If You're a work wallflower, heading home once the job is done rather than going to the theatre or playing tennis with work colleagues, you could be missing a trick. Signing up to special-interest clubs through work is a great way for graduates to raise their profile, says Catherine Norman, a sales and marketing graduate at Cadbury Trebor Bassett.

Norman set up the ladies’ golf society, attends gym classes, plays netball and is on the organising committee for a corporate charity ball. Though work always comes first, she juggles her work commitments to ensure that she regularly attends these groups.

“It’s just great for networking because there is no sense of hierarchy in any of the clubs. Everyone is equal,” she says. It’s a good forum in which to meet colleagues and find out more about what they do.

Unlike freshers’ fairs, when clubs vie to sign up undergraduates, work-based clubs can be harder to find. “It’s about finding out what the opportunities are and creating them where there aren’t any.” Don’t be afraid to set up your own clubs, she says. “I had an interest in certain things and I actively went out and found out about them.”

Employers are keen to encourage participation. It builds skills and creates a vibrant work culture, says Stephen Isherwood, the head of graduate recruitment at Ernst & Young, the professional services firm. “Clubs at work enable graduates to connect with other colleagues and make friends, to network internally – an incredibly important skill in a client-facing industry – and enhances their overall work experience.”

More and more, employers are looking for well-rounded individuals who can balance their work, home and social lives, says Gareth Davage, the managing director of Michael Page Finance, a recruitment consultancy. On your CV, it’s the way that you describe such interests that’s important, rather than the interests themselves. “Employers want to see the depth of your commitment,” he says. So be able to talk about and demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm.

Don’t forget that your CV is a sales document, says Davage. If you’re applying for a position that requires strong teamwork and networking skills, listing your interests as playing golf and chess are unlikely to clinch an interview. So join the netball team instead.

Tim Hall, a graduate at UBS, an investment bank, is a member of the orchestra and the choral society. He usually attends rehearsals for each once a week. The choral society meets at lunchtime, which is a boon. “It really clears your mind and you feel energised for the afternoon after you’ve hollered your heart out,” he says. Playing the oboe or singing before an audience of your peers is a nerve-racking experience, but you do get a real sense of achievement. “It’s quite confidence-building.”

No one raises an eyebrow when Hall leaves his desk to attend rehearsals – it helps that his line manager is a founder member of the choral society. “It’s a great opportunity to meet people throughout the bank whom I potentially would not have met.” Hall would mention both clubs on his CV. It shows potential employers that “you have more than one string to your bow,” he says – no pun intended. “I’m also quite proud of it.”

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