ASM Scholarships

Best Practices When Hiring Former Student-Athletes

The average cost of the 2021 to 2022 school year at a public, in-state university was $10,338, according to U.S. News. For public, out-of-state institutions, that price climbed to $22,698. The cost of attending private universities exceeded $38,000. For many students, the cost of attending college is a significant barrier to entry. This is why scholarships, such as athletics scholarships, can be especially helpful. Enter the student-athlete.

As the CEO of a growing college sports scholarship agency, I’ve found that student-athletes tend to be disciplined, driven, competitive, loyal and hard-working. Many of these young adults have been training most of their lives and living by strict schedules and daily routines. Student-athletes are also often coachable and embody self-determination to earn the limited scholarship dollars that are available.

Student-athletes who leave college and don’t enter the professional world of sports can make great additions to a company’s team. They are the type of employees who can help grow your dream. The skills picked up from collegiate sports can easily transfer into the workplace with just a little shaping. In my experience, many former student-athletes exude teamwork, communication and leadership. What is better than that? Many are also self-starters. This can be a key asset to your team.

But of course, you can not just post on LinkedIn, “Hiring only student-athletes.” So, how does one go about doing this? Posting your open position on former-college-athlete job boards can help you in your search. For example, the NCAA has a job “marketplace” where employers can list open positions. I’ve also observed a myriad of networking groups on Facebook and other social media platforms that specifically reach former collegiate athletes.

That said, it’s still important to ensure the former athlete is a good fit for your organization. To assess their skills and determine whether they’d be the right addition to your team, you have to ask the right interview questions. A few of these include:

• “Do you prefer working independently or on a team?” This can let you know what type of employee they will be. Do they need to be micromanaged, or can you give them a task and let them get to it?

• “According to you, what qualities make a good leader?” This answer clarifies what is important to them and what their work ethic is. For instance, is it important to them that you give them words of encouragement?

• “What kind of leadership do you perform the best under?” This speaks volumes of their personality. Evaluate if their answer is the kind of personality you are looking to add to your team.

• “Can you describe a time when you had a disagreement with a teammate? How did you fix the issue?” This answer shows their ability to problem solve.

• “What did you find to be the greatest difficulty in your sport or team situation?” This will quickly answer whether they can handle your company’s work environment.

Finally, you may find that while they are often driven go-getters, some former student-athletes seek organization and discipline. In my experience, these are people who have been following strict schedules, especially if they started their sport at a very young age. Many have always answered to trainers, coaches, academic counselors, and of course, themselves as well. While they can be their own toughest critic, this group of people can be your most loyal, hard-working bunch. Take a chance, try something different and consider hiring a former student-athlete.

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