Athletic department to aid students in finding jobs with seminar

Emporia State students will have the opportunity to find out how their experiences with sports could help them in the job market. At 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Kanza Room, the ESU athletic department will be hosting the Career Development Seminar.

Several ESU alumni that participated in athletics while attending ESU will serve on a panel where they will discuss how their experiences with sports helped them in their career endeavors.

“The athletic department thought this would be a good way for student athletes to learn from people who have been in their situation before in being in sports and looking for a career after college,” said Kent Carpenter, student at Wayne College, interning at the athletic department and main coordinator of the event. “These individuals will be here to give advice.”

The event is not required by athletes but they are highly advised to attend the seminar, especially junior and senior athletes. Although the event is directed toward athletes, the athletic department would like all students and individuals from the community to attend.

The panel will consist of six panelists, all ESU alumni who played football, basketball and even baseball. The panelists will discuss the interview process, internships and the job search, appearance and proper dress, networking, resumes, cover letters and total job compensation.

“The idea for the Career Seminar came from other people that do my job and it was a great way to utilize the alumni,” said Carmen Leed, associate athletic director. “Basically, I feel like athletes don’t understand all of the tools that they learn being on a team. Athletes often can’t get a job; due to being in sports they have a limited resume. This event will show them how they can use their experience in sports to contribute to their resume.”

After the panel discussion is complete, there will be a short question and answer session. Then the individuals that attend will break up into four sessions based on the students’ majors and will be led by the alumni. The groups will include business, education and physical education recreation, physical sciences, undecided and other. These sessions will more specifically discuss how their experience in sports will help in the field of study.

“I think this will be a good event to attend because often students learn a lot of important skills that they don’t realize when they are participating in sports,” said Alex Clinger, freshman pre-med major. “Sometimes athletes can have poor stereotypes that go against them as well.”

The event should last for about an hour and a half and anyone with more questions about the event should contact the athletic department at 341-5825.

“The leadership on a team, working with others, being dependable and showing up for practice are important characteristics that you need to know how to put on a resume,” Lee said. “Athletics have those attributes that employers look for.”