Job fair gives athletes glimpse at the future

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2000 | 11:18 a.m.

Clutching a few informational pamphlets about the Federal Bureau of Investigation, UNLV basketball player Lou Kelly eagerly awaited the return of the FBI representative so he could ask some questions about what it takes to be an agent.

"I'm trying to be like Agent Mulder (actor David Duchovny's character) in the 'X-Files (a FOX television series),' " Kelly said at the UNLV Student Athlete Career Fair held at the Lied Athletic Complex. "Secret agent type of stuff.

"I've got hands-on street knowledge of how to solve crimes."

About 20 businesses set up tables on Monday night at the event, which gave student athletes an opportunity to inquire about internships, summer jobs and future careers. The MGM Grand Hotel, 24 Hour Fitness and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter were among the companies represented.

Until Monday night, Kelly didn't know where he could go to get the information he wanted and he is certain many other athletes felt the same way.

"A lot of people don't even know what they want to get into (after college)," Kelly said. "Maybe they'll see something that catches their eye here.

"I've been trying to figure out how to approach it (the FBI), how to get into the field and how long it takes to get active. I mean, you can't just call the FBI and say, 'Yo, I want to sign up.' "

And if you can, Kelly found that out as well.

UNLV assistant athletic director of NCAA Legislative Compliance Eric Tolliver came up with the idea of the career fair and the first one was held last year. The event was mandatory for juniors and seniors.

Tolliver said about 60 businesses wanted to participate, but because space is very limited in the Lied and the Thomas & Mack Center is being occupied by the National Finals Rodeo, he could only accommodate a limited number.

"There's life after athletics," Tolliver said. "This is an opportunity for the kids to start thinking of a plan B because one day, football or softball or whatever is going to end.

"I just want the athletes to be able to leave athletics one day and have a future."

UNLV sophomore Belisa Suarez, a sophomore on the track and field team majoring in hotel management, found the fair very helpful. Suarez thinks it was a good idea to show athletes that there are many options after college.

"This whole thing is good for athletes because we practice and travel a lot and don't get an opportunity to look for summer jobs or internships," she said. "A program like this helps us because a lot of athletes are still thinking everyone can be a professional athlete and that's not always the case."

The career fair was helpful to the prospective employers as well.

Tolliver asked all of the student-athletes to submit a resume and copies were put into a thick book. The book was given to all of the companies represented at the fair and will be mailed out to many more.

"We do well with former athletes because they tend to be real team oriented, dedicated to the common goal and have persevered through adversity," Enterprise regional recruiting manager Francine Mazza said. "Those characteristics translate well to our work force."