There’s a website I recommend to a lot of people who, like me, stress out over resume-building. It’s called Kickresume, and it lets you look at actual people’s resumes and learn what worked from those who actually got hired with them. As you scroll down the resumes, you’ll see some common trends pop up: Familiarity with programming, various nonprofit work and other strengths to boast.

But an interesting skill I see show up again and again in resumes is the skill to design. Whether that’s digital graphic design or traditional art skills, I noticed a lot of successful resumes make mention of some creative talents.  Now, “design” may seem like a broad term, but understanding what it is, why the skill has seen a resurgence in necessity and how you can capitalize on NC State classes might make your resume the one in the pile that matters.

With everyone and everything going digital and companies fighting tooth and nail with each other to be that one thing in your inbox or on that webpage that catches your eye, the value of the creative worker has skyrocketed.

For some companies, that means flashy art that stands out in a crowd, while for others, that means professional work that inspires confidence in consumers and other groups. A class would teach you what employers want and how to provide it, all while challenging you and forcing you to use some creativity that you might not have even known you had.

I can vouch for the satisfaction that these kinds of classes can bring. I took a newsletter design class last semester, and it ended up being one of my favorite classes I’ve taken here at NC State. Designing a newsletter was like solving a tricky puzzle that leaves you really satisfied in the end, and I’m still using the skills I picked up from that class today.

There’s a lot of excellent programs out there, both cheap and not-so-cheap, that will also help you learn and practice excellent design skills, such as in the fields of photo manipulation, graphic design, HTML design and other productive hobbies. If you’re already experienced in a type of design, consider trying out something else or maybe getting a certification, if you haven’t already.

I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, and I do too, so I won’t argue that this should be added to the already substantial list of General Education Program requirements students should have to take. And while I personally might argue that some other classes on that list should be swapped out for design-oriented classes, it just boils down to personal preference.

However, one thing that I will put my foot down for and say definitively is that, if you get the time, you should take a design-oriented class to broaden your horizons. Employers are looking for people with the skills to help their companies stand out, and good design is what grabs people’s attention these days. And don’t let those skills fall by the wayside; keeping up with design professors and practicing to avoid rust will keep you sharp in the workplace and a strong contender in the resume stack.