Sports therapists’ perceptions and experiences of graduate employment

Background/Aims Graduate employability is complex and has moved beyond the notion of subject-specific skills being sufficient for acquiring a graduate level job, to now include important transferable skills. Sports therapy rapidly expanding profession focusing on assessment, treatment rehabilitation musculoskeletal conditions. These facets encompass components critical thinking, problem solving, interpersonal communication, thus courses can set graduates up careers within or outside industry. The three aims this study were survey BSc (Hons) Therapy determine their current employment status job role, explore graduates’ experience undergraduate programme investigate perceptions how well had prepared them subsequent employment. Methods sports from two British universities surveyed regarding degree was distributed approximately 150 response rate 23% (35 graduates). Descriptive statistics used describe responses multiple-choice questions thematic analysis performed free-text responses. Results Overall, 43% respondents employed as therapists needed get jobs. A total 71% felt that equipped fully partly Free-text generated themes relating specific skills, availability work-based learning opportunities. Managing student expectations, continued exposure range career opportunities available developing students ‘soft’ transferrable personal characteristics, help with employability. Conclusions Courses should be sensitive demands changing landscape and, such, encourage student-centred approach support placement