D.R.I.V.E. for Success Career Fair Brings a Different Side to Recruiting
9/28/2017 10:26:00 AM | General
More than 30 companies from across the country met with nearly 200 student-athletes at the Crimson Tide's annual career fair
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Recruiting is the lifeblood of collegiate athletics. Bringing in the right people, with the right skills, attitude and drive are keys to creating championship teams.
Katie Bailey knows all about that process. The two-time individual NCAA champion was a key contributor to The University of Alabama's last two Southeastern Conference gymnastics titles in 2014 and 2015.
The May 2017 Crimson Tide graduate was on the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium during the Crimson Tide's game against Colorado State, where she was honored for winning her second NCAA title last April. This past week, she was back at the stadium, once more involved in recruiting, but this time, she was on the other side of the table.
Bailey was at Alabama Athletics' D.R.I.V.E. for Success Career Fair, representing State Farm, a company she joined in June. This time around, instead of being recruited, she was pitching the virtues of her new company, looking for the same attributes that State Farm saw in her.
"Having worked as a team has helped me a lot going into the workforce," Bailey said. "Also, just working through the hard times, because not every day is going to be your best day. That kind of perseverance is something I definitely took away from being in gymnastics."
The Kernersville, N.C., native was one of several former student-athletes at this year's fair who are now involved in recruiting from the other side of graduation. Academic All-American Courtney (Maclane) Courtney (women's tennis) was recruiting on behalf of Cintas, while All-American and Academic All-American Alexis Paine (track and field) was representing Regions Financial. Alex Jordan, a member Alabama football's 1992 national championship team, was representing Stryker, Jon Kelton (baseball) was on hand for Edward Jones and Nathan Karr (track and field) was pressing the flesh for Brasfield & Gorrie.
"The good thing is that student-athletes, especially at Alabama, tend to have the whole package," Courtney said. "They have the soft skills, they have the work ethic and all of that is what we're looking for in recruiting. We also want someone who is going to be a team player and someone who is going to bring a lot of ideas to the table as well as initiative and a fresh mindset. All those things are what we're looking for and I know that this group of athletes definitely has them."
That sentiment was echoed by many who were in the midst of their first job search.
"I think this is just a really awesome evening for us all to come out here and make some connections with people we can talk to in the future that can help us out and maybe help us get a job," senior football player Andy Pappanastos said. "It's really important that we make these friendships and relationships. We're all accustomed to working hard and hopefully we'll be able to join a company or business that we will be able to continue to do that with them."
Before the representatives from the various companies had a chance to meet with the nearly 200 Alabama student-athletes who attended this year's event, Crimson Tide softball coach Patrick Murphy told the recruiters what they could expect.
"There are a ton of companies here from all over the country," Murphy said. "My goal was just to explain to them what type of person and what type of worker they might get from a University of Alabama student-athlete."
The fact that Tide student-athletes are known for their work ethic, drive, determination and character was not lost on the companies in attendance.
"I talked to all the companies here and a lot of them said that this career fair is the best of its kind," Murphy said. "That's what you want to hear. I think they recognize the caliber of people that our programs turn out and the kind of professionals that come out of Alabama."
There were more than 30 companies represented at the fair, including Mercedes-Benz, Geico, Hibbett Sports, the U.S. Marine Corps, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. That range of companies – along with programs such as the UA Law School, UA Graduate School, UAB School of Medicine and UAB School of Health Professions that were also in attendance – appealed to many of the student-athletes in attendance who might not have a strong inclination as to what their next step might be.
"I'm looking forward to meeting with the different companies and being able to network," junior football player Josh Casher said before the event got underway. "I want to see what I can bring to the professional field."
The career fair is another part of Alabama Athletics' D.R.I.V.E. for Success Career and Leadership Development program. D.R.I.V.E. for Success is an innovative and dynamic initiative now in its fourth year. Dedication, Responsibility, Influence, Vision, and Excellence are the program's values, highlighted through the D.R.I.V.E. acronym. The mission is to actively support professional and leadership growth of current and former Crimson Tide student-athletes through practical education and comprehensive programming in preparation for success in life.
All the latest information on Alabama Athletics can be found via @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook. You can follow Alabama's D.R.I.V.E. for Success program on Twitter via @TideDrive.
