Preparing for your career
In 1999 the University of Georgia and GCSAA conducted a survey of golf course superintendents to determine the criteria used to evaluate candidates for an assistant superintendent position.
One set of key survey results came when superintendents were asked to check the five most important hiring criteria used to evaluate a candidate applying for an assistant superintendent's position.
Keith Karnok, Ph.D., University of Georgia professor says, "We wanted to conduct the survey because as an advisor, my students are always asking, 'Where should I be putting my emphasis while I'm in school? What are the most important things I should be doing to prepare myself and make myself marketable after graduation?'" GCSAA member superintendents (Class A and SM) completed the survey in August 1999.
| Key Survey Results |
| Hiring criteria for assistants |
| Criterion |
Percent |
| Work experience |
98.6 |
| Education |
91.1 |
| Communication skills |
87.2 |
| Appearance |
73.1 |
| References |
72.1 |
| Possession of a pesticide license |
33.9 |
| Ability to play golf |
26.2 |
| Grade point average |
5.4 |
| Extracurricular activities |
5.4 |
| Honors and recognitions |
3.0 |
Read more about this survey and its implications in the April 2000 Golf Course Management article, "Finding the right assistant."
We've made the entire survey available in a portable document format (PDF). In order to view and print PDF files you need to have Adobe's Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.
The results of this survey can be useful to turf students preparing for careers as golf course superintendents. Additional career assistance for students is available through GCSAA via résumé critiquing and writing services. To help prepare you for your next meeting with a potential employer, see interview tips (M).
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