Student Athletes are Career and Life Ready
Student athletes are a very unique group at any university campus. student athletes take the NAIA five core characters values very seriously. They are respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. While spending time on practice and competition with their teams, they are also committing themselves to being a full-time student, which is not always easy to balance. Clearly, many student athletes are very dedicated to their sport and their teams. Some are working in hopes of furthering their athletic careers, while others know this is an opportunity to participate in sports to make enduring friendships and learn valuable life sills. Clarke student athletes model integrity, respect and responsibility on and off the field.
Regardless of which path a student athlete pursues, it is likely that eventually they will end up in a non-athletic career. The likelihood of making it to the professional level of athletics from college is very low, typically 1 or 2% depending on the sport. Moreover, the typical length of a professional career as an athlete is rather short. However being a student athlete offers a lot of skills and traits that can spark the interest of a potential employer or be helpful skills as a current student. We call these “transferable skills” since these are broad skills that are valuable to have as an athlete, but also just as valuable to have as a student or potential employee.
Some examples of transferable skills for student athletes include the following: * Understanding the value of teamwork * Competitive nature * Handling pressure well * Coachable and willing to learn * Great sense of discipline * Strong work ethic * Understanding the importance of preparation * Seeks and loves a challenge * Self-motivated * Mentally tough
Additionally, in a job interview situation, there is great opportunity to highlight some of these skills student athletes have developed in their athletic careers that could also be applied to a future career in another field. All of these skills are valued by potential employers and provide an opportunity for an applicant to stand out from the crowd.
Furthermore, athletic departments encourage their athletes to get involved with the community through service and volunteer work. These experiences are definitely resume-worthy and should not be overlooked as they demonstrate leadership experience, provide networking opportunities, and offer experience in a field of interest. athletes are also encouraged to consider putting their time as a student athlete on their resume. Many employers understand that applicants who have participated in sports in college have many of the transferable skills and are excited to interview these individuals and discuss these skills in further detail. Also, the interviewer might have been a student athlete himself or herself, and feels a sense of connection to a potential applicant who has also been a student athlete. An NCAA survey of 21,000 student-athletes found that the typical student athlete spends more than 20 hours per week on average in competition or preparing for a competition, depending on the sport. In addition, the survey also found that more than 70% of student-athletes believe they are more of an athlete than a student.
What does being an athlete say about you as a job candidate? A successful career as an athlete says you have great potential as an employee. * You’re accountable for yourself and your goals, but you also are used to working in a team dynamic. * You have a strong work ethic and are dedicated to your goals. * You have good mentoring and leadership skills. * You’re proficient with team dynamics and dealing with different personality types. * You have mental toughness and can handle stress * You model teamwork, time management, respect, personal accountability, competitive drive and a desire to improve.
How do you describe the marketable skills and attributes of a student athlete for graduate schools and employers? Showcase your skills on the resume! It is common to see sections such as * Athletic Experience * Honors and Awards * Achievement * Coaching Experience * Training * Professional/Student Sport Associations * Certifications * Professional Development
Athletes are career and life ready graduates who positively impact the organizations and communities in which they live and work. The purpose of intercollegiate athletics is to provide each student the opportunity to develop as a whole person in the pursuit of fulfilling individual and team potential. Clarke University strives to promote an environment that fosters academic success, discipline, and leadership in a spirit of sportsmanship.