Why are extracurricular experiences so valuable for your career?

Have you ever stopped to think that that exchange trip, volunteer project or even the blog you keep could be your big differentiator in the job market? Many candidates underestimate the power of activities outside the classroom or corporate environment, but the truth is that they develop skills that no traditional course can teach alone. Soft skills such as leadership, resilience and creativity are often honed in real situations, far from the comfort zone.

Companies today are looking for complete professionals who know how to solve problems, adapt to change and work as part of a team. A LinkedIn study shows that 57% of recruiters value soft skills more than technical ones. And where do you think these skills are tested and developed? Exactly: in extracurricular projects. Imagine a candidate who organized a charity event in college. They had to negotiate sponsorship, manage teams and deal with unforeseen events. Doesn't that sound like a mini-CEO in action?

What's more, these experiences tell stories. Your CV stops being a generic list and becomes a document full of personality. For example, if you've been part of a debating team, you can highlight your ability to argue and think critically. If you took part in a programming marathon, you can show problem-solving under pressure. The key is to connect the dots between what you've experienced and what the market needs.

But how do you turn these experiences into a competitive advantage? It's not enough just to mention them on LinkedIn. You have to knowing how to communicate your value. How about starting by reflecting: what challenges did you overcome in these activities? What concrete results did you generate? Who did you impact? These answers will be the foundation of your professional storytelling.

Identifying key skills developed outside the formal environment

Have you ever listed all the skills you've acquired in side projects? Often, we don't even realize how much we've grown until we do this exercise. Let's take a simple example: a young person who was a tutor on a photography course. As well as teaching techniques, he probably learned to planning lessons, receiving feedback and adapting your communication to different audiences. These are skills directly applicable to training, sales or management positions.

How about a more daring case? Someone who has set up a YouTube channel about games. It sounds like just a hobby, but think of the discipline it takes to keep a schedule of posts, the creativity to script videos and the analysis of metrics to understand the audience. This is digital marketing in practice! And if this person wants to move into the commercial area, they can highlight how their content has engaged thousands of followers - proof that they understand persuasion and audiences.

To map out your own skills, make a table divided into three columns: Experience, Tasks carried out It is Skills developed. For example:
– ExperienceCoordination of a university futsal team.
– TasksChoosing players, defining strategies, mediating conflicts.
– Skills: Leadership, decision-making, teamwork.

Don't underestimate apparently simple activities. Even an amateur theater group could have taught you improvisation, vocal expression and time management - essential for corporate presentations. The tip is: always relate your experiences to the demands of the market. Want a practical guide to identifying your soft skills? Sebrae offers a free test](https://www.sebrae.com.br/sites/PortalSebrae/ferramentas/teste-de-soft-skills) that can help.

How to structure these experiences on your CV and LinkedIn

Now that you know which skills to highlight, how can you organize them on your CV without seeming disjointed? Avoid the generic "Other activities" section. Instead, create a topic called "Complementary Projects and Experiences" or even integrate them into your professional career, if that makes sense. For example, if you were a trainee in a company and at the same time led a social project, put both as items of equal importance.

On LinkedIn, go further. Use the "Highlights" to post photos, certificates or links related to these experiences. Have you thought about writing an article about the lessons you learned organizing a TEDx in your city? Or recording a quick video about how volunteering at a shelter taught you empathy? This humanizes your profile and generates authentic connections.

For those with little professional experience, these activities can take center stage. Imagine a recent graduate who was part of the academic directory. Instead of burying this information at the end, they can highlight it:
– "Resource and Event Management - Engineering Academic Directory"
– ResponsibilitiesR$ 20k allocation for lectures, negotiation with suppliers, 40% increase in student participation.

This shows measurable resultsThis is something that recruiters love. Another tip: include keywords for the position you want. If you're looking for a job in logistics and you helped coordinate the logistics of a science fair, that's relevant!

And don't forget the recommendations. Ask project colleagues or mentors to write about their work on LinkedIn. A testimonial like "Joana was instrumental in resolving conflicts in our volunteer translation team" is worth more than ten self-declared skills.

