Play the C-level Exec By: Gabe
Under: Careers, Now What?, UndergraduateMost universities don’t require public speaking, team initiatives or project-based work, but these are absolutely crucial to a successful career. If you haven’t presented your views in front of a crowd, haven’t managed a group of people toward a concrete goal, or haven’t worked over a long period of time on one concept, then you don’t have the stuff of a great leader.
It’s a serious problem. I’ve spoken with tons of recruiters who say that students coming from many top schools are sharp but lacking in practical skills. They can solve abstract problems like nobody’s business, but they can’t break the problem down and explain their solution. They have high GPAs and strong credentials, but they can’t manage people or develop pragmatic solutions. They don’t know how organizations work, why ideas fail, or what motivates people to succeed.
So what can you do to gain the practical skills you need to thrive in the real world? Get involved in a student group. Immediately.
And not just involved — take command. A student group is an amazing way to learn about yourself as a manager and to have a real impact on your university. It’s literally your opportunity to be a C-level executive, because if done right, a student group is a company in miniature.
Take the example of Bruin Consulting (BC), the premiere management consulting organization at UCLA started by the founders of Future Delivery. Within two months the group signed 250 members, captured corporate sponsorships and brought firms that never touched the UCLA campus to recruit its students. BC became the link between undergrads and consulting careers and a leader in professional development on campus. It fostered a culture of collaboration, fun and success and offered excellent service to its members. The group became a true success story, with a high job placement rate and a powerful reputation.
How did this happen? In addition to some basics of starting a new venture — an entrepreneurial culture; support from third parties, most notably UCLA and corporate sponsors; a great team; a passion for the concept — BC did not think of itself as a student group. It thought of its as an organization, and this gave every project BC pursued a standard of professionalism.
Right about now you’re probably wondering, “OK, that sounds awesome, but how do I even start?”
Wonder no more. Here’s the FD Formula for Managing a Successful Student Group:
- Identify which student group matches your interests and goals, or start a new one. (If you’re starting a new student group, check out “The FD Formula for Starting a Student Group.”)
- Figure the group out.
- Attend meetings faithfully, ask insightful questions, and figure out the strengths and weaknesses of the group. What is it doing well? What does it need to do better? What needs is it fulfilling on campus? Get to know the executive board personally and recommend new ideas. Become an invaluable member, a member the group appreciates and wants to retain. A handful of students used to come up to us after BC events to hang out and throw around new ideas. Many of those students are now board members.
- Become a leader.
- In some groups this involves an election; in others it’s just a matter of expressing the interest. Either way, be proactive and put in the time to rise to a leadership position.
- Develop a vision.
- What kinds of opportunities do you want to provide? What specific problems or needs to do you want to address? How big do you want to become? Most importantly, what value proposition are you providing to your members and the outside world? Map out a very ambitious (even overly ambitious) strategic plan with concrete goals you’ll have to achieve. Like BC did, consider yourself an organization, not a student group. And think big, because a lot is possible.
- Execute on that vision.
- Don’t become the usual student group leader (remember — you’re a manager now!) who is nothing more than a symbolic position. Answer each and every email immediately. Hold weekly one-hour strategy meetings. Commit to goals and create action items that people are accountable for, and follow up on them. Constantly come up with new events and projects to pursue. Reach out to your team members and get them invested in the success of the organization. Details and communication are vital.
- Build relationships.
- Start communicating with other student groups and co-host events with them. There are hundreds of organizations to collaborate with — this builds credibility, attendance and reputation on campus. Nurture relationships with academic departments and institutions that are relevant to your mission — they have money and resources that will drive your vision. And build relationships with your team members, because these are present colleagues and potential future partners. BC’s strong relationships with other professional societies, the Anderson School of Management and the UCLA College, and one another provided the foundation necessary to take off.
- Generate buzz.
- Cultivate relationships with your campus newspapers so you can get articles written about your events. Tell professionals about your group, because they will often speak to your members or recrit directly from your organization. Create a user-friendly website and a blog to keep people informed. The outside world has a genuine interest in campus affairs, so constantly use that interest to build awareness.
- Invest in your recruiting process.
- Hold rigorous interviews for students who want to get involved — but do not alienate your members by appearing manipulative or power-obsessed. Test them for a few key traits: initiative/ambition, success, creativity, likability, intelligence and passion. Hold high standard for whom you accept to the board — this the lifeblood of your organization.
Running a student group is one of the most fun and rewarding parts of college. If you don’t get involved on campus, a major part of your education is missing. There should be a section on your resume after “Work Experience” and before “Skills” and “Interests” called “Leadership.” And you want to have something impressive and concrete to say for yourself — so start now! How successful you are as a professional depends on it.
Post your student group tips, success stories and challenges here. We’re eager to hear them!
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