Commitment to Career Development

"Positive Transitions" Sports Retirement Seminar

The first in a series of seminars was held in the spring of 2004 to address the “positive transition” of our outgoing senior student-athletes as they prepare to enter the workforce. The seminar, hosted by the Academic Support Services staff, was led by Dr. Chris Carr, a licensed psychologist in Indiana and in his second year with the Purdue University Athletics Department.

The focus of the event was to give student-athletes an opportunity to discuss the variety of the normal emotional and mental responses during this common and necessary “life” phase.

Dr. Carr challenged those student-athletes in attendance to identify their own skills and assets that may transfer into a career. Then, through goal-setting and the use of the resources around them, create a transitional “plan” to achieve the successful entry into the workforce.

Follow-up workshops, in conjunction with the Center for Career Opportunities (CCO), have been scheduled to address the needs of resume writing and interviewing skills.

Seminar participants were also encouraged to use the “Positive Transitions” textbook, handed out at the seminar, to plan for self-paced work toward meeting their career goals and objectives.

Any student-athlete, regardless of academic year, is encouraged to see their athletics academic advisor for questions related to this important topic.