Can an HR class assignment actually help you get a better job when you graduate? Certainly! Combine a community service project with an HR‐related activity. It’s called Service Learning.

Service learning projects put concepts from your textbook to use in your community. As you complete your service learning projects, you add community service and leadership activities to your résumé, giving you an advantage over other applicants for that first job. Service learning activities also allow you to build your professional network with important contacts to help you in your job search.

Consider viewing community service activities from the perspective of HR professionals. When accepting and screening résumés they look for motivated and enthusiastic applicants with proven organizational and leadership skills. One way to show that you possess these important traits is to add a strong service component to your résumé. All other things being equal, students with a strong background in service and volunteerism will have an advantage over other applicants. Résumés with community service indicate to the employer that the applicant is a team player, shows an interest in others, and is developing organization and leadership skills. Many organizations that have community involvement as a core value are looking to add new employees who share the same values. After you get that first job, leadership in community programs and projects is often a prerequisite to getting a promotion to further your career.

The HRM Workshop in each chapter of this text includes suggested activities that apply HR functions or concepts either directly or indirectly. Some are designed to build your teamwork, leadership, and organizational skills. Others are designed to provide a deeper understanding of how an HR concept applies in practice, give an appreciation of an unfamiliar circumstance, or a fresh perspective. 

Like most college students, your time is precious. You may be tempted to undertake easy activities that require a minimal time commitment with organizations with which you’re already familiar. You’re going to get as much out of those activities as you put into them. They probably won’t look as good on your résumé as those that allow you to stretch yourself by meeting new people and learning new skills. Maybe you were involved in service projects in the past, but during your college years you’ve been busy and haven’t been as active. Remember that recent and continued experience looks better on a professional résumé than do one‐time projects that were completed back in your high school years. 

Who benefits from service learning activities? You, of course. You can build an impressive résumé with skills that your dream employer is looking for. Broaden your professional network with contacts that can help you in your job search and provide great references. Learn how HR concepts apply in the real world. Make a difference by helping your community and the world, and see how rewarding volunteering can be.

ARE YOU CONVINCED YET? GOOD. HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES FOR CHAPTER 1: 

Most colleges work with the same dynamic environmental challenges that affect businesses, including laws, regulations, economy, downsizing, diversity, and technology. This gives you opportunities right on your campus to help the college and students to deal with important issues. 

• Contact your college office for students with disabilities, international students, veterans, or other groups that may need assistance with their transition to college. Inquire about ways you may be able to volunteer. They may need help with communicating their services, assisting students with buying books and supplies, or getting around campus. You probably have a few ideas of your own.

• If you’re good with technology, consider asking the college Information Technology department if you can assist them in helping students and faculty with technology issues.

• Take a look at other activities in other chapters that may need time to plan and organize.

As you put your service learning experience together, keep a journal of your activities, the time you spend, contact information for people you work with, and your thoughts about the process. When you’re finished, make a presentation to your class about the experience, highlighting what you learned. What concepts from Chapter 1 were you able to apply?