Sports on your Resume

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Did you know that student-athletes spend 40+ hours per week (equivalent to a workweek) dedicated to their sport? Most of these student-athletes work harder than hard in college with hopes of playing professionally... Until reality kicks in.

According to the NCAA, only 1% of college athletes end up playing professionally. Of that 1%, their average professional career lasts 3 1/2 years long. Which tells me that majority of our student-athletes are bound to enter the workforce... either at the point of graduating college OR upon the end of their professional career. Not to freight... help is on the way!

Whether you're a student-athlete reading this post, or someone who may know a student-athlete, I thought it might be helpful to share some TIPS on including your sports experience on your resume to prepare for the search of a career.

     - Create a section on your resume titled Intercollegiate Athletics to list your accomplishments while on and off the field --> If you worked part-time or interned while in college, add this section after your "Work Experience" section

     - Include whether you were a full- or partial-scholarship recipient --> Employers will appreciate the hard work with grades and sportsmanship that lead up to your acceptance as a college-athlete

     - Indicate your school, division level, athletic sport and dates played as a student-athlete as your title for the Intercollegiate Athletics section --> This would be equivalent to your Employer, Position and Tenure in your "Work Experience" 

     - Don't forget to include your volunteer work, which many student-athletes partake in (i.e. Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, etc.) --> Employers appreciate the work you accomplish outside of your college career

     - Create a section for Athletic Achievements and include any highlights, record breaking numbers in the weight room or on the field, or any championships won --> This will help demonstrate your dedication and persistence in achieving more than what's expected of winning games, which can translate to willingness to achieve much more in the workplace than what's asked of you

     - Use key phrases such as time management, leadership skills, team-oriented, accountability, communication skills, goal-oriented, motivated --> These are action words that demonstrate these important skills that you exemplified on the field, which can easily be transferred and appreciated in the workforce 

Last but not least, NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! Get to know your coaches and administrative staff on a different level than purely transactional. Talk to your professors and fellow college students that are not on your team. The more you chat with others, the more you will hear tips and tricks and good things to help shape your professional resume!