Making Yourself More Attractive in the Job Market
As a former student-athlete, you may find yourself in a unique situation where your athletic career has ended and you are looking to transition into the professional workforce. Now the question is, how exactly do you go about doing this? And, what can you do to make yourself desirable to potential employers?
First of all, take a look at your current skill set and how it compares to the skill set you would need to be successful in your desired professional career. As a former student-athlete searching for professional employment, you have undoubtedly learned many valuable skills on the field, such as teamwork and communication, which can be transferred to any professional career. If you’re unsure about your career choice or about the specific skills needed for your choice of career, take a look at job boards. Job boards feature available jobs and give great insight into specific desired skills for these jobs. You may see that you need to take a class or get certified in a particular area or program. Improving up your skill set and making yourself more marketable can do wonders to make you stand out amongst the competition.
Another way to make yourself more desirable to potential employers is to connect yourself with professional organizations. Not only do these organizations offer great networking opportunities, but many also offer workshops, classes, articles and tips from a number of companies. Research your desired field and find a relevant professional organization to join, and be active! Attend workshops and networking events, contribute content, volunteer, or sponsor an event. Still in school? There are plenty of professional organizations just for students.
According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, more and more employers are looking at job candidates’ social media profiles for an initial feel of the candidate. If there is anything controversial or defamatory on social media profiles, this is usually an immediate turn off. Max Drucker, CEO of Social Intelligence Corp., which screens job applicants on behalf of companies, estimates that between 5 and 10% of Internet background checks turn up red flags. That’s why it is extremely important, especially when looking for a job, to keep social media profiles clean and professional.
Athlete Connections knows that finding the right career is challenging. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping former student-athletes develop the skills needed to transition into careers outside of athletics. We offer many resources available to former athletes searching for employment such as resume tips, mentoring, an online database of available jobs, and networking events to bring employers and student-athletes together. Register today for free to get started with your job search!
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