The Sporting Towards Success

Tolaskie Montgomery

The Sporting Towards Success podcast is a weekly program designed to help athletes prepare for their post playing career journey by providing tips, strategies and resources on how to make a smooth transition. There will also be interviews with current and former athletes, academic advisors, university career services professionals and sports organization staff members.

  1. 02/26/2025

    Getting Career Fair Ready

    Benefits for attending the career fair are: Exapnding your networkHelping to define your career pathFinding out about job/internship opportunitiesLatest industry and company newsLearn about companies within your fieldPractice your elevator pitchDevelop your communication skills  Preparation is essential. As a student-athlete, your time is limited so developing a winning plan for attending the career fair is important. BEFORE THE FAIR: Get your resume revised.Make at least 10 copies of your resume and  make 5 extra copies.Find out what companies will be attending the career fair.Make a list of at least 10 companies you want to talk to about opporunities.Rehearse your elevator pitch.If required, register for the career fair.Purchase clothing for the event.  Check with your school career services office the JcPenney SuitUp or about them possibly having a Career closet.Have questions for each company recruiter.IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW: Company NameHeadquarter locationMission/Vision Products/servicesCompany clients/competitorsSize of the company Recent company newsWHERE TO FIND THE INFORMATION: Company websiteVaultLinkedInDURING THE FAIR: Silence or turn off your phone.Go alone.No chewing gum. Be confidence.Smile and look the recruiters in their eyes.AFTER THE EVENT: Send thank you emails to each person you spoke with.  In the message, add something you and the recurtier talked about in the conversation.  RESOURCES: UConn Center foe Career Devekopment- YouTubeA guide ro Crafting an Elevator Pitch for Career FairCHALLENGES: Write out your goals for attending the career fair, then create a plan to achieve them,  After the event, review your goals to see how you did, what you would have done differently and then what improvement you will make to reach your goals the next time.

    20 min

  2. 02/05/2025

    New Year

    On today's episode, I will review 2024 and do a preview of 2025.

    3 min

  3. 12/10/2024

    What are Interests?

    EXAMPLES OF INTERESTS  1. Analytical writing 2. Solving problems 3. Exploring new places 4. Designing things 5. Photography 6. Studying art RESOURCES 1.  Strong Interest Inventory  2. O*Net Interest Profiler   CHALLENGES Take one of the above assessment to help find your interests.

    5 min

  4. 10/17/2024

    THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING YOUR VALUES

    V- Values I-Interests P-Personality Traits S- Skills A career assessment test will help you clarify your VIPS.   Values are things that are important.    VAULES  DIRECTION: From the following list, check each value that is very important to you, then list your top 3 values at the end of the list. CATEGORIES: ____Knowledge: Engage in research of information, understanding and new ideas. ____Recognition: Recognize for work well-done. ____Help others: Be involved in helping people directly, either individually or in a group. ____Independence: The ability to work with little close supervision. ____Location: A place to live which is conducive to my lifestyle. ____Advancement:  Gain opportunities for growth.   ____Teamwork: Work as a group for a common goal.   ____Time freedom: Establish own schedule and have time and energy to spend outside of            Work.  ____Learning: The opportunity to learn new skills. ____Travel: Opportunities to travel for work ____Variety: Experience change in work responsibilities and enjoy different tasks.  ____Physical challenge:  A demanding job that requires physical strength, speed or ind_____.  ____Community: Live in a town or city where you can become actively involve ____Moral fulfillment: Feel that your work is contributing significally to a set of moral           standards which I feel are very important. ____Excitement: Experience a high degree of stimulation ____Creativity: Create new ideas, program or structure never developed before  ____Supervision: Directly responsible for work done by others.  ____Security: Be assured of keeping my job. ____Competition: Engage in activities which pit my abilities against others. ____Intellectual Status: Become an “expert” in a given field or subject ____Adventure: Have work duties which involve frequent risk-taking. ____Affliction: A member of a particular organization  ____Precision work: Deal with task that have exact specifications, that require careful, accurate           attention to detail.  ____ Work with others: Have close working relationship with a team. ____Stability: Have work routine and job duties that are largely predictable and not likely to           change over a long period of time. ____ Influence People: Be in a position to change people’s attitudes and opinions or Be in a            position to change attitudes or opinion of other people.  ____ Help Society: Do something to contribute to the betterment of the world.  ____ Profit, Gain: A chance to accumulate money and goods.   ____Make decision: Have the power to decide courses of action, policies, etc., Have the power           To set policy and determine a course of action ____ Fast pace: Work in circumstances where there is a high pace of activity, work must be                   done rapidly.    List your top 3 values: 1.) 2.) 3.)

