3 Golden Rules To Adding Testimonials To Your Student-Athlete Resume

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I recently wrote a post outlining 7 steps necessary for creating an effective recruiting profile.

In the post, I shared a testimonial example.

It was purposefully shared and meant to be used as a sample testimonial showcasing how our new student-athlete resume builder features.

Here is the testimonial.

After writing this post and receiving a few questions about testimonials while working with other athletes, I am taking this as an opportunity to reinforce what I believe makes a good testimonial, and I decided to share a few golden rules to live by.

Rule #1. Make sure it’s specific.

Team-player. Proactive. Hard worker.

These are incredibly generic terms that could apply to almost anyone. And a buzzword-stuffed testimonial is just begging to be challenged.

These generic terms don’t do your actual qualities and contributions justice, so don’t use them.

Instead, use testimonials that give specific examples of the value you’ve contributed or the impact you’ve created.

Ask your endorser (coach, strength coach, teacher) to include quantitative and qualitative benchmarks that add specific context to your work.

Example:

Cali is a strong player.

vs.

Cali was quick to notice inefficiencies in her power and decided to find a strength coach that could help her increase her power.  After working with us for 3 months, her fastest pitch went from 45 km/h to 53 km/h. 

See the difference?

As a coach checking out your student-athlete resume, which would you hold to higher credibility?

The more specific the details, the more powerful the testimonial.

Pro tip: When asking for testimonials, don’t be shy to ask your endorser to include specific examples!

Rule #2. Make sure it’s real.

Your testimonial should never include false information.

If someone gives you a testimonial that includes exaggerations or any claims that can’t be proven with solid evidence, leave it off your page.

Any kind of false claim will ruin your credibility with coaches reviewing your information.

Instead, make sure it includes real facts that are relevant to your athletic career to date.

Also, ask your endorser to write it in a human voice. If it sounds too marketing-y or sales-y, it may raise some eyebrows in suspicion.

Rule #3. Make it legitimate.

The endorser, or who the testimonial is from, is also quite important.

Not saying you need a quote from the Head Coach of a professional team.

Just saying that the details included in your attribution can add legitimacy to your testimonial.

When posting your testimonial, you’ll want to include at least a first name, their title and relationship with you as an athlete.

Example:

I have always been impressed at Cali’s ambition to succeed and her quiet demeanor as a leader amongst the other athletes in our gym environment. I have been working with Cali as her strength and conditioning coach for the past two years to help improve her strength, size, explosiveness, and overall confidence. She has made great strides in all these areas since beginning her dryland training.
– G.B.

vs.

I have always been impressed at Cali’s ambition to succeed and her quiet demeanor as a leader amongst the other athletes in our gym environment. I have been working with Cali as her strength and conditioning coach for the past two years to help improve her strength, size, explosiveness, and overall confidence. She has made great strides in all these areas since beginning her dryland training.
– George Bronson, Strength & Conditioning Coach at PRO Edge Training

The more context you can give about your endorser, the more it’ll establish the testimonial as coming from a credible source.

When you’re requesting testimonials and considering which to add to your page, keeping these golden rules in your back pocket will ensure that your testimonials are compelling and persuasive…and most importantly — real.

If you have a student-athlete resume, having the right testimonials is a key ingredient to getting the attention of coaches looking for athletes like you.

Give our student-athlete resume builder a try, it’s free to try!

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