How To Be Successful Off The Field: A Game Plan

Only 2% of college athletes go pro - we are here to prepare the 98% for their athletic to corporate transition.

Here at PO3 we make it one of our missions to help guide collegiate athletes, which means preparing them to be successful on and off the field.

This is possible through our new platform, Athletes Take Action. Athletes Take Action was founded by Addyson Block, who is a former PO3 intern and currently our amazing account manager! She received a degree in Integrative Public Relations from Central Michigan University. She originally started Athletes Take Action as a capstone project and then decided to carry it on and expand it through her internship and beyond while working with PO3. The mission of Athletes Take Action is to equip college athletes with the experience, skills, and confidence they need to enter the workforce.

Through Addyson’s innovation and determination, we are excited to be able to offer collegiate athletes some useful tips on how they can prepare to step off the field and enter the corporate world. Here is a “game plan”:

1. Build a Strong Resume

Building a strong resume is necessary to be considered as a job candidate. Oftentimes, athletes may feel they are at a disadvantage if they are not able to join a multitude of clubs or get an internship in college. It is important to realize that sports can teach a lot of skills and traits that are attributes in the workforce. For example, in sports such as football and basketball, players learn to be coachable, exhibit strong leadership skills, and are team players. Realizing this and taking note of this on resumes or while interviewing is desirable and essential.

2. Hear from a Guest Speaker

One of the best things to do when feeling lost is to learn by example and put yourself into someone else's shoes. Because the majority of college athletes do not go pro, you are not alone! Hearing from a guest speaker/someone who was a former college athlete can be very beneficial and can help guide college athletes as inspiration if they do not know what steps to take to be successful after college.

3. Career Networking

It is perfectly normal for a collegiate athlete to be unsure of what field they want to go into (after they retire from the physical field of course). One way to eliminate this instability is to use career networking, which involves using personal or professional contacts who can help connect you to jobs in your area or who can provide information about fields you may be interested in.

4. Look at NIL Insights

NIL is the ability of college athletes to make money based on their brand and likeliness. Establishing a strong social media presence can help boost your credibility and professionalism as well as connect you with brands, which can equip you for the workforce. Some ways to do this are by:

• Optimizing your bio (tell the world what sport you play, what school you play for, include contact information)

• Posting like you’ve already been sponsored (as it allows brands to envision what kind of content you will create for them and that you are a good image of their brand)

• Creating “highlight” showcasing what you do (this tells brands what you are interested in and makes it easy for brands to assess your page)

At PO3, we are committed to helping athletes build their image and connect them with resources, even after they step off the field. Are you interested in more information regarding hands-on workshops, career networking opportunities, and guidance?

Follow @athletestakeaction_po3 on Instagram to learn more!