Think being a student athlete only prepares you for sports? Think again. Former college athletes are discovering that the skills and mindsets developed through athletics create a powerful foundation for professional success across diverse industries.
The Competitive Edge
The drive to win and push beyond limits translates powerfully to the business world. Nick, who played Division I sports, reflects: "When I was swimming competitively, every time, you're not only trying to beat everyone else, but you're trying to beat yourself." He found that channeling his competitive drive into new challenges helped him thrive in tech sales: "With sales, I'm focused on what I can do better to get better numbers than I did last quarter, last month, last year."
Team Player to Corporate Player
For many athletes, the transition from team sports to corporate teams feels natural. As Cameron, now an Associate Broker, explains: "Luckily, being a former student athlete, a lot of employers love that aspect... because they know you're driven, they know you work hard, you have a great work ethic... just got to prove it to them." The ability to be coached, work within a team, and execute under pressure are highly valued in the professional world.
Managing the Post-Athletic Identity
The transition from competitive athletics isn't always easy. Trent, an Account Executive at ZoomInfo, explains, "You have a little bit of your identity wrapped up into being a football player, and then the whistle blows. You step off the field and you're not a football player anymore. And you're kind of figuring out, okay, who exactly am I? And then you find things that help you outside of football." He found that the discipline and competitive spirit from his football career naturally carried into sales.
Leadership Through Athletics
Athletics can be an exceptional training ground for leadership. Mattie, now working in athletic fundraising, shares, "There's been a lot of times when I've been the only woman in the room. And something that one of my former coaches said to me is, 'Make sure it's not a competition... If you get in the room, make sure that you're pulling up more chairs and pulling more women in the door with you.'" Her experience as a student athlete helped her develop confidence and leadership skills that she now uses to create opportunities for others.
Key Transferable Skills
Student athletes develop several valuable professional skills:
Time management and discipline
Performance under pressure
Goal-setting and achievement
Teamwork and collaboration
Leadership and communication
Resilience and adaptability
Finding Your Next Arena
Suzi, now an Executive in Data Insights in entertainment, credits her swimming background with developing crucial professional qualities: "Being a student athlete is a really great opportunity when you're younger to really start to grow that foundation of leadership and time management and work ethic."
Making the Transition
Trent, an Investment Banking Associate, encourages students to adopt a broad view of how athletic experience may shape their careers: "Even though you may not have a complete understanding of where you're trying to go, I think [athletics] is a great thing to use as a resume builder, as a networking opportunity, and a career growth opportunity of knowing you have developed those skill sets for the next phase of your career, even if you haven't had the specific experience in the industry you're looking to go into."
Looking Ahead
The skills developed through athletics – discipline, teamwork, leadership, and competitive drive – create a powerful foundation for professional success. Whether in sales, consulting, analytics, or other fields, former student athletes are discovering that their athletic experience provides a unique advantage in the corporate world.
Remember that while the whistle may have blown on your athletic career, the qualities that made you successful in sports can help you win in your professional life. Your experience as a student athlete isn't just about what you did on the field – it's about who you became through the journey.
For employers, student athletes often bring a proven track record of dedication, teamwork, and performance under pressure. These qualities, combined with academic achievement, can make former student athletes valuable additions to any professional team.
The playing field may change, but the game continues – just with different goals and new ways to win.
Want to learn more about how your specific background could translate into a career path? Visit us at Advize for more insights from successful, relatable professionals sharing real information to help.
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Wishing you success,
Emily McSherry
Founder & CEO