Suffolk University Athletics hosted a panel called “Leveraging the Student Athlete Experience” as part of NCAA DIII Week, which was intended to help students better utilize their athletic experiences as they transition into a career.
The panelists included Dan Meyers of Acronis Inc., Jodi MacNeil of First Citizens Bank, Darrin Gold of the UBS Group and Jenny Joseph-Hayle who is Suffolk’s Associate Director for Career Equity, Development & Success.
Branding was highlighted as a pivotal piece to getting a job as an athlete, helping athletes stand out from other candidates in a job search. Gold noted that the traits an athlete typically shows during their playing careers are things that employers typically look for in potential candidates.
“Start working on your personal brand. Resumes are important, but LinkedIn and building your brand digitally are absolutely key,” said Gold. “You have adaptability, coachability, grit and you have to show that.”
Being able to show employees your gifts as an athlete can prove vital to standing out from other candidates.
“You are competitive, you’re driven. You want to make sure you can articulate that. Articulate that drive, that competitiveness, that teamwork,” said Gold.
They stressed the idea of utilizing websites like LinkedIn or Handshake as much as possible to build your brand, as in the modern era just sending a resume to an employer may not be enough. As an athlete, even posting things as simple as pictures of yourself preparing for a match or talking with a coach or teammate is enough to help yourself stand out.
Joseph-Hayle added that the traits student athletes exhibit are things that often separate them from non-athletes, noting that athletes master certain skills that others haven’t had much of a chance to.
“One of the top things an employer is looking for is adaptability. As athletes you’ve already come with a set of skills that surpassed other non-athletes. You’ve already achieved one major skill, performing under pressure. Those of us who aren’t athletes aren’t used to performing under pressure in front of a crowd,” said Joseph-Hayle.
There are inherently parts of the student athlete life that potential employers are aware of, such as the intense schedule that they often have to participate in throughout their college years.
“When you show up as an athlete, we’re already impressed with what you can handle on your schedule,” said MacNeil.
According to Meyers, leveraging the advantages you have as a student athlete is what sets you apart, especially when it comes to communication and teamwork among diverse crowds.
“How do you interact with people who aren’t like you? You’ve already done this. You have a distinct advantage, you need to leverage that advantage,” said Meyers.
Another part of is what you post on social media such as Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and any other apps like them. Meyers pointed out how employers look at what applicants post online, and that can play a big factor in whether or not you get hired.
Knowing this from working in technology, Meyers stressed the importance of keeping your digital footprint clean and making sure you’re making yourself an image of how you want to be seen online. Even things that get deleted can be backed up somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.
“It’s sitting on a server someplace and someone will find it,” Meyers said. “Clean it up now.”
Joseph-Hayle highlighted the career center at Suffolk as something student athletes can use to help get themselves prepared for their life after graduation. She highlighted Handshake as an excellent alternative to a website like LinkedIn, where employers are vetted and are actively looking to hire Suffolk students.
“All of the things we talked about in terms of creating a resume that’s relevant to the role you’re applying for, we help with that,” said Joseph-Hayle.
While Handshake is a great resource for Suffolk students, the importance of websites like LinkedIn can not be understated when it comes to branding yourself to potential employers. Joseph-Hayle noted how Handshake can be a lot of help in learning how to use websites like LinkedIn more effectively, but resources like LinkedIn are still vital in today’s digital environment.
In a tough job market, nothing is guaranteed. Meyers encouraged the student athletes in attendance to embrace failure because it helps you in the long-run.
“Don’t be afraid to fail, you will learn so much more. It’s okay if you fail. You will be a better person in every aspect,” said Meyers.
