TWO-THIRDS OF PARA ATHLETES HAVE MADE FINANCIAL SACRIFICES TO ACHIEVE SPORTING GOALS

 

Irish Para Athletes represent their country with pride all around the globe. They are elite, high- performers that dedicate themselves to producing their best performances when it matters most. Para Athletes sacrifice much in their pursuit of their goals as findings from the recent survey produced by Hays Ireland illustrate.

Half (48%) of Para Athletes have prioritised elite sport over career opportunities

A further one third (31%) have missed out on a job opportunity due to sporting commitments

Over one quarter (28%) are entirely self-funded

31% of those surveyed hold an Honours Bachelors degree, while just under one quarter (24%) are educated to Masters degree level. 14% reported having a Doctorate

76% of respondents said that communication and the ability to set goals are their most transferable skills

69% highlighted professional mentoring as the service that would be most beneficial in aiding their transfer to the workplace

Hays Ireland to support Paralympians transition from arena to office

Hays comment: “Paralympians make huge sacrifices to excel in their chosen fields and need support as they transition from their sporting career into the workplace. Hays Ireland is proud to support our Irish Paralympians on this journey and help them harness their unique attributes of drive, discipline, and focus in the next chapter of their lives.”

Two-thirds of Irish Para Athletes have made financial sacrifices to achieve their sporting goals, according to new research released by recruitment industry leader Hays Ireland in conjunction with Paralympics Ireland.

Hays Ireland - the Official Recruitment Provider to Paralympics Ireland - will now establish a professional career mentoring service for Para Athletes and provide dedicated CV clinics and support with interview preparation to directly benefit athletes.

Sacrifices made for sporting success

Time (86%) was the biggest sacrifice made by Paralympians to achieve their sporting goals. This was followed by personal relationships and their social life (72%). Two-thirds (66%) have made financial sacrifices, while almost half (48%) have not pursued professional opportunities to prioritise their chosen sport. 31% said that they have missed out on a job opportunity because of their sporting commitments. 45% have felt additional stress and pressure from competing. Almost one-third (31%) said that their sporting career has taken priority over pursuing professional opportunities.

Those spending 15-20 hours a week dedicated to their sport are in the majority (35%). There was an even split (28%) between those spending 10-15 and 20+ hours. Just 10% spend 1-5 hours a week on their chosen sport.

Over half receive some funding from Sport Ireland (55%). However, over one quarter (28%) are entirely self-funded. 10% receive private funding or have commercial sponsorships.

Paralympians are highly educated and have plenty of skills to offer potential employers

Those surveyed feel that participation in their sport has imbued them with many transferable skills that will be attractive to potential employers. 76% said that communication and goal setting were the most transferable skills. This was followed by 69% who felt that their ability to take feedback onboard was the most valuable skill, while 66% thought that their employers would value their independence the highest. 62% indicated that their teamworking skills would help in the professional world, and just over half (52%) thought their leadership abilities were their biggest asset.

76% said that participation in sport helped them to grow their professional networks compared to 17% who did not believe this was the case. 69% said that professional mentoring services would ease the transition from high-performance sport to the professional world, and 35% say that education bursaries would help make the transition from sport to the professional world easier.

Finding a balance can be tough

With just under half (48%) of Paralympians in full-time employment and 21% working part-time while also juggling life as an athlete, finding the right balance can be tough.

31% said they find it difficult to balance life as an athlete with a full-time job. 14% reported being over-looked for promotions because of their sporting career, and 10% said they have failed to secure full-time employment that supports their sporting career.

45% of respondents said that time management – balancing their sport and professional commitments – was the biggest challenge when trying to navigate life as a high-performance athlete and that of a working professional or student. 32% noted that financial and logistic factors were key challenges.

Workplaces broadly supportive of Paralympians

55% believe that their employers value their sporting achievements. 41% report being allowed additional time off to focus on sport, while over one-third (36%) can work flexible hours. However, over one quarter (27%) do not receive any formal support but note that their colleagues are very supportive of their sporting endeavours. 14% said that their employers look to promote and champion their achievements, while 9% said their employers or colleagues are indifferent to them.

65% said that they plan on staying in their current role long-term, as it enables them to concentrate on their sporting career. 20% plan to re-evaluate their career upon retirement from high-performance sport, while 10% do not plan on staying in their current role long-term because it doesn’t enable them to concentrate on their sport.

Maureen Lynch, Operations Director at Hays Ireland said, “This research highlights the challenges faced by our Paralympic athletes as they seek to both compete in the arena of high-performance sport and the professional world. Their dedication, resilience and commitment to excellence are genuinely inspiring and are something that any professional environment can benefit from.

Paralympians make huge sacrifices to excel in their chosen fields and need support as they transition from their sporting career into the workplace. Hays Ireland is proud to support our Irish Paralympians on this journey and help them harness their unique attributes of drive, discipline, and focus in the next chapter of their lives.”

Paralympian and Paralympics Ireland President Eimear Breathnach said, “The research clearly shows that Para Athletes sacrifice much in their pursuit of their lifelong dream. Success in sport, especially high-performance sport, is not possible without sacrifice by athletes and those close to them. Para Athletes have extremely desirable skills for potential employers, and they are very well educated and qualified. We look forward to working with our partners in Hays to provide the athletes with the skills that can unlock their potential in the workplace in a similar fashion to the way the athletes deliver in the arena of competition.”