The careers of sports graduates: Implications for employability strategies in higher education sports courses

Abstract

Increasing emphasis on the economic importance of higher education (HE) has led to a focus on the employability of graduates. Within sport there has been little empirical research into graduate careers, consequently the aim of the study was to explore the nature of the careers of sports graduates and the implications for the development of sports students׳ employability. Using mixed methods it was found that their career is dynamic, exhibiting characteristics of traditional, protean, boundaryless and bounded careers. The implication for HE sports courses׳ employability strategies is the need for sports graduates to develop career management skills.