Having trouble deciding what to do after retirement?
Stepping away from sport can feel strange. For years your schedule, goals and identity were clear. Then suddenly you’re faced with a wide-open question: what do I do next? If you’re feeling stuck, unsure, or worried about choosing the wrong path, you’re in very good company. Almost every retired athlete goes through this phase. The key thing to remember is that you don’t have to figure it all out in one big decision. You can test things first and that’s where work experience comes in.
Think of placements like career training sessions. You wouldn’t commit to a new technique or strategy without trying it out first. The same applies to work. A short placement lets you step inside a role and see what it’s like day to day. You get a feel for the people, the pace and the environment without locking yourself into a long-term commitment. That removes a lot of pressure and makes the whole process feel less risky.
A lot of the athletes we interviewed said work experience was the turning point for them. Trying different roles, without the fear of making a permanent decision, helped them narrow down what suited them. Some realised jobs they’d always imagined doing weren’t right once they saw the reality. Others discovered completely new interests they hadn’t considered before. The trial-and-error stage isn’t failure, it’s information. Every experience gives you a clearer picture of where you want to head.
Placements also help rebuild confidence. Leaving sport can knock your sense of identity more than people expect. Spending time in a workplace reminds you that the skills you built as an athlete still matter. Discipline, teamwork, handling pressure, turning up consistently employers value these. Many athletes told us that once they stepped into a work environment, they realised they weren’t starting from scratch. They were transferring strengths, not abandoning them.
Another big theme we heard was the importance of talking to people. Advice from contacts made a huge difference. Former teammates, coaches, sponsors and friends often opened doors or short placements. Athletes who reached out said those conversations helped them avoid guesswork. Sometimes a 20-minute chat with someone in an industry tells you more than months of overthinking. Your network is one of your biggest assets, use it.
Instead of one massive decision, you’re running small experiments. Even a placement that confirms “this isn’t for me” is a win, because it saves you time and points you closer to something that is.
If you’re unsure what comes next, give yourself time to explore. Treat this stage like a training block: try things, review what you learn, adjust and go again. The athletes who transitioned best weren’t the ones with a flawless roadmap. They were the ones willing to stay curious and keep moving.
Your sporting career taught you how to adapt, learn and push through uncertainty. Those same qualities will carry you into your next chapter – one placement at a time.