Athlete Networking Night
Career Services for Athletes hosts networking event at Bob Carpenter Club
8:07 a.m., April 19, 2012--If you were to pass by the Bob Carpenter Center on most nights, you would probably see University of Delaware student athletes in their uniforms or practice gear. However, on the night of Thursday, April 12, UD athletes were in suits, ties, and professional attire for an Athlete Networking Night hosted by Career Services for Athletes in the Bob Carpenter Club.
Athletes from all sports were in attendance, with resumes in hand, to find out more about internships, full-time jobs and volunteer opportunities within employer organizations across many different industries.
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When speaking to the student athletes, Chris Metkiff, vice president of Swarthmore Financial Services who is a 2006 UD graduate and a former Blue Hens basketball player, stressed finding passion in a career and making an impact in the lives of others.
Metkiff said he was happy to see the new initiative of Career Services for Athletes. “Great event held by the Career Service Center and Athletics department," he said. "As a former athlete, I know a good chunk of our time was dedicated to sports, which can limit our career initiatives, which is why events like this are perfect for future graduates."
Justin Martinelli, a senior lacrosse player and organizational and community leadership major, said the event was a valuable experience. “I cannot say how thankful I am and how much this helped. I met a lot of people and it gave me a better idea of what I want to do after college.”
Student athletes need to be aware that they have many transferable skills, often used in sport, that crossover very well into the world of work, according to Christine Motta of Career Services for Athletes. Performing under pressure, making quick decisions, handling many tasks at once, playing a role within a team, time management, leadership, communication, etc., are just a few of the skills of which athletes use in their daily athletic lives.
Highlighting these skills when speaking with potential employers, either during a formal networking night or via a resume and cover letter, is something that Motta is trying to prepare UD student athletes for as they begin to explore career options.
“Our athletes need to be thinking ahead; they need to be thinking about ways to gain experience in their field of interest to see what it actually entails. They can shadow someone at work for a day, or do an informational interview to gain more knowledge about a life in the day of an employee or what steps that employee took to get there,” Motta said. “If they play a fall sport, then maybe a winter internship would make sense. We need to work around competition schedules, and seasons, but most importantly, our athletes need to be thinking about these things ahead of time … not after their senior season is over. Having this opportunity to network is extremely beneficial for our student athletes.”
Video by Jimmy Smith