Here are 5 things you can put on your summer to-do list.  

1. Gain experience 

Internship- usually 4-12 weeks long,hey are mostly paid and involve working on live work projects and tasks

Micro-Internship

Volunteer-

Job shadowing- usually unpaid and just for a day or two where you spend time observing someone in their role at work

Part-time- Commonly in retail, hospitality, healthcare, tutoring and office roles, many with a customer service focus. These give an excellent opportunity to proactice your skills, and see how organisations work first hand.

Research- at universities, research institutes, charities, governmental departments and companies can help you to build on skills developed during your academic studies and develop data collection and analysis, technical skills, funding and report writing, especially useful if you are considering an academic or research career.2.  Update your handshake and liknedin accounts.

Leadership in student or professional organization- Positions of responsibility: this could include roles such as course representative, elected role in the Student Union, a role in a committee or society, ambassador or mentor at university or in the community. These show that you are willing to lead, and show what you can deliver.

3.  Hone your athletic skills.

4. Read at least three books.

5. Conduct at least three informational interviews.  

Career Planning process consists of self-assessment, education, research, gain experience, job search, and professional development.

SELF-ASSESSMENT

Self-assessment is exploring and discovering your VIPS.  

VIPS stands for values, interests, personality, and skills. 

Values are things that are important to you.  Examples of values are creativity, growth, acceptance, etc.  

Interests are things you like doing.  Examples of interests are music, painting, writing, etc.

Personality traits are who you are.    Examples of personality traits are ENFJ- People Visionary, ISFP- Everyday Artist, ENTJ- Hardworking Visionary, etc.

Skills are things you are you good.  Some examples of skills are drawing, problem solving, analyze data, etc.

The way to find out what your VIPS are to take career assessment.

There are several career assessment tests available online.  For high school student-athletes check with your guidance counselor, college student-athletes talk with your academic advisor or someone in career services.  For professional athletes check with your Players association.  

There are no wrong or right answers with career assessment.

RESEARCH

Make a list of careers of interest.  Research each one.  Here is a list od career research resources: Occupational Outlook handbook, Glassdoor, How to become, Indeed, The Balance Careers, just to name a few.

Research information such as job responsibilities/description, work environment, education/training/certification, career path, examples of job positions, and salary.

EDUCATION

Learn as much as possible.  Don’t just get a degree, get an education,  

GAIN EXPERIENCE

TYPES OF GAIN EXPEREINCES:

1. Internship- allow students to apply classroom knowledge with a professional setting.
2. Micro-Internship- project-based positions that involve a much smaller time commitment.
3. Job Shadowing- offers you an opportunity to observe a professional currently working in a career field of your interest.
4. Research- participate in research in your academic department.
5. Externship- temporary job-shadowing programs that last anywhere from an afternoon to a few weeks.
6. Job Simulations- 6–7-hour virtual roles where students can explore what it’s like to work at some of the largest companies in the world.
7. LinkedIn Learning- can help develop all kinds of transferable skills.
8. Part-time jobs- can take place on or off campus.  
9. Volunteerism- giving of yourself within expecting anything in return.
10. Student organization- gain management and leadership while collaborating with peers to organize various projects.

Where to find internships Handshake, LinkedIn, Indeed , Internships.com, professional organizations, or company websites

JOB SEARCH

Create a job criteria.  

An Example:

POSITION: Human Resources Specilaist

LOCATION: Houston area

TYPES OF ORGANIZATION: Medium size

CAREER AREA: Compensation

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Remote or Hyrid

TRAVEL: A little

TYPES OF BENEFITS: 401(k), Health, Life , Dental and Vision Insurance, Disability Insurance, Paid Vacation, 

Maximize your resources and your network.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Personalize your plan.

One thing you can do is keeping learning.  

@The players associations missions are to protect, advocate, and support their past, current and future members.

HERE IS A LIST OF THINGS THE PLAYERS ASSOCIATIONS OFFER AND DO:

- Negotiate the collective bargaining agreement (CBA)

- Prosecute grievances on players behalf

- Counsel players on benefits and educational opportunities

- They certified sports agents.

- Help with salary arbitration 

-Offer professional development opportunities

- Improve working conditions and safety for players

- Manage the group licensing program

- Help players with their Community initiative

* The terms and conditions vary per league. 

It is very important that read what is in the CBA so you can know what the players association is doing on your behalf whether you agree or not.  

