Focus on marks or on co and extracurricular activities?

Many graduating students recently asked me whether one should focus on marks or on extra-curricular activities. Though, this is a very subjective question and every person can have mixed opinions, I will try to share my views.

Grades are important, but not essential

Whether you stay in the library or barely know there is one on the campus, concentrate on getting good marks. Though marks are not everything that you need to go through, but you never know when your academics have bolstered you. If one has five short listed candidates A, B, C, D, E and all other dynamics are reasonably equivalent but for C, who has substantially higher marks. He will generally fair well in the comparatives and get through. When entering the corporate world, one doesn’t have the experience or skills and the organisations will have to train you and wants to ensure that you possess the ability to learn. I personally do not ascribe to the argument, generally talked about, that if a candidate has good marks in his graduation, he absorbs new knowledge easily. Important is the learnability and adaptability, both of which have no direct correlation to what marks you have scored. But, there is certain difference between good and excellent academics. If one has received academic scholarships, awards, recognitions, companies tend to take notice. Not because the award winners are smarter, but they went the extra mile than others. It is an indication about an inner drive which generally reflects in their work as well.

Grades are generally mere numbers. Candidate A has scored an average of 85% as against 75% of B. Yes, we all know, numerically, 85 is greater than 75 or 75 is less than 85. But, what does it really tell? Can we claim that 85% of university A or institute A is better than 75% of university B or institute B? Are we really comparing apple to apple?  Let’s assume that we have maintained parity between two scores from two universities/institutes. But, what if candidate B has taken some core skill certification, organised blood donation camps, is an active member of some college organising committee or whatever. What if the elective B has chosen is more relevant to his skills or likes. Isn’t all this an indication that he takes decisions, instead of going with the herd? Another point worth mentioning is that if you graduate at the top or bottom of your class, you will be noticed. If you are in the middle ground, where pretty much everyone is, you will need other skills to land the job. Sure that I’ll be confronted on this point.

Grades are today, tomorrow but not the day after. Two or three years after your graduation, what will matter, your marks in graduation or what you have put in these years? Of course, the later. There is a saying that ‘You are never again as technically competent as the day you passed your exams’. As time passes by, marks or grades tend to fade away as a predictor of progress or success in your job.

Activities (which give skills), are not only important, but also essential

In business or in the corporate, you need releases from work and you must have developed social skills when dealing with clients. You also need time management skills and multi-tasking abilities. I believe that living in the library seldom promotes these skills. Ask any HR manager on what would he prefers in a candidate and he will not be really interested in selecting the ‘meritorious students’, but wants ‘strong students’ who also had other things going on in their lives. Perhaps, having girlfriend/s J 

Of course, above theory is seldom applicable for job profiles which really asks for merit, studiousness and whatever. Example, articleship.

Some suggestions on extracurricular and/or curricular activities:

·       Activities should be relevant

·       Activities should be excelled at

·       Try to perform/participate in unique activities

Though, I have not talked independently on ‘activities’ at length, I have given reasonable justice in comparing activities and marks in the above paragraph.

Conclusion

Grades/marks are important during the first few years of career. If you want to have a non-scholastic advantage in the hiring process, consider adding relevant, unique and skill giving extracurricular activities to your resume.

Marks are today, tomorrow but not the day after. Skills are today, tomorrow and forever!