Why Being a Student-Athlete Is Not Enough to Get Hired

Employers love hiring student-athletes. Ask anyone. The NCAA, employers, recruiters, coaches- yes, you have dedicated your collegiate time both in the classroom and on the field. So, now what?

#1 mistake collegiate athletes make is assuming an employer understands how the athletic experience translates to a potential job.

Assume nothing. Too many college athletes do not highlight their experience on their resumes or practice speaking to the experience during an interview. All collegiate athletes need to be able to explain — both on a resume and in an interview — how their collegiate athletic experience sets them apart from other applicants.

Think about it. If the person interviewing you did not play sports in college, how would he or she know how the experience translates? What if the person interviewing you graduated from college more than 15 years ago? College athletics have changed, dramatically. Just because you got the job done on the field, doesn't necessarily mean you can get the job done, well, on the job.

Spell it out.

Explain the connection between being a collegiate athlete and being the right hire. Be detailed with your examples.

• As a college athlete, I dedicated 30-plus practice hours to a Division II soccer team, while maintaining a full academic course load.
• As you can see from my GPA and athletic accomplishments, I have organizational skills that go well beyond the classroom. Our schedule included 15 games in 10 different cities per season. You can't perform on the field if you can't perform in the classroom. No excuses. I have a proven track record of getting the job done — and done well.
• As a collegiate athlete selected to play for four years, I am not easily discouraged and I understand the true definition of dedication. And that’s not just when things are going well. I have the grit to work twice as hard when challenges arise. An example of this would be.... (Insert inspirational game story here).

Too many collegiate athletes give up the opportunity to leverage their athletic careers for future professional ones. You would never go into a game, a race, or a meet unprepared. You study the game film, learn the playbook, and put in the hours of training with the mindset to compete. You assume nothing. You are only as good as your last win.

So when it comes to the job interview, think like an athlete. Be prepared to prove it.