Who is eligible for membership in the Association?

Any players on the roster but some players associations extend membership to coaches, trainers, etc.  

.CHALLENGE

Look at the CBA table of content and read one selection.  If you don’t understand or want a better of understand on what is being offered, ask your team player representative or contact the player association.  

The Player Assoication advocates on behalf of the best interest of all players.

Networking is an opportunity to interact and build relationships with people, exchange information and ideas.

Every opportunity to interact with people is a networking opportunity.

BENEFITS OF NETWORKING

1. Building relationships
2. Allow access to new information
3. Collaborations
4. Grow your network
5. Share knowledge
6. Gather career advice and find out about career opportunities

Networking can be formal and informal but mostly informal social setting.

Determine what you want to learn.

Networking opportunities may occur at trade shows, seminars, conferences, career fairs, alumni events, etc.

Research shows that people with stronger networks end up with higher salaries and promoted more. 

Networking also happens on online,  LinkedIn is the largest professional social media platform.  They have over 1 billion members.  It provides opportunities for people to engage with other professionals, join groups, post, and share information.  

An elevator pitch is a short (30-60 second) professional introduction.  You can have more than one elevator pitch for different setting.

Elevator Pitch should consist of your name, what you are doing now, what you are seeking, what you have done in the past, what you have to offer, what you are desiring to accomplish in the future, what make you unique and what do you want a person to remember about you.  

TIPS:

1. If you enter into a space/room, say HELLO.
2. Find a common interest, talk about the event, the food, the place it is being held at, etc.

CHALLENGES:

Make a list of everyone you know.  write their name, email address, phone numbers, your relationship (classmates, co-worker/teammate, neighbors, church members, etc.) what they do for a living,  

The Federal Student Aid is the larger provider of student financial aid in the US. 

Filling out the FAFSA form will qualify you for grants, scholarships, work-study and loans.

Set up an account to receive your FSA ID.

In order to complete the form you will need:

1. Parents/Guardians W-2
2. Last year's tax return
3. FSA ID 
4. Parents/Spouse contributor name
5. Social Security Number
6. Date of Birth
7. Email address
8. Income and asset information (if required)

You must apply for aid every year.

To fill out the form go to https://studentaid.gov.

Check with your school/university to find out the deadlines for the federal, state and school.

You can list up to 20 schools on your form.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EPISODE:

• List some of the topics that will be discuss in 2024.
• The mission of The Sporting Toward Success podcast

FOLLOW ME ON:

TWITTER:@the_stspodcast1

INSTAGRAM: the_stspodcast1

EMAIL: If you have any suggestions on a topic you would like for us to do or just want to make a comment, please send your message to [email protected].

BENEFITS OF MENTORSHIP

Benefits of the Mentor

1.       Commitment to professional development of self and mentees.

2.       Help mentees in avoiding common professional pitfalls.

Benefits of the Mentee

1. Opportunity to ask questions and get advices from professional about career.

2. Learn from mentor pitfalls.

3. Watch your mentor achieve their goals.

4. Access to a professional network.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD MENTOR

1. A Good Listener
2. Experience in your area of interest
3. Dependable
4. Honest 
5. Well-rounded
6. Teachable
7. Wo can challenge you

ROLE OF A MENTOR

1. Motivator
2. Encourager
3. Give direction
4. Supporter
5. Trainer

WHERE CAN YOU FIND A MENTOR?

1. At Church
2. At School
3. Athletic Department
4. Family member (other than your parents)

EIGHT STEPS TO FINDING THE BEST CAREER FIT FOR YOU:

1. Take a career assessment.
2. Make a list of at least 10 careers that intrigue you.
3. Research career options.
4. Narrow your list to 3 careers.
5. Conduct at least three Informational Interviews.
6. Select a career.
7. Set some career goals.
8. Create an action plan.

CAREER ASSESSMENT: Take at least one

1. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
2. Strong Interest Inventory 
3. StrengthQuest
4. MAPP Test
5. MyPlan.com
6. MyNextMove
7. Holland Code
8. Focus 2

WHERE TO SEARCH:

1. Occupational Outlook Handbook
2. CandidCareer.com
3. CareerOneStop
4. Learn How To Become

WHAT TO SEARCH:

• Job Description
• Education/Training
• Salary
• Other career options
• Important Skills