As a student athlete you have acquired many valuable skills and the Career Center is here to help you apply them to your job search! The resilience, accountability, teamwork, and leadership that has made you successful as an athlete can also make you competitive for jobs and internships. Check out the following resources to see how you can leverage your student athlete experience in a professional work environment.
Begin by selecting an appropriate Resume Template from the Career Center website.
- As you begin to tailor your resume, consider placing athletics under “Leadership Experience” or “Relevant Experience” rather than just “Activities”
- Highlight leadership experiences from your athletic career
- Detail any captain or co-captain roles
- Mention if you led practice sessions or helped train newer teammates
- Emphasize time management and commitment
- Note how you balanced rigorous athletic schedules with academic responsibilities
- Showcase teamwork and collaboration
- Describe specific situations where you worked within a team to achieve goals
- Include examples of resolving conflicts or adapting to different coaching styles
- Quantify your achievements
- Note any improvements in personal or team performance under your contribution
- Mention any athletic academic awards or scholar-athlete recognition
- Demonstrate soft skills through athletic experiences
- Communication: Explain how you coordinated with coaches and teammates
- Resilience: Describe how you overcame injuries or setbacks
- Goal-setting: Include examples of meeting both short and long-term athletic goals
- Include relevant athletic organization involvement
- List participation in student-athlete advisory committees
- Mention volunteer work or community service through athletics
- Connect athletic experiences to job requirements when possible
- Highlight leadership experiences from your athletic career
Teamwork and Collaboration: Athletes often work closely with teammates, coaches, and
support staff, which helps develop strong teamwork and collaboration skills.
Communication Skills: Effective communication is vital in sports, and athletes are likely to have
experience communicating with coaches, teammates, and fans, which can translate well into the
workplace.
Time Management: Balancing academics, training, and competitions requires excellent time
management skills, which are essential for meeting deadlines and managing multiple tasks in a
professional setting.
Goal Setting and Achievement: Athletes are accustomed to setting and working towards
specific performance goals, which can be directly applicable to setting and achieving goals in the
workplace.
Leadership: Many athletes take on leadership roles within their teams, which fosters leadership
abilities and the capacity to motivate and inspire others.
Resilience and Adaptability: Athletics can be physically and mentally demanding, requiring
athletes to be resilient and adaptable in the face of challenges and setbacks.
Problem-Solving Skills: Athletes often encounter various challenges during training and
competitions, fostering strong problem-solving skills.
Work Ethic: The dedication and discipline required in athletics cultivate a strong work ethic,
which can be valuable in any professional setting.
Competitiveness: Athletes are naturally competitive and driven to excel, which can lead to a
strong drive for success in the workplace.
Stress Management: Handling pressure during competitions can develop effective stress
management skills, which are beneficial in high-pressure work environments.
Critical Thinking: Athletes often need to think critically during games or matches, analyzing
opponents’ strategies and making quick decisions.
Confidence and Public Speaking: Athletes often face media interviews and public appearances,
which can improve their confidence and public speaking abilities.
Health and Wellness Knowledge: Athletes usually have a good understanding of fitness,
nutrition, and overall well-being, which can contribute to a healthy and productive work
environment.
Cultural Awareness and Diversity: Athletes may interact with individuals from diverse
backgrounds, fostering cultural awareness and sensitivity.
Networking: Athletes often build strong networks within their sports community, and these
networking skills can be valuable for building professional connections.
Data Analysis: In some sports, athletes work with data and statistics to improve performance,
which can translate to data analysis skills in the workplace.
Creativity and Innovation: Some sports require creativity and innovative thinking to
outmaneuver opponents, skills that can be applied to problem-solving in various work scenarios.
Accountability and Responsibility: Athletes are accountable for their actions and responsible for
their performance, promoting a sense of accountability in the workplace.
Career Coaches can help you learn more about and explore:
- Discussing and exploring your skills and professional interest.
- Showcasing your unique experiences in your resume and cover letters.
- Gaining hands-on experience through internships, jobs (part-time or full-time), and professional opportunities.
- Prep for interviews.
- Where to apply for interested fields
- Applying for graduate school
Schedule an appointment with professional staff and peer consultants to review your resume or prep for an interview on Handshake or by calling at 717-477-1484 or visiting the Career Center in CUB 108.
Resource where former NCAA student-athletes can post their resume, find employment opportunities, and get job-seeking advice.
Just because you’re a student-athlete doesn’t mean you have to work in sports, but if you are interested in a career in sports, here’s a good place to start. Teamwork is an online job board for the professional league, minor affiliates and NCAA athletics.
Recruits degree-holding collegiate athletes for corporate jobs.
Former student athletes have gone through what you are now about to, and have accumulated wisdom about what it takes to thrive in the professional world. These individuals are likely already doing the jobs you want to do, for the companies you want to work for! You can learn from the experience of those who have come before. But how do you find them? And when you do find them, how do you connect with them?
Start by asking friends, family members, professors, and coaches if they know people they can connect you with. And don’t be afraid to reach out to people you find through Shippensburg connections and social media, even if you haven’t met before! Check out this LinkedIn article that discusses how to find and reach out to potential connections.
- Alumni: You can connect with Shippensburg alumni through a variety of online tools. You’ll find thousands of alums with similar interests and skills as you on Shippensburg’s alumni page on LinkedIn. In addition, alums frequently host events on campus, which is a great opportunity to connect. Check in regularly with the Shippensburg Alumni event calendar to stay on top of what is happening on campus.
- Professional Associations: Most professional associations offer student memberships at a discount, and memberships usually come with access to programs such as speaker events or job fairs. You can search for professional associations using the Directory of Associations.
- Mentoring: If you form a strong connection with someone, such as an alumna or other professional, you may consider asking them to be your mentor. Read these tips on choosing a mentor.