    4 min

  5. 10/02/2024

    COLLEGE STUDENT-ATHLETE TO-DO LIST

    Here are some ideas to make your Academic year fruitfully/productive: FRESHMAN YEAR 1. Meet with your career counselor 2. Take a career assessment.             - It will help you identify your skills, values, interests and personality trait.   3. Conduct an informational interview.             - Do at least three informational interviews.  They will give you insight into the career, what it takes to feet your foot in the                                  door, current industry news, etc. 4. Get to know your faculty and advisors  5. Create a resume and have it critique by a university career staff member. 6. Explore major options and potential for a good fit.   SOPHMORE YEAR 1. Declare a major 2. Update your resume.   JUNIOR YEAR 1. Get involved in student organizations. 2. Learn about resumes, cover letters and interviewing. 3. Update resume. 4. Investigate possible post-graduate education or professional schools. 5. Start gathering information from references. 6. Conduct research to determine the types of entry-levels positions for which you might quality. 7. Create a job search criteria.     SENIOR YEAR 1. Schedule a mock interview 2. Identify full-time opportunities. 3. Brush up on professional etiquette, hone the resume, and learn to interview successfully. 4. If pursuing graduate school, take the professional test (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.) 5. Start looking for a full-time employment.

    19 min

  6. 10/02/2024

    HIGH SCHOOL TO-DO LIST

    Download the 2024-25 NCAA college-bound student-athlete guide. The guide will have you understand the following: The three NCAA Divisions Recruiting Final Amateurism  Academic Requirement- The three NCAA Divisions           Follow the NCAA Eligibility Center on social media.                        X (formerly Twitter): @ncaaec             Facebook: @ncaaec             Instagram: @playcollegesports             YouTube: @ncaaec Hone your athletic skills. Research career and majors. Resources:  Look at the major list of the school you want to attend.Occupational Outlook Handbook- htpps://www.bls.govCareerOneStop- https://careeronestop.orgCandid CareerO*Net OnLineFocus 2    Research scholarship and other financial aid.           -Not every high school student-athletes will receive an athletic scholarship. That is why it is                        important to make good grades, volunteer your time,    TYPES OF SCHOLRSHIPS: Academic AthleticCommunity servicesDemographicNeed-basedScholarship for womenIdentity-based Merit aidMilitary MajorCreativeReligiousFederal, state, university, and private funding sources.     COST OF ATTENDENCE INCLUDES: Tuition and FeeRoom and BoardBooks and SuppliesTransportationMiscellaneous expenses

    11 min

  7. 09/25/2024

    Creating a Successful Career Fair Action Plan

    You need to do before the career fair. Find out the date of the career fair.Know why you are going to the career fair.Create a list of companies you would like to talk to at the career fair.Create a list of questions you would like to ask each recruiter.Purchase professional attire.Look at the list of employers attending the fair.Have your resume revise by Career Services.Create an elevator pitch.Make at least 10 copies of your resume.  You may print an extra 5 copies for just in case.  EXTRA: Create a list of companies you would like to talk to at the career fair.You may have to create different questions for each company.WHAT TO BRING TO THE CAREER FAIR: Copies of your resumePadfolioPenQuestions for recruiters.Now I will talk about what to do during the career fair. Go alone.Shake the recruiters’ hand firmly and look them in the eyes.Turn off or on silent your phone.  You do not want to be distracted by your phone while talking to a recruiter.Be enthustic and positive during the fair.Thank the recruiter for their time.Collect business cards from recruiters.After the career fair: Send thank you email to each person you talk to.  In the message, recount what was discussed.Follow the company and the recuiter on Handshake as well as LinkedIn.If the recuiter request information from you, submit immediately.

    18 min

  8. 09/13/2024

    The Importance of Career Services

    Career Services/Center is designed to help students fromYear 1 to prepare them for life after college.   THEY OFFER: Career CounsleingCareer-related workshop[s and seminarsCareer AssessmentProfessional DevelopmentNetworking opportunities with employers and alumnusReview your resumeCareer ResourcesPlanning for Graduate SchoolPractice InterviewingJob Search StrategiesCareer PlanningBENEFITS OF CAREER SERVICES:  They will help you develop a career planning suited just for you.  Assist you in finding ways yo gain work experience.Help you prepare for interviews.Revise your resume and cover letterGive advice on how to network effectively.Take advantage of their services. Schedule an appointment to find out what they have to offer.

    5 min
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About

The Sporting Towards Success podcast is a weekly program designed to help athletes prepare for their post playing career journey by providing tips, strategies and resources on how to make a smooth transition. There will also be interviews with current and former athletes, academic advisors, university career services professionals and sports organization staff members.

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