“I am just another face in the crowd” or “I am just like everyone else”. This thought might have occurred to you at least once; if not, then you may want to think about taking an action that will help you stand out amongst your peers.
The amount of efforts you put in will decide how strongly you grow as an individual and stand out. We have listed a few things which will help you out:
1) Go on an Exchange Trip:
The best reason to go on an exchange trip would be to discover yourself. Working in an international environment forces you to adapt to meet new people, trying new cuisines and experiencing new cultures. AIESEC, a youth-led international organization has been facilitating students to take up internships in countries world over, for over 50 years. It is one of the best platforms to avail an international experience. This can help you distinguish yourself in a pool of applicants applying to a university or a company. Especially when most universities emphasize the importance of having a “global mindset”.
For more info: www.aiesec.in
2) Learn a new language:
Learning a new language is more than just a boost to your CV. Studies have found that speaking two or more languages is a great asset to the cognitive process. It improves the functionality of your brain by challenging it to recognize and communicate in different languages. Being able to speak a second or third language makes you stand out, which means that you will have more job opportunities as compared to a monolingual candidate. There are a number of online and mobile platforms like Duolingo to learn a new language in an interactive manner.
3) Do Certified Courses:
We all know how limited our education system is, so why not take up a certified course? Specialized in nature, it could be a course in digital marketing or Android application development the options are unlimited! Or you can read this article if you are unable to decide whether you should take up such a course.
Such short term courses will help you gain in-depth knowledge and add weight to your CV. There are some brilliant institutes offering certified courses both online as well as offline. These certified programs will ease your way into the corporates and give you the skills necessary to stand out amongst your peers. Companies prefer recruiting graduates who require lesser training.
4) Pick a Sport:
Students who play on a sports team, learn leadership skills and are considered to be more responsible, disciplined and have better time management skills than their peers. Some companies and universities give immense weightage to sports.It could be a deciding factor in your acceptance to your dream university.
5) Volunteer:
A recent report by LinkedIn found that nearly half of hiring managers while interviewing considered volunteer work equivalent to full-time work experience. One in five respondents to LinkedIn’s study said they have hired someone because of their charitable work. Volunteering with an NGO also helps you network with people belonging to various fields. It is easier to find like-minded people. Volunteering will get you out of your comfort zone, seek new opportunities and stand out among your peers.
It is advisable not to attempt all of these things simultaneously, but taking one step at a time. Something missing? Feel free to give your inputs/feedbacks in the comments section.
