Student-Athletes and Career Readiness: Hidden Skills Beyond the Field
Celia Martin del Valle | NILvana Sports
From professional athletes to career professionals.
For many student-athletes, finishing a college career means more than just the end of competition—it presents a daunting transition. Many students, once their time as student-athletes ends, find themselves in a difficult position. They don’t know what to do next. I include myself in this group.
The Student-Athlete Commitment
Let’s reflect for a moment. Nearly our entire lives have revolved around athletics: practices, games, training, weight sessions, and rehab—often 2–3 hours daily. While other students built professional résumés through internships and volunteer opportunities, we were in the field, traveling to away games, or rehabbing injuries. And on top of all that, we still had to handle classes and long hours of studying.
At the start of every preseason, coaches and academic staff reminded us that “student” comes before “athlete.” Yet many student-athletes don’t fully realize that the very skills employers seek are ones we already possess.
Career-Ready Skills
Last week, while scrolling through LinkedIn, I came across a post by Evan Coleman, a former student-athlete and now Marketing Manager at LinkedIn. He wrote, “student-athletes are natural career-ready candidates.” That struck me as absolutely accurate. We already have strong, transferable skills shaped by our experiences in athletics:
- Leadership: Serving as a team captain and motivating teammates.
- Time Management: Balancing academics with athletic commitments.
- Problem-Solving: Analyzing game film and adapting strategies under pressure.
Beyond these, athletes also bring initiative and a strong goal orientation. Whether trying to win a tournament or earn a starting position, athletes push themselves to perform at their best.
Conclusion
The transition from athletics to the professional world can feel overwhelming. Yet student-athletes carry more career readiness than they may realize. By reframing athletic experiences as professional strengths, former athletes can highlight qualities that employers value: discipline, resilience, initiative, and teamwork. These traits are not just athletic advantages—they are career advantages that position student-athletes for long-term success.
