Minors
Reasons for picking up a minor are myriad. While job requirements seldomly call for a minor in something explicitly, they will frequently though use language like "familiarity with".
A minor signals to a prospective employer that you have concrete expertise in area beyond your primary field of specialization and might have the ability to communicate with a diverse group of people; a skill highly coveted in today's job market. It further demonstrates a certain level of initiative and persistence through the fact of having had to complete multiple projects simultaneously.
In other words, a minor is concrete proof of a specific level of achievement beyond any stated interest. It adds to your breath of understanding. A minor thus has the potential to provide you with an edge over your competitors in the job market while complementing or counterbalancing your main area of study.