The following information is aimed to inspire the student-athletes at Gonzaga University to prepare themselves for success after sports. Throughout your life, school and sports have mostly been everything to you. Before college, at least 30 hours a week was spent doing your school work and sports. Now that you have entered college, the hours have jumped to 40-50 hours a week!

Your school work and sport production has somewhat limited your thoughts and ideas of life after sports. Concentrating on the now, instead of the future has overwhelmed you. It might seem strange that career planning is a area that we as student-athletes tend to put on the back burner of life decisions. This is where the Student-Athlete Services can help.

Gonzaga University and the NCAA mandate that you declare a major by the beginning of your fifth semester. Therefore, think about why you play your sport. Your reasons will begin to help you answer the question, "What do I want do for a career?"

Here are some questions to help get you started....
What is it about your sport that interests you?
What skills do you have because of your sport?
How have you developed team and personal goals year after year?
How has experience made you a better athlete?

Freshman Year

Read and consider the questions above carefully. Explore your options, not limiting yourself to one choice. Many college students change their majors more than once. Explore who you are and what you want out of life. Think about your past and present experiences, skills, interest, values, and goals.
• Check out the Student-Athlete Academic Services (Martin Centre 305)
• Take an interest inventory from Career Assessment and Counseling to generate possible majors to research and to discuss your needs with a counselor.
• Meet with your academic advisor
• Familiarize with all of Gonzaga University's resources:

                      Student Athlete Academic Services Center
                      Gonzaga Career Center
                      GAMP

Sophomore Year

Begin to explore your career options and eliminate those that do not intrigue you. Begin and/or continue to work with your academic advisor and the Student-Athlete Services group.
• Check out the Student-Athlete Academic Services Center and the Gonzaga Career Center
• Register with GAMP or talk with your mentor
• Attend Career Center workshops, programs, and seminars
• Meet with career counselor and academic advisor to go over your career options and establish your four-year plan
• Plan summer career-related experience opportunities
• Set up informational interviews
• Begin networking

Junior Year

Narrow your list of options. Consider heavily which of the options on the list you are more interested in. Consider graduate school and individuals to contact (professors, coaches, etc.) for letters of recommendation.

Seek advice from your professors in your field of interest on graduate programs and schools. Review information regarding graduate programs and schools in the Career Center. Prepare for and take entrance exams (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT). Contact schools for applications and specific departmental information.

Considering employment after graduation? -- Get involved and do the following steps in order to prepare your way for employment after graduation:

• Check out the Student-Athlete Academic Services Center and the Gonzaga Career Center
• Register with GAMP or talk with your mentor
• Learn how to market yourself as a student-athlete
• Develop a plan of what you would like out of life.
• What would you do after playing professionally?
• How do you plan on incorporating life long fitness?
• Attend career fairs, career information seminars and employer presentations.
• Research key organizations, industry, corporations and businesses through informational interviews and resources in the Student-Athlete Academic Service Center or the Gonzaga Career Center
• Continue building a report with faculty and administrators.
• Connect your interests to career options
• Visit the Career Center to look for a summer job or volunteer work in a career-related area to enhance your qualifications for your chosen career area.
• Obtain career-related experiences (internships, summer job, job shadow, practicum).
• Create or revise and update your resume.
• Participate in mock interviews.

Senior Year

The end is near and a job is waiting for you. Steps taken in the previous years should point you in the right direction of your job. If you have followed these guidelines, you should be more than ready for the real world!

• Check out the Student-Athlete Academic Services Center and the Gonzaga Career Center
• Talk with your GAMP mentor
• Prepare your job search strategy with a career counselor
• Revise, update and finalize your resume
• Submit your resume online
• Prepare a cover letter
• Participate in mock interviews
• Attend career fairs and other informational sessions
• Apply to graduate school and/or jobs