- Home
- Networks
- Topics
- Blogs
- Co-op Blogs
- Arts and Social Sciences Co-op Blog
- Beedie School of Business Co-op Blog
- Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology Co-op Blog
- Communication Co-op Blog
- Computing Science Co-op Blog
- Contemporary Arts Co-op Blog
- Engineering Co-op Blog
- Environment Co-op Blog
- Health Sciences Co-op Blog
- Interactive Arts & Technology Co-op Blog
- MSE Co-op Blog
- Science Co-op Blog
- Sustainable Energy Engineering Co-op Blog
- Communique
- ENGAGE
- Peer Education
- Co-op Blogs
- Galleries
- Learn
- Indigenous
- EAL/ESL
- iBelong
5 Benefits of Joining an Executive Board

5 Benefits of Joining an Executive Board
By: Micaela Evans
As a student, there are many ways to get involved. If you keep looking for new experiences, it’s possible to find opportunities that grow both your resume and yourself as a person.
One option many people often overlook, is getting involved on executive boards. Executive boards are an integral part of running many organizations – whether it’s an SFU club or an off-the-mountain organization or charity. All these different organizations need executive boards to keep them going and moving forwards, and they are a great opportunity for students to learn many key professional skills.
1. Leadership
Joining an executive board brings many opportunities for leadership. No matter what your role is, you have to take initiative to accomplish different tasks and events. Sometimes this may mean taking the lead, doing public speaking, or event management. Any leadership position is also looked upon highly by employers.
2. Hands-on Experience
While contributing to a club or organization, you have the chance to gain valuable hands-on experience. Whether it’s accomplishing something big, or trying something new, you get to do so much that you wouldn’t have done otherwise. This type of volunteering – learning while doing, can often prepare you for the types of work you’d do in a paid position.
3. Responsibility
As part of an executive board, you learn just how vital it is to stick to your word and stay accountable to yourself and to others. When working with other people, you quickly learn you have to stick to the things you say you’ll do, as well as strict guidelines or due dates. Others are relying on you, and this creates a great sense of responsibility and professionalism within your work.
4. Understanding Group Dynamics
Roles such as these give you a great opportunity to understand group dynamics. Groups may mesh well, or other times you may have to work with people who don’t work well with others. Either way, it’s a great learning experience to understand the many types of people you will have to work alongside throughout your University and professional life, and you can learn where you fit in different group situations.
5. Community & Connections
Being part of something bigger than yourself gives you a greater sense of community. Perhaps you’re a go-getter who is involved in many different things, or perhaps you’ve never found somewhere that felt like a perfect fit. Either way, putting yourself out there by taking on an executive position gives you a chance to find a place where you belong, and gives you the opportunity to make valuable connections in industries you may be interested in working in one day.
Overall, there is much to be gained from different avenues of volunteering, and being on an executive board is one of many ways to get involved and grow your personal and professional self.
Beyond the Article:
- To learn more about the clubs at SFU and the opportunities they may have available, go here.
Lead Image: reynermedia
Micaela Evans is a second year student working towards a double major in Communications and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies. She is passionate about connecting with people and creating words with weight. When she’s not studying and writing papers, you can find her writing for her creative blog at www.cobblestonehearts.com, and tweeting under @MissMici13.
Posted on March 02, 2015
Tags:
Submitted by volunteer on Mon, 2015-03-02 16:26 by volunteer
- volunteer's blog
- Login to post comments
- 22347 reads
RELATED TOPICS
|
|
|
|
|
|
SEARCH THE OLC
Login
OUR TWEETS
Today's Top
![]() |
Top Tip Lists 8 Interview Tips For Impressing a Hiring Manager [63] |
![]() |
Top Tip Lists Lost in Technical Translation: How to Succeed in an Unfamiliar Environment [57] |
![]() |
Event Summaries Highlights from the “Preparing for a Government of Canada Interview” Webinar [40] |
![]() |
Mental Health and Addictions Mental Health Wellness Tips for Quarantine [38] |
![]() |
Communication, Art and Technology How my Co-op Job Stopped me from Apologizing (Especially When I Really Don’t Need to) [32] |
Interviews 10 Tips on Answering Interview Questions Effectively [60] |
|
Life Experience Co-op Poland: Evan's International Adventure of Self Exploration [10] |
|
Volunteering LEAD - A Certificate in Innovative Leadership [9] |
|
Work Search The Key to a Great Cover Letter: Deconstructing the Job Description [9] |
|
Work Search 4 Tips on Showing Projects During Interviews [9] |
[Blog] Life Experience Just Like Bunko: It's Not About You [1] |
|
[Story] Interviews Preparation = Successful Interview! [1] |
|
[Story] Interviews Acing Phone Interviews [1] |
|
[Story] Career Exploration We Are All Canucks: Dreams Come True [1] |
|
[Story] Interviews The Dirty Dozen Interview Questions (Part I) [1] |
7 seconds
From Forbes Magazine.
You have 7 seconds to make a first impression:
...
You're Welcome!
Just wanted to say a big "you're welcome!"
I think though, that we also owe you a big thank-you for all of your fantastic...
There but for the grace of
There but for the grace of God go I, reoccurs for me in periodically and I smile warmly and am grateful.
Thank you for your...
Uhoh, now you've sent us down
Uhoh, now you've sent us down a black hole of Youtube Conan clips......
Our failures define us
Conan's quote is incredibly profound..but not quite as profound as his "String Dance."