"Rec Sports Was So Good for Me": How College Graduates Developed Marketable Skills as Recreational Sports Student Employees.

This article examines how former collegiate recreational sports student employees developed marketable skills that enhanced their career readiness and professional capabilities after graduation. Through qualitative interviews with ten graduates from a large public university, the study found that participants identified key skills gained from their recreational sports employment, including interpersonal communication, teamwork and leadership, organization, and cross-cultural competency—particularly among women graduates. These skills were reported as directly transferable and valuable in diverse professional roles, supporting the view that recreational sports employment serves as a significant context for experiential learning and career preparation. The study highlights implications for higher education institutions to recognize and promote recreational sports student employment as a meaningful contributor to workforce readiness.