Analysis of 700K Resumes Reveals Hidden Gaps in Student-Athlete Career Readiness

As student-athletes head back to the classroom this month to sharpen both their athletic and academic skills, new analysis of nearly 700,000 resumes from LiveCareer identifies key areas where athletes both excel and lag when it comes to communicating their transferable skills to potential employers. 

Key Gaps in Student-Athlete Resumes:

• Problem-solving and professional development are underrepresented – Student-athletes mention “problem solving and critical thinking” 63% less often and “professional development” 138% less often than non-athletes, indicating a gap in articulating transferable analytical and career-building skills.
• Lower emphasis on motivation and initiative – Surprisingly, student-athletes list “motivation and initiative” 42% less frequently than non-athletes, despite their experience in competitive environments.
• Technical and interpersonal skills show minimal difference – While athletes report “technical skills” 12% more often than non-athletes, they are 24% less likely to highlight “interpersonal skills,” suggesting a need to refine how they present their communication abilities.

Have any student-athletes you are working with? This might help them fill in some of the gaps in their resumes.