While recently home from college for a weekend holiday, I was asked every upperclassman’s favorite question at the dinner table: “What are your plans after graduation?” While Aunt Sue’s curiosity came from good intent, this question had been on my mind for months as I worked to complete my last semester at school. Soon, I was going to need a job.

As soon as spring break hit, I knew I had to brush the dust off my resume, which had been adequate for internships and collegiate opportunities, and clean it up for the big leagues: full-time job applications. To say I was nervous was an understatement. I was about to embark on life after college and begin “adulting” for real.

Emily owning her confidence.

I set out to determine what to keep and what to cut from my list of experiences to fit the “one-page rule” for resumes. I was grateful for my extensive internship experience and my part-time job, having served tables (probably a thousand) while a student. However, both of those did not compare to the professional skills I gained in Kappa Delta.

My leadership roles in Kappa Delta have always stood out to employers and remain an important part of my development as a young professional. KD gifted me with a social network that heightened my collegiate experience and professional connections. No matter where I interview, KD is always a major talking point.

Emily and her sisters excited for Kappa Delta recruitment.

I’d like to share a little of what I learned about transferring the skills we gain in sorority life to the professional world. Here are five professional skills that translated from my leadership roles in Kappa Delta:

1. Time management. Being in New York City, Eta Iota-Pace sisters are pulled in many different directions. From participating in events such as our annual Shamrock Shootout to balancing work and internships, we are always busy. In your professional life, there will be many days when you must juggle 20 tasks at once or wear multiple hats. Kappa Delta taught me how to prioritize and balance it all.
2. Interpersonal skills for relationship development. In most professions, you will work with people, whether they be your coworkers or clients. On council, I learned how to work effectively with my team of councilwomen and chapter members. Being a leader in the chapter helped me develop the knowledge of how to match the media to message and, more importantly, how to deliver it in a respectful manner.
3. Event planning. Event planning takes dedication and a critical eye, and those are important skills to develop for any career. As VP-M, I planned sisterhood events to Central Park, Coffee & Confidence initiatives and senior send-offs.
4. Managing a team. As an older sister once told me, you get out of KD what you put into it. I had the pleasure of serving as VP-M, managing the entire chapter during recruitment week. This showed potential employers that I possess skills such as organization and attention to detail.
5. Two words: Self. Confidence. If there’s one thing Kappa Delta knows, it’s confidence! This might not seem like a professional skill to some, but women are less likely than men to negotiate pay, ask for raises or simply advocate for themselves in the workplace. Kappa Delta taught me to bet on myself and know my worth…and then add tax!

Emily Conklin

opens in a new windowEta Iota – Pace University

Discover more about the Kappa Delta experience  opens in a new windowhere.