.
Tchibozo, G. 2007. Extra‐Curricular Activity and the Transition from Higher Education to
Work: A Survey of Graduates in the United Kingdom. Higher Education Quarterly,
61(1), 37-56. The Impact Of Extracurricular Activities Essay.