Examining the University Sports Club Myth: Propensity Score Analysis on Obtaining a Job Offer for University Sports Club Students

Abstract

  The purpose of this paper is to examine the “Sports Club Myth” that sports club members hold an advantage in obtaining employment and in the workplace. It is thought that the following things are acquired by sports club members through their club activities: (1) they have experience devoting themselves to something in which they can talk about in job interviews; (2) they have the basic skills that are necessary for success in a company; and (3) they are able to adjust to working life more quickly after joining a company. Despite this, however, findings by the university sports association (UNIVAS), which has offered career support for sports club members since its establishment in 2019 indicates that those involved at UNIVAS are not optimistic about career support for these students.

  Therefore, using a nationwide university survey, this research will focus on whether or not sports club members hold an advantage in getting job offers over non- sports-club. Our research will calculate the Propensity Scores of sports and non-sports club students and will match those with similar Propensity Scores. The Average Treatment effect on the Treated was the measure used on the question, “Would the student who belongs to a sports club have been able to obtain a job offer if he or she did not belong to the club?” Our findings suggest that students participating in sports clubs were about 20 points more likely to obtain job offers than non-sports students.