Jul 1, 2020NSCA: Professional Development for Women Strength Coaches
Finding a job as a strength and conditioning coach coming out of college is not easy.
You may feel ready to take on the world and apply the techniques and philosophies you’ve learned at college or through internships, but now you must convince others you’re ready.
Simply filling out an application and hoping for a reply is not enough. You have to show potential employers what you can offer. And that can be done by putting together a compelling portfolio, listing long and short term goals, knowing your mission and core values.
In an article from the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) by Andrea Hudy, MA, CSCS, *D, RSCC*E, an assistant athletic director for sports performance and the University of Kansas, the author outlined her personal experience while offering advice for young women entering the job force.
“Applying for that first job and being denied was probably one of the biggest lessons of my career, and my career had not even started yet,” Hudy wrote in the NSCA article. “Without that very first failure, I probably would not have learned what it takes to be successful. It was early in my career that I learned to aggressively chase what it was that I wanted.”
She recommends bringing authenticity to your portfolio — stating clearly why you think you’ll fit with the job and selling yourself in your resume. Having a firm understanding of your philosophies in strength training is also important, Hudy wrote.
“Whatever your philosophy, you should have extensive hours of practice with it. My philosophy does not have to consist of one particular method of training. For example, I combine weightlifting, powerlifting, plyometrics, yoga, etc. in my programming. If you want to train for performance, use ground-based, multi-joint movements that will require an athlete to move explosively in all planes of movement. Keep an open mind and strive to experience new ways to teach techniques,” she wrote.
While stressing the importance of displaying self-confidence, Hudy also recommended being aware and confident enough to share your weakness.
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“Great leaders identify an area in which they are weak and face it as a challenge to make improvements in that area. The only way you will ever get better is by making yourself uncomfortable and facing your fears,” Hudy wrote.
To read the full NSCA article from the Andrea Hudy on professional development for women in the world of strength and conditioning, click here.
