This one is for the student athlete
November 5th, 2009
If you are a student athlete, how do you find time between academics and sport to find an internship or a full time job?
Most student athletes commit 20 hours each week to their sport and an additional 18 to 24 hours to their academic course load. In a number of sports the competition continues year round. While competing in a sport can provide you with the team and problem solving skills sought by employers, how do you find time to learn about options and make the necessary connections?
Start close to home. Use any opportunity to ask people about what they do and how they got there. Next, get out of the athletic facilities. Your campus has a lot to offer and the students, faculty, staff and alumni are a valuable resource as you go through the career exploration process. Stay after class and talk to your professor. Register with your career center. Meet with a career advisor to develop a resume. Attend career panels. If you miss them, listen to the podcasts. Take the opportunity to use a course assignment as a way to interview professionals in a career field of interest. Offer to help a professor with their research.
Great ideas but you are going to compete professionally in your sport? Why be distracted by activities beyond the classroom and field? Because one day it will be your first day on the job and if you are 29 and have never had a job, it is not going to be a good day. And, all the 21 year olds who are starting the same day will blow you away. Not a good situation if you are a competitive person.
Look at your calendar. Is there a time of year when you could devote 8 -10 hours a week for 8 weeks to an internship? Carve out some time and start looking for your first internship. Once you have some experience on your resume you will develop a level of confidence that will help you compete with all the non-athletes in a tight job market.
Are all your friends athletes? Are the majority of adults you interact with on a daily basis affiliated with the athletic department? If yes, it is time to venture into the broader world of your campus. It is time to check out your opponents in this competitive job market.