Professional Development
We help Football Alumni help each other through professional mentorship and meaningful connections.
Student-athletes at the University of Virginia have one of the most strenuous athletic and academic experiences in college sports. Most players are on campus over 340 days a year preparing for an incredible football experience. These players have their heads down and can find themselves behind the job search curve once they graduate. Many have not used the University’s career services resources and have limited understanding of the working world since they've been so focused on their academic and athletic pursuits. The majority have not had an internship. Many have their minds on an NFL career, but don’t understand that the average lifespan in the National Football League is 3.3 years.
The Virginia Football Alumni Club’s focus on Professional Development, Networking and Career Readiness created a program a number of years ago to help our younger bretheren. At this point, over 200 former players have committed to helping our student-athletes secure interviews and opportunities with great companies across the country.
The program starts with the student-athlete requesting support from the VFAC via our custom-built interactive website below. The student-athlete will fill out a form with information about them, their vocation interests, and their geographic preferences. A member of the VFAC will then personally follow up. From there, resume review (or creation), mentoring, and interviewing skills support are delivered.
Once the individual is ready to interview, the VFAC will send the resume, cover letter, and entire interview package to the group of the Network that might best benefit from this student-athlete. Because the interactive website was created to have LinkedIn-style menus, only the helping alumni that best fit based on location and vocation preference will receive the resume package. In addition, industry and regional groupings have occurred naturally. This helps pinpoint where the requestor can find real help networking and finding a job.
TONY ELLIOTT
Head Football Coach
"Being a part of the University of Virginia Football program is about more for our scholar-athletes than just winning games. The Number One thing that I desire for each of my players is to earn their degree. By serving their hearts and not their talents we can build the best 30-year-old versions of themselves. The Alumni Club's 'Career Kickoff' is a foundational element of our Cavalier Code Player Development Program, and it's through events like these that we will build true Champion Men on and off the field."
RON CAREY
CEO, Tilt Creative + Production
1990 UVA Graduate
"As a former player and now an employer, I know the value that our student-athletes provide. Virginia Football produces resilient, hardworking and team-oriented players."
DAVID DEAN
Greentech Renewables
2015 UVA Graduate
"As a former NFL and CFL player facing the transition to a new career, their invaluable assistance, mentorship, and vast network of professionals played a pivotal role in helping me secure a jpb that perfectly aligns with my skills and interests. I'm thankful for the dedication and impact of the Career Networking group, ensuring that other alumni can also benefit from this incredible resource. I am truly grateful to VFAC for providing such a supportive and empowering platform for us as we navigate life beyond football."
DEREK DIVINE
2022 UVA Graduate
"I want to express my gratitude for the Virginia Football Alumni Club's Career Networking group. As a former UVA Football player transitioning into the professional world, their support and guidance were instrumental in heling me secure a position at a prominent consulting firm. The networking opportunities and mentorship provided by this incredible group were invaluable in honing my skills and connecting me with like-minded professionals."
Sign up online to get help finding a job you're excited about.
Current and former players submit some basic information about their background and interests that helps us understand what they want to do next. A member of our team works with each recent grad to review their interests, resume, and more.
Other Virginia Football Alumni are contacted to help.
After the requestor receives mentorship from a member of our team, we send out information about them to our network of alumni. These alumni can then help the individual find job opportunities in their areas of interest.
How it works
With 1,500+ alums living all over the world who've built their careers in everything from law to education to real estate to tattooing (yep, you read that right), our network is well represented by experience, industry, and geography. As we take the first steps in our careers, or pivot halfway through to something new, connecting within this group should be instinctive.
To start, join our LinkedIn group.
Join VFAC on LinkedIn
Career Kickoff
The Virginia Football program held its second annual Career Networking Fair on Wednesday, December 6th, 2023 at The Darden School of Business's Forum Hotel on Grounds. This event brought members of the Cavalier football team together with local and international employers and alumni for career placement and networking purposes.
In 2022, the event produced 100% placement for all players who were looking for full-time post-graduation employment. This year, over 36 companies were represented with jobs and internships. UVA Football Alumni are a significant portion of the interviewers in hiring positions, with over 48 former players signed up. Many of the companies represented will also produce creative internship and externship opportunities for the underclassmen, allowing our players to experience work activities during their demanding summer schedule.
The event is sponsored through generous Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) funding. Ford Mays Wealth Management and The Good Feet Store were Platinum sponsors, while Cavalier Futures Foundation was a Gold Sponsor.
The evening before included a Senior Networking event hosted by the Virginia Football Alumni Club, where fourth and fifth year players networked with former Hoos and learn about career opportunities from some of the companies who attended the next day.
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