As a student athlete you need to respect every player, team, town, school, and college you compete against. In the sport of lacrosse there is a tremendous opportunity to network. Don’t limit that networking opportunity to just your team.
Key Networking Tips for College and High School Athletes
- Get to know alumni. - Find role models or ask someone you respect to be a mentor of yours. - Conduct career strategy sessions with a mentor or contact. - Don’t hesitate to enlist the assistance of relatives, friends and teammates. - “Shadow” someone on their job. - Be an intern. - Get in the habit of writing personal thank-you notes. - Talk with Alumni and teammates to find out who they know and how they can help. - Get involved in campus and professional organizations. - Attend professional conferences related to your career goals. - Be a leader in a campus organization and be a leader on your team. - Make classes count: Use class projects as a reason to talk to people in the business world. - Be organized to keep track of new contacts and always send a “Hand written” thank you note to anyone that has helped you with your job search. - Connect upward with faculty and staff. - Use your campus career center or guidance office. - Help out in your community. - Go on fact-finding missions to get information about the career fields you’re considering and to establish relationships. - Use the Internet to find information and network with people. - Have a resume whether you think you need it or not. - Take advantage of public speaking opportunities. - Learn and practice good time management habits. - Start a portfolio that provides evidence of your skills.
