Name: Grace Bugg
Current Therapy position (club): Lead Sports Therapist at Rugby Borough Women’s FC
Previous roles post-graduation: Visiting Lecturer at Birmingham City University (Current), Team GB Under 18’s Women’s Basketball, Professional Football Association, The Therapy Venue Clinic, Broadstreet RFC, Kirby Muxloe FC
Questions
- While you were undertaking your degree, what was your ambition and ideal job/role at that time?
While undertaking my degree, my ambition was to work directly within sport, ideally in a hands-on clinical role where I could support athletes with injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance. My interest was strongly drawn to team sport environments, particularly football, where I could be embedded within a squad rather than working purely in a clinic setting.
My ideal first role was as a sports therapist within a semi-professional or academy team. I envisioned:
- Regular pitch-side exposure
- Responsibility for injury assessment and basic rehabilitation
- Mentorship from a more experienced clinician
- A clear pathway to progression within sport
I expected this role to allow me to consolidate the practical skills learned during my degree while gradually building confidence, autonomy, and professional identity.
Some aspects of my expectations matched reality, particularly the hands-on nature of the role and the need to apply clinical reasoning in fast-paced environments. However, the reality of the role differed in several ways:
- Showers are often your workspace!
- Many early opportunities were voluntary or poorly paid, requiring significant time commitment
- The role demanded strong communication, organisation, and adaptability, which were less emphasised during my degree
I also underestimated the emotional and physical demands of working in sport, including managing athlete expectations, limited resources, and pressure from coaches and competition schedules.
Since graduating, my goals have evolved significantly. While I remain motivated by applied sport, I now place greater value on:
- Long-term athlete development and injury prevention, rather than reactive treatment alone
- Professional boundaries, sustainability, and job security
- Developing expertise through education, teaching, and structured programmes, alongside clinical practice
My ambition has shifted from simply “working in sport” to becoming a well-rounded practitioner who integrates clinical knowledge, evidence-based practice, and education. I now prioritise roles that allow for impact, growth, and sustainability.
- How did you start looking for work after graduating?
After graduating, I was very fortunate to have been given an opportunity to work at the club I carried out my placement before I began to investigate jobs, knowing that I wanted to complete a Master’s degree. The employer knew that I wanted to do this so had already tailored a part-time role for me to be able to be committed to both working at the club and carrying out a post-graduate degree.
Networking played a significant role in securing opportunities. Contacts made during placements, university clinics, and practical modules became particularly valuable. Informal conversations with lecturers, clinical supervisors, and peers often led to recommendations or introductions that would not have been accessible through formal applications alone.
As my confidence grew, I became more proactive in attending CPD events, workshops, and matches, using these environments to build relationships with coaches and other practitioners. This helped me understand the realities of working in sport and increased my visibility within the field.
What ultimately helped me get my foot in the door was a willingness to:
- Start in voluntary or assistant roles to gain experience
- Be reliable, adaptable, and consistent in high-pressure environments
- Demonstrate practical competence, professionalism, and good communication skills
I found that showing commitment over time — turning up consistently, supporting athletes effectively, and integrating well with the wider support team — often led to increased responsibility and further opportunities. These early experiences were crucial in building confidence, professional identity, and employability within sports therapy.
- What did you do alongside your degree (or after graduating) that helped make you more employable?
Alongside my degree and after graduating, I actively sought opportunities to develop my practical experience, professional skills, and employability, recognising that academic knowledge alone would not be sufficient to work effectively in sport.
Placements formed a key part of my development, allowing me to apply theory in real-world settings. In addition to compulsory placements, I volunteered within sports teams and clinical environments, often in assistant or support roles. These experiences exposed me to:
- Injury assessment and basic rehabilitation
- Pitch-side first aid and acute injury management
- Communication with athletes, coaches, and support staff
Volunteering helped me build confidence, understand the demands of applied sport, and demonstrate commitment to the profession, which later supported paid opportunities.
