‍How do Student Societies Impact Students from Underrepresented Backgrounds?

Huzzle exists to help students find jobs that make them happy. From the beginning, we've been interested in the role student societies play in a student's career journey. Early on, we came across a peer-reviewed paper, showing that involvement in student societies made students 3x more hireable and 18% more career-ready. So, we built a CRM, allowing committee members to manage their society on Huzzle. Now, more than 1,000 societies from across the UK and Ireland use the platform, allowing 100K+ students to engage with their favourite societies through Huzzle.

While we're pleased with this initial success, one of our biggest drivers is to make the early careers space a more level playing field; one in which students from all backgrounds can launch amazing careers. Therefore, we conducted research to better understand the specific impact of student societies on the journeys of diverse talent. By surveying 426 university students and conducting in-depth interviews, we uncovered some key findings on the impact of societies:

1. Societies are full of Diverse Talent

The research found that student societies are incredibly diverse, with 77% of respondents from underrepresented backgrounds participating in at least one society. Career-focused societies were particularly effective at engaging diverse talent, providing an inclusive environment that all students felt comfortable within.

2. Societies are an excellent way to develop Diverse Talent

Student societies also play a critical role in developing both hard and soft skills. Members gain practical experience through events like workshops and hackathons, and 78% of respondents from diverse backgrounds reported significant skill development due to being part of a society. Societies also enhance soft skills such as communication, leadership, and teamwork, making students from underrepresented backgrounds more competitive in the job market.

3. Societies play a pivotal role in a student’s career journey

Participation in societies significantly shapes students' career trajectories. About 85% of respondents felt that societies positively impacted their career paths by providing networking opportunities, skill development, and career exploration. 

While there is still work to be done to ensure that all students can benefit from the positive impact of societies, this research confirmed the potential of societies in levelling the playing field in early careers. At Huzzle, we will continue to do everything we can to encourage more students to join societies and make societies even more impactful, but to truly realise this potential, we also require the support of universities and employers.

If you would like to read the full research paper, you can access it here. Additionally, if you would like to discuss the findings further, you can contact us at hello@huzzle.app.