We never set out to create the application Podium X. That was secondary. Our first goal was to find a way to showcase athletes that garnered the attention of companies so they thought differently about them as potential employees. To realize that traditional work experience wasn’t going to show up on their resumes, but that the dedication to a sport was a type of work that was equally important, if not more. We wanted to demonstrate the transferrable skills developed through athletics would make the best kind of employee: one who knew how to win. Grit, resilience, drive, discipline, teamwork – all the qualities student athletes have that are part of what made them successful on the field – and what will make them successful in their careers.
Podium X is the digital representation of that process. It was created to present athletes differently. We developed Podium X for universities who wanted to highlight the qualities that make their student athletes special as employees.
So it would only make sense that our WIN Workshop, a resume writing session, would also be different. We didn’t want it to be about font sizes or layout as much as it was about how to standout and tell their stories in a way that makes companies hire them. WIN stands for “Why I’m Noticed,” and we use the time with athletes to help them identify their value and tell their story more effectively.
We’ve been working with student athletes for a long time, and one of the issues that has surprised us was how few of them understood their value as candidates in the marketplace. College career centers do a great job of helping them create traditional resumes, but many of the athletes (and the college counselors) don’t feel that traditional resumes do a good job of highlighting an athlete’s best qualities. Podium X changes that.
Because student-athletes have such demanding schedules: training, practicing, traveling, and competing, they don’t often have extensive work experience during college. On paper, they look less competitive next to their collegiate peers, let alone next to job candidates with years of experience. It is part of our WIN Workshop and integral to our application, Podium X, to uncover the traits and accomplishments that deliver the message that they are contributors to success. We help the athletes focus on the “soft skills” they have learned during their athletic careers that make them competitive and desirable hires in any industry.
During the workshop, universities can elect to have students begin building individual Podiums. The simple step by step process features a skills assessment and gathers information for the completion of an online personal profile (their Podium) with the option of a one click resume creator.
We take what we have learned from years of experience in HR, staffing and development combined with research to get down to the important factors that make a difference in the hiring process. For their summary, athletes can choose from descriptive statements about themselves that are based on what employers tell us they’re looking for in entry-level workers such as:
- I naturally assume leadership positions and am frequently the person my team turns to as a leader.
- My experience with coaches makes it easy for me to follow and trust the direction of others.
- I am naturally competitive and thrive in an environment where I can compete and be recognized for my achievements.
We also help them craft value statements in the workshop for sections on their accomplishments that highlight their achievements on and off the field. A value statement includes something they’ve done (led, organized, sold, developed, assisted, served – an action verb) with quantifiable evidence of the achievement. For instance, “I sold 25 sponsorships for the event, raising over $30,000.”
During the session, the student-athletes can complete a full Podium profile and take advantage of the Podium X resume creator. With multiple options for resume formats, the information is automatically formatted and can be printed or saved as a PDF.
Student-athletes walk away with a new perspective on resume creation and the tools needed to help them stand out and be noticed. The result is a way to present themselves to companies so they can see the value athletics has played in creating the best employees of the future.