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| Soaking up the moment before a game at the Hartford Civic Center. |
But as the date of graduation starts getting closer and closer, the fear of what is next on the horizon can be very scary. During those short years of being an undergrad, there's isn't really a sense of urgency and no need to focus on career plans. Graduation is way off and once I get that degree, a job will find me.
That's certainly not the case and I've witnessed several who have come to me looking for career advice and jobs with only a month to go before graduation. The time to start planning is the moment you step onto campus.
It may be hard to do, but it is true. Sure, you can have a good time, enjoy the college life, but to also take advantage of the vast resources at one's disposal. A career center is not a place for seniors to stop by before heading out into the job market.
I was lucky enough to stumble upon a work-study job on the campus of my university. I happen to like sports and I was able to land a spot working in the sports information office. It was nothing too glamorous as I found myself working on mailings, making copies using a ditto machine (showing my age) in between quarters of the home football games, running stats to coaches, and even making coffee in the press box - strong enough to make the hair on your neck stand up.
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| Living the dream. |
But sports was something I loved and what a better way to earn money than doing something you love. I was always an athlete growing up, but when I realized I wasn't going to be playing in the NBA, I managed to find a way to stay involved. Plus, having a mother who worked in the athletic department helped me establish a connection as well.
And that is an important part of the equation: having a connection. Networking is so valuable and can open many doors. I was able to find a position, but the rest was up to me.
I did anything anyone asked of me, made sure I was on time for all assignments (yes, reporting to work at 9 am on a Saturday to make that coffee, is all part of the job), and didn't complain. And it helped me not only learn, but also helped me grow within the department, even if I was only a student.
I quickly became part of the statistical crew for football and basketball games, served as the official scorer for soccer and even was asked to travel with the school's hockey team and men's lacrosse team. Going to places such as Boston College, Vermont, UMass, and even to MIT to place Delaware in an ice-cold rain was an eye-opening experience.
This maybe something I would like to do.
Upon graduation, I was able to use my network of connections and landed an internship in California. It wasn't all that glamorous as it was at a Division II school and only paid $800 a month with no benefits. But it was an opportunity.
Sure I had to drive across country, but what a thrill. It was the next step in launching my career. I served as the intern for two years, but again, using my determination to do whatever it took to get the job done and be a team player, helped turn the internship into a full-time position.
I've been in the athletics business for nearly 20 years now and just attended a great networking workshop this morning, which got me thinking about how I got to where I am today.
A panel of former student-athletes spoke with our current undergraduate student-athletes about their career paths and what they can and should be doing once graduating with their degrees.
As I sat in the back, I observed a few rolling their eyes, checking the cell phone from time to time, seemingly with their attention elsewhere. But not all as many were very intrigued to the advice of these now working professionals, who were once in their shoes, offered.
Advice that I really kind of learned on my own, but advice that is all to invaluable in being prepared to enter the real world.
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