To further improve my employability, I completed a Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning whilst working part-time in my current job role. Additionally, I engaged in CPD and short courses alongside and after my degree. These included:
- Pitch-side trauma and emergency care – ITMMiF
- Taping and strapping techniques
- A variety of conferences
Engaging in CPD helped me bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application, while also demonstrating professional responsibility and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Beyond formal education, I developed a range of transferable skills that proved essential in practice, including:
- Communication skills, particularly explaining injuries and rehabilitation plans to athletes
- Time management and organisation, balancing placements, study, and work
- Adaptability and problem-solving in unpredictable sporting environments
- Professionalism, confidence, and self-reflection
These experiences allowed me to graduate with a stronger professional identity, practical competence, and an understanding of the expectations of working in sport, all of which significantly enhanced my employability.
- How did you find out about the therapy role you were eventually successful in?
I found out about the therapy role I was eventually successful in through an informal opportunity rather than a traditional job advertisement. While I initially monitored advertised roles, I quickly learned that many positions within sport, particularly at entry or development level, are filled through networks, recommendations, and demonstrated reliability rather than open recruitment processes.
Although I regularly checked job boards and professional organisation websites, the role itself was not formally advertised. Instead, it became available due to a gap within a team’s support structure, which highlighted how opportunities in sport often arise organically rather than through planned recruitment.
This reinforced the importance of being present within sporting environments rather than relying solely on advertised vacancies.
Recommendations played a key role in securing the position. Contacts developed through placements, volunteering, and previous support roles meant that coaches and senior staff were already familiar with my work ethic, professionalism, and communication style. This existing trust significantly reduced the barrier to entry and allowed me to be considered for the role without a formal application process.
Being known as reliable, approachable, and consistent helped position me as a suitable candidate when the opportunity arose.
A major factor in securing the role was being proactive rather than reactive. This included:
- Regularly offering support beyond my assigned responsibilities
- Expressing interest in increased involvement when appropriate
- Being flexible with availability and willing to adapt to the needs of the team
By consistently demonstrating commitment and competence, I effectively created an opportunity rather than waiting for one to appear. This experience highlighted that employability in sport is often shaped by visibility, relationships, and initiative, rather than formal recruitment alone.
- When applying for roles, how did you go about tailoring your CV?
When applying for roles, I learned quickly that a generic CV was ineffective, particularly within sport. As a result, I made a conscious effort to tailor my CV to each role and setting, focusing on relevance rather than simply listing qualifications or job titles.
Changing how I described my experience
Rather than listing roles chronologically with minimal detail, I adapted how I described my experience to reflect the specific demands of the role. For example, I emphasised:
- Pitch-side responsibilities when applying for team sport roles
- Rehabilitation planning and clinical reasoning for clinic-based positions
- Communication and collaboration when roles involved working closely with coaches or multidisciplinary teams
This approach allowed me to demonstrate how my experience aligned with the role, rather than expecting the employer to make that connection themselves.
I shifted the focus of my CV from job titles to transferable and applied skills. Even where roles were voluntary or assistant positions, I highlighted competencies such as:
- Injury assessment and management
- Exercise prescription and progression
- Communication with athletes and staff
- Organisation, reliability, and adaptability
This helped ensure that my CV reflected what I could do in practice, rather than the perceived seniority of previous roles.
To make my CV more relevant, I tailored content to the specific sport or environment. For team sport roles, I referenced experience within training and match-day settings, an understanding of seasonal demands, and the ability to work under time pressure. For clinical roles, I highlighted patient management, documentation, and evidence-based practice.
I also adjusted language and terminology to mirror that used within the sport or organisation, which helped demonstrate awareness of the environment and professionalism.
Overall, tailoring my CV improved the quality of my applications and helped me present a clearer professional identity that matched the expectations of the role.
- Did you think about the organisation’s values or culture when applying, and how did this affect your application?
Yes, I consciously considered an organisation’s values and culture when applying for roles, as I became increasingly aware that clinical competence alone is not enough to be effective or satisfied within a sporting environment.
