Developing the skills needed by recreation and leisure professionals

This is an excerpt from Introduction to Recreation and Leisure 4th Edition With HKPropel Access by Tyler Tapps & Mary Sara Wells.

By Tracy L. Mainieri

Student Benchmark Checklist

This checklist provides suggestions for activities beyond required course work that will make a student more successful and competitive when entering the job market.

• Volunteer 50 hours each semester with at least two recreation agencies.
• Create and maintain a professional LinkedIn profile.
• Find a part-time job in a sector that aligns with your career goals.
• Attend one regional professional conference.
• Visit the campus career center once a semester for seminars and mock interviews.
• Join a professional association and become active in it.
• Contact agencies you are interested in working with and familiarize them with your name.
• Review your personal social media presence to ensure information is professional.
• Complete a 10-week internship (more than one internship is recommended by graduation).
• Obtain at least one job in a recreation field.
• Job shadow for at least two recreation sectors.
• Establish at least one professional mentor in a career field of interest.
• Get to know your professors via office hours.
• Meet with three different faculty members to discuss career options in your chosen field.
• Develop your career portfolio throughout your time as a student (résumé, work samples, transcripts and degrees, awards and honors, letters of reference).