Athletics within application Forum

[ElliottB]

Guys, i am putting the finishing touches on my resume and need a little bit of help. I am a former student-athlete who was fortunate enough to be selected as an All-American a couple of years, i was then a free agent in the NFL, trying out with a few teams. (I was never signed but bounced around a while) My initial thought is that this belongs nowhere on my resume, but then again i don't want to cast away anything that would potentially set me apart from the masses. Moreover, athletics are something that defined my life for so long.

Any insights would be appreciated....

This is my first post so be nice

[gin]

Yes, IMO that does belong in your app and it would be a mistake not to include it.

[fanmingrui]

Definitely include.

Eta: could be a good ps topic as well.

[rinkrat19]

College sports, especially being named an All-American, should definitely go on your resume. I put my sport (no All-American for me, alas) in a section of Extracurricular Activities. You could put the All-American award below it as a bullet point.

Big State University Football, 2001-2004
*Consensus All-American Cornerback, 2003 and 2004
NFL Free agent, 2005-2006
*Tryouts with Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers

Just my suggestion.

[AntipodeanPhil]

College sports, especially being named an All-American, should definitely go on your resume. I put my sport (no All-American for me, alas) in a section of Extracurricular Activities. You could put the All-American award below it as a bullet point.

Big State University Football, 2001-2004
*Consensus All-American Cornerback, 2003 and 2004
NFL Free agent, 2005-2006
*Tryouts with Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers

Just my suggestion.

+ 1

Also, there is a section on most applications for extracurricular activities that would allow you to go in to detail - or just make your PS about it.

[kalvano]

Typically I find collegiate athletic's importance to be wildly overinflated in the mind of the person who did it, but in this instance it would be entirely justified as a legit resume bullet point.

[ElliottB]

Thanks for your insights guys!!

[Opie]

The other consideration is that this will explain why there might not be a lot of other things on your resume. That kind of athletic activity takes a lot of time and effort.

[rinkrat19]

I also hear that sports on a resume are a good conversation-starter when you're interviewing, and interviewers frequently bring it up when they see it listed.

[oldad]

I have deduced that Kalvano was not an athlete.

Definitely include this on your apps though.

[bp shinners]

I have deduced that Kalvano was not an athlete.

Definitely include this on your apps though.

Definitely. The hard work and discipline you develop as a collegiate athlete who has excelled in that area is definitely a huge positive for the application process. And it will help you even more when applying to BigLaw, if that's your eventual goal.

[Patriot1208]

College sports, especially being named an All-American, should definitely go on your resume. I put my sport (no All-American for me, alas) in a section of Extracurricular Activities. You could put the All-American award below it as a bullet point.

Big State University Football, 2001-2004
*Consensus All-American Cornerback, 2003 and 2004
NFL Free agent, 2005-2006
*Tryouts with Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers

Just my suggestion.

This... College athletics have always been on my resume and I usually get asked about it. It's definitely something that sets you apart.

Typically I find collegiate athletic's importance to be wildly overinflated in the mind of the person who did it, but in this instance it would be entirely justified as a legit resume bullet point.

This is probably true, but employers seem to care