Organisations going for the gold? : an exploratory case study on the images of organisations concerning top-class sportsmen

Top-class sportsmen are likely to experience difficulties in finding a job during and after their top-class sports career (NOC*NSF, 2008; Randstad, 2008; Randstad, 2010). Based on the knowledge that images determine behaviour (Smelik, 1999), images of organisations concerning top-class sportsmen were expected to be the cause of this situation. Information on these images is limited and further research was needed to investigate the expected link. Semi-structured interviews with seventeen respondents from different types of organisations showed that top-class sportsmen were characterised as being extrovert, entrepreneurial and dominant. Respondents came up with functional and social motives for employing top-class sportsmen. Respondents stated that adaptations to recruitment procedures and functions are needed in employing top-class sportsmen. The research showed that the images of organisations concerning top-class sportsmen are not linked to the to the behaviour of employing top-class sportsmen. Particularly organisations that are focusing on sport and/or health are employing top-class sportsmen. Other organisations do not take the possibility into account. To facilitate the employment of top-class sportsmen, organisations were recommended to create plans of action to be able to respond to the job application of top-class sportsmen. In turn, top-class sportsmen were recommended to make their knowledge and abilities more transparent by using the STAR methodology or Accredit Prior Learning [APL]. By encouraging organisations to employ top-class sportsmen, economic participation of top-class sportsmen will progressively improve.