Unconventional Career Advice for College Athletes
Don't have a job lined up yet? It's OK, we made a Jobs Board
Every college team has at least one.
The Econ major who interviewed way back in September and got the high-paying job that pays a lot where they’ll definitely make over $100k right out of school.
If this isn’t you and you don’t have a job or internship lined up yet, don’t freak out.
We get it. By nature, college athletes are competitive and it can be tough to watch your friends and teammates having certainty about what’s next while you send application after application into the ether.
Sure, the Investment Banking and Consulting gigs that pay like crazy for 80+ hour weeks are gone.
But who ever leaves those jobs and has anything good to say about them?
Instead, here are a few job & internship strategies for student-athletes that will not lead to short-term riches, but will likely make you a more interesting person in the long-run.
+ Plus the debut of our Jobs Board 🤝
We hope this helps!
Unconventional Career Advice for College Athletes
Tap Your Sport’s Alumni Network
Every Tuesday until the end of the school year, reach out to an alumni from your sport. Ask to shadow them for a day or meet up for a 20 minute coffee/zoom chat.
You should be able to get a list of individuals from your coach or the office responsible for alumni engagement.
Remember, if you ask for someone’s time make sure to come prepared with a few questions and evidence that you actually looked into what they do for a living.
Grants & Fellowships
Tons of athletes miss the chance to go abroad during college due to sports commitments.
If this is applicable and you would like to explore outside of the U.S. after college - check in with your school’s Office of Fellowships and Prize (or similar name).
A number of post-grad scholarships give you the ability to pursue an interest while seeing a different part of the world.
Note that many require institutional nomination to be considered, so reach if interested to get more information. Here’s an example from Swarthmore College:
We’ll highlight one in particular: The Watson Fellowship.
Watch our interview with Harry Johnson (Bard College), a former D3 athlete and winner of the Watson Fellowship, to learn more about this unique opportunity.
Find a Job Abroad
Struggling with the U.S. job market?
Why not get a job overseas after graduating?
Filter for your school’s alumni living in cities you are interested in on Linkedin or a school database.
Message individuals in relevant industries to set up time to learn more/apply
Leveraging your network will not only give you a leg up for hiring, but is a great way to get local advice on things like living arrangements and work visas.
In many situations there will be a WhatsApp group of alumni expats living in a particular country where events are arranged. Career Services may be aware of these types of resources, so check in with them!
Worried about costs? If possible, aim for countries where the dollar travels further so you can still save some money even if you aren’t making a ton.
Check out our Jobs Board below for a youth basketball coaching opportunity in China 🇨🇳
🏀 Want to Keep Playing Your Sport?
Play Professionally
“Going Pro” does not have to mean making the NBA as long as it pays the bills and allows you to see a new part of the world. Here are a just a few of the D3 athletes who have taken this path recently:
Arik Smith - Cal Lutheran (Sweden, Italy, Belgium 🇸🇪 🇮🇹🇧🇪)
Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda - Emmanuel (The D.R. - Her D3 to Pro story 🇩🇴)
Randy Walko - TCNJ (Taiwan 🇹🇼)
Jack Davidson - Wabash (Australia 🇦🇺)
Malcom & Marcus Delpeche - Bates (England 🏴)
Get a Master’s & Play for a U.K. University
Want to keep studying and play your sport?
Play Overseas is a free service that helps U.S. students find a U.K. university where they can get a discounted Master’s degree while continuing to play their sport.
Tons of D3 athletes have taken this route including Gebereal Baitey (Emory), Makana Stone (Whitman), and DeVaughn Rucker (WashU), among others.
We wanted to learn more, so we interviewed their founder last year 👇
💼 Jobs Board
Youth Basketball Coach - Beijing Falcons (Multiple Cities in China)
Are you a current or former D3 basketball player interested in coaching basketball and traveling?
Falcons Basketball Club, one of the top youth basketball programs in China, is looking to hire former college basketball players. They coach all ages 6-19 and have operations in most major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu.
To Apply: Send us your resume via email (dthreedirect@gmail.com)
City Director - Pro Skills Basketball (Multiple U.S. Cities)
Pro Skills Basketball is looking for D3 basketball grads to build up PSB operations in new cities around the United States. PSB is one of the largest youth basketball organizations in the U.S. and is part of the Jr. NBA’s Flagship network.
Feel free to email us with questions or check out the Job Requirements.
To Apply: PSB City Director Role (Mention that D3Direct sent you!)
Thanks for Reading!
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