Tips for Mercer Student Athletes
Career preparation for student-athletes is similar to that of all college students. Some unique circumstances exist, however, that are specific to student-athletes.
- Student-athletes dedicate many hours to their athletic participation on a weekly basis; therefore, they may have less time available to participate in work experiences, volunteering, and co-curricular activities compared to other students.
- The NCAA has strict guidelines on how scholarship student-athletes can receive payment. These guidelines often prohibit students from accepting paid work experiences while on campus.
- Athletic participation assists student-athletes in developing many skills transferable to the world of work; the challenge for student-athletes is to learn strategies for “marketing” these skills on paper and in person to different employers.
- Networking is key, especially if you aspire to work in sports. Many sports teams are large and highly sought after, so you’ll need to build a strong network in the sports field of people who can assist you
Desired and Transferable Skills
Below are some of the top skills that employers are frequently seeking:
- Written and Verbal Communication
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Critical Thinking
- Flexibility / Adaptability
- Strong Work-Ethic
- Computer Skills
- Problem-Solving
Through athletic participation, some of the skills you may have begun to hone are:
- Time Management
- Taking Criticism
- Leadership
- Overcoming Adversity
- Teamwork
- Flexibility/Adaptability
- Performance Under Pressure
- Goal-Oriented
Make sure that while you are writing your resume, you highlight these skills and how your experiences have helped you develop them. You don’t want to lean completely on athletic experience in interviews or on your resume, but you can make a strong case for why athletic experiences have been important to your professional foundation.
Quick Steps to Get Started
- Create a resume using the Student Athlete Template or one of our other CCPD approved templates
- Schedule a meeting with your Career Consultant to get guidance and establish a plan based on your goals
- Create a LinkedIn profile and begin to network virtually with your classmates and people in your desired fields. Join
networking groups and utilize the alumni search feature to find people that may be more likely to assist you. - Check out our Events, and consider attending networking events outside of the Mercer Community as well
- Search for your next job, internship, or volunteering opportunity. You can start with our resources online, but look
wherever you can!