How to Apply Your Cheerleading Skills to Your Resume

Believe it or not, cheerleaders have plenty of skills that are perfect assets in the workplace. If you’re coming out of cheerleading and entering the traditional workforce, you have more experience than you may realize. Cheerleading is hard, demanding work. You’ve learned a lot that you can apply to high-pressure, high-stress career situations. At the end of the day, how well you’re able to perform under pressure may be the determining factor in whether or not you can succeed in a career. You’re prepared for this. You’re high energy. Even if it takes a lot of B vitamins and a good night’s rest to get you prepared, you know how to manage your energy. A tired cheerleader is like a car with a flat tire, and you know that firsthand. You can use that same energy you use for practice in order to pull all-nighters during an important workplace project. When everyone else seems to be lagging behind, you’ll be at the front of the line and ready to go. High-energy people are also less likely to experience workplace burnout, allowing them to stay at the forefront of productivity. You’re dedicated to perfection. As a cheerleader, you practice over and over again. You work until you get it perfect, and then you work some more. You understand how important it is to be sure you have things right, and this is a skill that not many people can boast. You’ll often see job ads that state they need someone with a great eye for detail, and that’s you. You understand that even the smallest flub can send everyone else off-track. This is a highly marketable skill, and one that recruiters are always excited to find in a candidate. You’re innovative. Cheerleaders need to compete to win. This competitive spirit amps up two important career skills‚ innovation and creativity. Your routines need to stand out in an environment where everyone else is also trying to stand out. You have to think outside of the box to create something memorable and impressive; this is the very basis of the innovation most workplaces need. It doesn’t matter what company you’re going to work for‚ they have competitors they need to outshine! You have experience in observing others and creating something better, and you know how great it feels when your innovations win. You communicate well with a team. Cheerleading is all about teamwork. You need to be able to communicate to your fellow cheerleaders, and be sure that everyone is doing their part to make the performance successful. Bonding and trust are very important in cheerleading, especially because the sport can be dangerous at times. You understand how to work with a team when the stakes are high. You know how to listen, respond, and adapt when you need to. Employers know that teams need everyone to get along in order to accomplish the desired goal. You’ve been doing that for a long time now, and it’s time to show them what you’re all about. Every office needs a cheerleader or two. Spirited, strong-willed people who aren’t afraid to work hard are always an invaluable asset in the workplace. Your vibrant energy and dedications could be exactly what an employer needs to become more successful, and if you’re willing to demonstrate your best qualities, everyone will see that in no time. What are other cheerleading qualities that can transfer over into a career setting? Share your thoughts in the comments! ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ About the Author: Martha Kangas is a recent graduate and a freelance writer, interested in travel and photography. Besides writing, she likes to catch up with her favorite blogs and Netflix shows.