Hey,I'll be starting University next year, on a Economics related degree. To date, I have no real ECs and I want to make sure I use the next 3 years to really improve me CV. What type of stuff would you like to see on a grad's CV?

WTF is an EC then?

Extra Curriculars?

Ha, yeah sorry, Extra Curriculars.

You shouldn't really have to ask this! Anything and everything is acceptable if you enjoy or at the very least, can talk about it. Cross-stitching, sport, running, young enterprise, buddy schemes, climbing snowdon, climbing the world's biggest bowl of sugar puffs.

"climbing the world's biggest bowl of sugar puffs" - yeah! I forgot just how cool it was being at university - its been too long!

Oh right. Well I was looking for something specifically that you personally would be impressed by. Something that says I'm born to consult LOL

Of course it must be something you are incredibly enthusiastic about......yet are willing to give up completely for the sake of your career!

should combine leadership, selflessness with commercial relevance e.g. working among the homeless, mapping their processes and suggesting areas of potential efficiency improvement - rose to dominate the volunteer team and was subsequently able to reduce their headcount by 50%

Do what you love, and be prepared to talk about it at interview. That's it really. I don't understand why so many people think that extracurriculars can make or break a milkround CV / interview. Having done a few in the past, I can tell you it breaks the monotony of sifting through identikit grads and provides a real moment of conversation, but it doesn't sway me either way as to whether you're a fit for the firm. I've never looked at a CV and thought "hmm, he's climbed Kilimanjaro... he'll be great for my testing team!".But that's just me.

Hi,If you're interested in voluntary work, I can recommend AIESEC (www.aiesec.org) as an excellent organisation to develop a variety of skills - e.g. leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurship, cultural awareness, international travel etc.If AIESEC has offices at your university, I would certainly encourage you to think about it.I was a member when I was a student, and I felt that it really helped me to break into strategy consulting. But more importantly (and this has already been emphasised by previous posts) , it was something that I really enjoyed.Good luck with choosing the right ECs for you, whatever it is, just make sure you do it because it interests you rather than just for your CV.

Thanks for that JB. It definitely looks like something I would be interested in taking part in; will check it out.

Take a year out after or as part of your degree-when I interview grads I find it so uninspiring when they answer every question with a uni related case study. Having a good work experience example and a charity spell or travelling stories will give you so much more to talk about.

Go and work abroad each Summer. It amazes me that so many Brits sit at home suckling at their mummy's bosom, when they could be using those long summers to see the world.Plenty of vacation work, and easy to get student visas to the US or Canada. Or working on the production lines in BMW Munich, or picking grapes in France, or or or

And how much would visiting abroad set me back? :S

Not a penny if you do it as a working holiday, as I've suggested.I worked overseas each Summer during (and before) Uni. Two of those were production lines in Munich, and two were waiting tables in Boston.Both times, I came home with enough cash to cover my drinking money for the yearGoogle "working holidays" and "J-1 Visa"