Study: Companies Want College Athletes

A college sports background can make the difference for many companies hiring new talent.

A new study shows that a college sports background can play a big role for companies looking to hire top talent.

As Brad Wolverton writes in the Chronicle of Higher Education, the study asked companies to rate the value of different types of college experiences – from student newspaper editor to debate team captain.

The employers, which were known to hire athletes, gave high marks to many graduates who held leadership positions. But athletes—particularly those who were captains of NCAA teams—scored the highest.

Among the reasons: The employers saw athletes as hard-working and goal-oriented with the ability to handle pressure.

The full results of the study – conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina – will be released at a conference later this week.