Turning experiences into storytelling during interviews

There's no point in having an incredible CV if you don't know how to do it at the interview. telling your story with impact. Recruiters don't just want to hear what you've done, but how you did it and what you learned. Let's take a common situation: "Talk about a challenge you overcame". Instead of citing a generic problem at work, how about mentioning that exchange where you had to deal with an unprepared host family?

Use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure their answers:
– Situation: During my exchange in Ireland, my host family canceled my stay without warning.
– Task: I had to find a new home in 48 hours, without mastering the local language.
– ActionI negotiated with the school, used expat networks and got reliable referrals.
– ResultsI moved in one day, learned how to deal with crises and made valuable contacts.

Do you see how this shows proactivity, adaptability and networking? Another example: if you took part in a robotics competition, don't just say "I was part of a team". Explain how your group improvised a repair on the robot minutes before the presentationI've been working under pressure and showing creativity.

Practice this speech before interviews. Record a 2-minute video of your extracurricular career and watch it to get the rhythm right. What moves you can move the recruiter. And beware of excessive modesty! If you've collected 5 tons of food in a campaign, that's quite an achievement - make it clear.

Creating a tangible portfolio of your experiences

Some careers require concrete proof of your work. If you've already written for a university blog, why not collect your best texts in a personal website? Platforms like WordPress or Wix are great for this. Designers can use Behance to showcase freelance projects, and even volunteers can create an impact report with photos and testimonials.

Imagine an architecture student who helped build low-income housing. A LinkedIn album with before and afters, floor plans you've designed and videos of the community thanking you is already a case in point. For creative areas, an Instagram profile dedicated to your work (illustrations, video editing) also counts - just remember to keep it professional.

Don't underestimate the power of certificates and short courses. Did you do a public speaking workshop at the academic center? Include. Did you take part in an innovation marathon with mentoring from a large company? Highlight. Sites like [Valid Certificates](https://certificadosvalidos.com.br/) help to verify the authenticity of some of them.

And if your experiences are more "subjective", such as group meditation or backpacking trips, create a reflective document. Write down how these experiences have shaped your worldview and professional ethics. An employer who values diversity may be delighted by your account of living with different cultures.

Social networks and networking: extending the reach of your differential

How many opportunities have you missed because you weren't visible? Your extracurricular projects can be magnets for strategic connections. Start following companies and professionals in the field you want to work in - comment on their posts with genuine insights. For example, if you organized an entrepreneurship fair, share on Twitter: "I remember when we brought in a speaker who talked about X. Has anyone here tried this technique? Has anyone here tried this technique?"

Facebook and Telegram groups are also gold. Join communities like "Volunteers São Paulo or "Startup Weekend Brazil and participate actively. Have you ever thought about sending a direct message to someone who attended the same event as you? "Hi, Maria! I saw that you were also at the Sustainability Congress last year. How about we exchange ideas about the renewable energy panel?"

Don't be afraid to creating content about what they learned. A simple post like "5 leadership lessons I learned at chess club" can go viral. Use hashtags such as ExperiênciaQueTransforma or AprendizadoForaDaSala. Platforms like Medium are great for longer texts.

And don't ignore offline networking. Take your business card to events - even if it's a simple template with your name, LinkedIn and a QR code for your portfolio. I once knew a young man who got an interview because the recruiter saw his "USP Hackathon Organizer" sticker on the subway. The world is smaller than you think.

Maintaining continuous growth: how to seek new experiences in line with your objectives

Everything we've said so far only works if you don't stop in time. How about setting quarterly goals for new experiences? If you want to enter the financial market, take part in stock market simulations. If you're aiming for HR, offer to mediate dynamics at your university's events.

Sites like [Atados](https://www.atados.com.br/) connect volunteers to social causes, and [Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com.br/) lists free workshops. Even a craft brewing course can yield stories about quality processes - it all depends on the angle you explore.

Finally, evaluate the return on each activity. After six months in the company choir, have you improved your discipline or just accumulated fatigue? Don't be afraid to pivot. The secret is add experiences that make sense to your professional narrativenot just fill up your CV.

So, are you ready to revisit your career and turn it into a competitive arsenal? Start today by mapping out your skills and telling your story with pride. The market doesn't just want diplomas - it wants people with a repertoire. And you have a lot to offer.