Within the sports industry, there are numerous roles applicants can pursue. There are part-time jobs, internships, full-time roles and more. One of the more understated roles that has taken off in the past decade is a graduate assistant within an athletic department.

Graduate assistant roles are similar to internships based on the work someone may be doing, but they usually come with a wider range of responsibilities. They also typically allow students to pursue an advanced degree while either fully or partially covering their tuition costs.

Athletic departments may have anywhere from 10 to 15 GAs at a time, with opportunities ranging from compliance, communications, operations, events and even coaching within specific sports. Although these roles may focus on one department, there also tends to be a lot of crossover due to the smaller size of athletic departments within a university.

The good news is that the wide range of responsibilities prepares young professionals for a career in a multitude of areas and doesn’t limit them to one lane as an internship might. It also gives them a chance to try a variety of projects and tasks to see what they enjoy before pursuing a full-time career.

GAs also tend to work games and events throughout the season, and their tasks may change throughout the year based on the........

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