University of Oklahoma Athletics
athleteservices_pros_career_development
May 20, 2013 | Athletics
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PROS: Career Development & Testing |
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Career Development & Testing
The University of Oklahoma offers the best in career development opportunities to its student-athletes. The Kerr Sooner Career and Psychological Resources Center, located in the Prentice Gautt Academic Center, provides a system of services that educates and guides students through the career development process.
The Career Center is dedicated to helping student-athletes make the transition from college and athletics to realizing their career goals. The Center provides information to assist student-athletes in making decisions about career paths and explore classes and publications in the field in which they have interest in entering.
We also provide opportunities for student-athletes to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for resume writing, job-related letter writing, and interview success. We offer assistance in preparation for graduate school with the application process and provision of testing materials and preparations.
The Career Center is also linked to the Career Services Office on campus, which complements the Career Center with its offering of effective job-hunting skills, on-line resume services, and training and career resources.
Career Networks
We have career networks for our student-athletes that allow them to explore career opportunities in various capacities.
The Sooner Football Career Network is composed of former OU football letter winners committed to assisting current football student-athletes in their career endeavors and situations that are unique to their sport.
The 'O' Club Career Network is assembled of former letter winners from all sports as well as Sooner supporters from numerous companies and organizations that facilitates the career process for student-athletes with opportunities for mentoring, job shadowing, career exploration, and other assistance. The ultimate goal of these networks is to be the vehicle for career realization for our student-athletes.
Programs and Seminars Offered
The Kerr Sooner Career Center also offers a variety of career development programming for our student-athletes. Informationals from different industries are sponsored by the Career Center to give student-athletes more insight into a particular field that they may have an interest or need additional information in deciding which career path.
There are also seminars concerning business etiquette, networking, financial management, and other major career concerns offered throughout the school term. Interviewing workshops and development are the norm so that we can make our student-athletes more prepared and competitive in the workplace.
The Annual Athletic Career Fair held in February is one of the showcase events that the Career Center holds for our student-athletes. Over 60 companies are usually in attendance at this fair that gives student-athletes the opportunity to explore and network with professionals in fields ranging from government to financial and insurance institutions to social services to name a few.
At this event, we provide all participating companies and organizations with the Student-Athlete Resume Book to market our student-athletes to employers locally, statewide, and nationally. With technology becoming more important, the Student-Athlete Resume Book is also available on-line for participating organizations.
Building the Professional Profile
Freshman Year
• Analyze your personal, interests, needs, skills, values, and goals with inventories and exploration at the Kerr Sooner Career Center
• Take Dr. Gurney's Career and Life Planning course, EDPY 2012 either in the fall or the spring
• Gain more insight into careers by attending informational sessions throughout the school year
• Attend the Annual Athletic Career Fair every February
• Participate in organizations and activities outside your sport that interests you
• Practice interviewing/speaking skills with the help of the Communication Center
• Use the Career Center to create resumes/cover letters for various career opportunities
• Upload resume to the OU Career Connection web site by opening a Career Connection account with the OU Career Services (Oklahoma Memorial Union, Suite 323)
Sophomore Year
• Continue your appraisal of your personal interests, needs, skills, values, and goals with the help of your academic counselor and the Career Center
• Begin talking to individuals doing work of interest to you
• Attend career and interviewing workshops to prepare you for the workplace
• Continue to attend seminars and career fairs throughout the school year
• Review Sooner Job Board internships on the Career Services web site at www.ou.edu/career
• Update resumes with the help of the Career Center and OU Career Services
Junior Year
• Enhance your job search, business etiquette, resume writing, and interviewing skills with the help of the Career Center and Communication Center
• Take an active role in campus organizations to develop leadership and communication skills
• Update your resume with the help of the Career Center
• Begin to interview on campus from Career Connections for internships
• Research employers in your field through the Internet, materials in the Career Center, and OU Career Services
• Expand your contacts by attending career fairs and company informational sessions
• Review Sooner Job Board internship and co-op listings on the Career Services web site, www.ou.edu/career
• Begin planning for graduation with the help of your academic advisor
Senior Year
• Prepare for graduation with your academic advisor
• Send cover letters/resumes to potential employers
• If graduate school is an option, know the requirements of each school and deadlines for applications and graduate exams
• Continue to practice interviewing/speaking skills with the help of the Communication Center
• Utilize the Career Center for all professional needs before and after graduation
Employment Issues
All student-athletes who are employed during their eligibility must operate in accordance with NCAA bylaws and interpretations. Student-athletes and employers must have a responsibility to complete information requested by the Career Center Coordinator and the University's Athletic Compliance Department regarding employment activities.
They will also be monitored during employment. School year employment may not exceed specified values. Pell Grant aid could be affected by working income.
To learn more about employment as an OU student-athlete, visit the Kerr Sooner Career Center or call (405) 325-8384 for more information.
