Now that you have made it to the crème de la crème, you suddenly find yourself in this quandary. As clubs and committee selections are about to start, you have a taxing decision to make - should you join them or focus on academics? I am in no capacity to recommend where and how you should divert your focus, but I can definitely tell you why you should be joining a club or a committee.
You could have been very active in extra-curricular activities in your under-graduation but it is twice as important to display your extra-curricular merit at IIMs. A place where everyone has been a topper throughout their lives, you need to set the point of differentiation.
Working in a club or committee not only helps you broaden and improve your soft skills but also sends out the message that you possess certain exceptional skills and talents. You get to interact with a diverse set of people in various situations, while yourself playing the role of a presenter, a negotiator, a mediator, or a facilitator and so on. Also, if you are at all like me, you can join the social service initiatives and enjoy giving back to the society.
Networking and building closer relations with your alums and peers will be fruitful at the times of need. Clubs and committees usually bring in alumni to share their experience which is why it is an excellent opportunity for you to not only learn from them on how they dealt with certain situations but also to connect with them and gain help with job searching and mentoring. And, you always get a chance to develop a strong social circle with the seniors yet to graduate, who can also open doors for you.
At the end of the day, everything, all your hard work boils down to the placements and mind you, companies do look for an active student. ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ - you certainly don’t want to fit that profile. To the interviewers, you want to give the vibe that you are not only good at academics but are so in activities that extend your passion. And voilà! Right there, you have a brilliant conversation starter to use in your interview.
Lastly, you will have to devote eighty percent of your time to club and committee work, at least in the first year, so, begin by listing down all the clubs and committees that run at your institute and pick the ones that align with your interests, and then, start preparing for the selection processes. If you don’t find a club or a committee suitable to your liking, then you can always start one! Good luck!