This is a guest post by Eileen Wisnewski.

Graduation often signals the end of competition for most college athletes. This can be an emotional realization, as many graduating athletes would love to play just one more season.

While competing, the level of time and commitment college athletes give to their sport sometimes prevents them from properly planning for the next step in life after college. This can result in recent graduates feeling underprepared to start their professional lives.

The good news is that across career industries, many employers truly value and seek out the skills and abilities athletes possess. Whether they realize this or not, athletes develop some very important and marketable skills while playing their sport.

Victory comes to those athletes who are able to 1) identify these skills, and 2) communicate them in a resume, cover letter or during an interview. Here are three examples:

1. Teamwork
Athletes begin developing teamwork skills as early as elementary school. They realize the importance of working with others for the desired positive outcome. Each player must contribute for this to be achieved. Employers want to hire candidates who aren’t going to be showboats and who recognize that everyone contributes to the success of the team.

How to express this:
“While playing college soccer, I developed strong teamwork skills and understand the importance of working together to achieve success. An example of this was when…”

2. Value of Hard Work
Athletes are trained to bring their “A” game every time they step onto the playing field. I once watched a hiring manager reviewing college students’ resumes by quickly scanning and highlighting athletic experiences. When I asked him why he said, “I love hiring athletes. Oftentimes you need to do the mundane in order to attain a successful final outcome. Athletes are used to training and practicing long hours, which ideally results in winning. That is the type of person I want to hire.”

How to express this:
“As a multi-sport athlete, I was trained to always bring my best to the playing field, even during practice. I take my performance seriously and bring the same attitude to everything I do. An example of this was when…”

3. “Coachable”
Employers want to hire recent graduates who are willing to take direction and learn the ropes from their company. Athletes understand the value of listening and learning from their coaches (and in employment, their managers). They also are able to take constructive criticism and use it to strengthen their skills and abilities.

How to express this:
“Athletics has taught me to seek out feedback from others. I know that one of the best ways to improve my performance is by listening to the advice from those with more experience. An example of this was when…”

These are just a few of the many advantageous skills college athletes develop while playing their sport. In order for this to pay off, however, athletes must 1) process what skills they have developed while in competition, and then 2) be able to communicate this to a hiring manager. As an athlete is familiar with putting in the time to train and practice, the most successful candidates also will have devoted significant preparation and practice for the job for the search process.

Eileen Wisnewski is very passionate about assisting athletes with their career development, and has been a professional in the industry for over 12 years.