Professional challenges…
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60% of Olympians are concerned about managing their professional careers after they retire from Olympic competition |
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70% of Olympians and 47% of hopefuls indicate that they are worried about spending too much time in training and competition at the expense of professional development |
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43% of retired Olympians indicate they were challenged when entering the professional job market due to feelings relating to loss of control, lack of direct achievement and monotony |
Achieving career aspirations…
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61% of retired Olympians (age 45 - 54) report that they have not yet fulfilled career aspirations |
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33% of retired Olympians (age 55 - 64) have still not yet fulfilled career aspirations |
Reality of the Emotional Letdown…
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67% of Olympians fear an emotional letdown after the Games |
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61% of retired Olympians have suffered from an emotional letdown after the Games |
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Those who worked full-time while competing were slightly less likely to experience an emotional letdown after competition (53%) |
Working while training…
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85% of current Olympians indicate their training and/or travel schedule makes working difficult or impossible |
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73% say they had to work to pay bills during training, but only 40% feel that their job was related to their long-term career goals |
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Current Olympians are more likely to work full-time than hopefuls, who are more likely to be supported by their families |
Olympians are ideal employees…
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83% of retired Olympians reveal that their Olympic experience helped in their careers |
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94% of Olympians believe their Olympic experience will help them in a future position |
Starting the process…
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81% of Olympians have written/prepared a professional resume |
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68% of Olympians have conducted a job interview with a potential employer |
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58% of Olympians hold jobs related to their ultimate career goal |
Help is on the way…
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71% of Olympians would use a mentoring program in their job search |
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TeamUSAnet, the first career management website for Olympians, built and hosted by Monster exclusively for U.S. Olympic athletes and hopefuls, features an assortment of offerings that educate Olympians on how to translate their experience into the professional world |
Addendum to Fact Sheet
Olympian Verbatim Responses to Survey
Professional challenges…
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"At this point, I am just trying to pay the bills. I'm not really courting a career at this time, outside of running." Current Olympian |
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"The transition from going straight from my sport back into school will leave me four-plus years of making no income. That unknown leaves me worried." Current Olympian |
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"Don't be discouraged by the fact that your peers are 'ahead' of you in their careers. Your Olympic career is extremely valuable and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Look for employers that value the skills you have acquired through your competitive career regardless of what's on your resume." Retired Olympian |
Achieving career aspirations…
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"I am not in the career I want right now. Once my Olympic career is over, then I will pursue my career." Current Olympian |
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"I'm too tired from training to think about career aspirations right now." Current Olympian |
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"I have already worked for 20 years and I am now retired. I never had the opportunity to pursue any 'dream job.'" Retired Olympian |
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"My Olympic career was over in 1968. I have lived the last 33 years finishing school and working, having a family and then retiring. I never considered having career aspirations because there wasn't the opportunity available…there wasn't any guidance available then." Retired Olympian |
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"Since I've retired (at the ripe old age of 24), I've done graduate work in anthropology, had a career as a college field hockey coach, got my MBA, and currently work as a corporate banker. However, I wonder how many other Olympians out there have struggled to find a goal that is the all-consuming passion that the Olympics is." Retired Olympian |
Reality of the Emotional Letdown…
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"I competed in the 1996 Games, and won a bronze medal. It was a four-year effort chock full of excitement. After the Games, my self-identity had to change from athlete to ordinary citizen. This has been difficult." Retired Olympian |
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"The most difficult adjustment I faced with post-Olympic life was accepting the change from being the best in the world to the low person on the 'business' team and very replaceable." Retired Olympian |
Olympians are ideal employees…
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"I work construction and one of my jobs was to sand blast wood for handrails and it took two weeks of 8 to 5 work. My boss quit and other guys had bet as to how long it would take me to quit. But I am dedicated and don't quit." Hopeful Olympian |
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"Athletic training and competition teaches you the value of discipline and relentlessly working toward a goal. This is directly applicable to the working world." Retired Olympian |
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"You learned you could do whatever you set your mind to in your Olympic experience, and that translates directly into career goals." Retired Olympians |
About the Monster Olympian Career Study …
Monster and Harris Interactivesm jointly developed and conducted an online survey among Olympic athletes and hopefuls. A comprehensive study conducted on the careers of Olympic athletes, it is designed to explore the unique career management issues, concerns, experiences and needs of the Olympic family. Over 400 athletes completed the survey which was administered to three categories: Olympic hopefuls who have yet to compete in the Games, current Olympians who have competed in the Games and are currently in training, and Olympians no longer competing.
Methodology…
Harris Interactivesm created a unique URL and password for each potential respondent, and the United States Olympic Committee sent a letter to each athlete requesting participation in the online survey. The unique URL and password ensured a confidential and accurate response from each athlete. Harris Interactive fielded the survey from April 30 through July 26, 2001. The margin of error is +/- 4.9 percent.
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