Before applying, I researched the club or organisation to understand its ethos, structure, and priorities. This included reviewing:
- The club’s website and social media presence
- Public statements around athlete welfare, development, and performance
- The level of professionalism within the organisation (e.g. facilities, staffing, and communication)
This research helped me determine whether the environment aligned with my own values, particularly around athlete-centred care, injury prevention, and long-term development.
I adapted the language and tone of my application to reflect the organisation’s culture. For example:
- Using more professional and clinical language for structured, clinic-based environments
- Adopting a collaborative and practical tone for team sport roles
- Referencing terminology commonly used within the sport or organisation
This helped demonstrate awareness of the setting and showed that I had taken the time to understand how the organisation operates.
To show that I would fit into the environment, I highlighted experiences and behaviours that aligned with the organisation’s values, such as:
- Working collaboratively within multidisciplinary or coaching teams
- Prioritising athlete welfare and clear communication
- Being reliable, adaptable, and open to feedback
Considering organisational culture ultimately influenced not only how I applied, but also which roles I chose to pursue, helping me seek environments that supported both professional development and sustainability.
- How did you prepare for interviews, and what do you now think mattered most?
When preparing for interviews, I initially focused heavily on technical knowledge, ensuring I could confidently discuss anatomy, common injuries, assessment techniques, and rehabilitation principles. I revised key content from my degree and reviewed typical sport-specific injury scenarios, believing that demonstrating clinical knowledge would be the primary determinant of success.
Technical knowledge vs real-life scenarios
While technical knowledge was important, I now recognise that interviewers were more interested in how I would apply that knowledge in real-life situations. Questions often focused on practical decision-making, communication with athletes and coaches, and managing uncertainty under pressure. Being able to explain why I would take a particular approach — and how I would adapt it to the environment — mattered more than recalling detailed theory.
This reinforced the importance of clinical reasoning, prioritisation, and realism, rather than textbook-perfect answers.
Confidence and communication played a significant role in interview performance. Over time, I learned that clear, calm explanations and professional self-presentation often left a stronger impression than highly technical responses. Interviewers appeared to value practitioners who could:
- Communicate effectively with non-clinical staff
- Remain composed when challenged
- Acknowledge limitations while showing willingness to learn
Professionalism — including punctuality, preparation, and appropriate language — also contributed to demonstrating readiness for applied practice.
Understanding the specific demands of the role and environment proved to be one of the most important factors. Interviews often explored availability, workload, match-day responsibilities, and integration within a wider support team. Demonstrating awareness of these demands, and showing that I had realistically considered them, helped convey commitment and suitability for the role.
Looking back, while technical competence was essential, what mattered most was showing that I could function effectively within the environment, communicate well, and adapt to the realities of applied sport.
- Thinking back to your level 5 and knowing what you know now, was there anything you would have done differently; are there things you could have done that you now know would have helped you when you eventually graduated?
Looking back to my Level 5 year, and with the benefit of hindsight, there are several things I would have approached differently to better prepare myself for employment after graduating.
I would have placed greater emphasis on developing communication and professional skills, particularly in explaining clinical decisions, managing athlete expectations, and working within multidisciplinary teams. These skills became far more important in practice than I anticipated during Level 5.
Additionally, I would have sought more mentorship and feedback from clinicians and lecturers earlier, using their experience to better understand realistic career pathways, working conditions, and expectations within sport.
Despite this, there were aspects of my approach during Level 5 that significantly helped me secure employment. Engaging fully with placements, maintaining a professional attitude, and being reliable and open to learning helped build a positive reputation. These behaviours often led to recommendations and informal opportunities, which later proved more valuable than formal applications alone.
I also benefited from taking responsibility for my own development, including attending CPD, reflecting on my practice, and gradually building confidence in applied settings. These actions helped me graduate with a clearer professional identity and greater readiness for the demands of the role.
Overall, while I would have acted earlier and more strategically, the habits of reliability, reflection, and continuous development developed during Level 5 played a key role in securing employment after graduation.
- Now that you’re working in a therapy role, what would you encourage final-year students to really focus on in their applications for the roles they aspire to?
Now that I am working in a therapy role, I would encourage final-year students to focus less on grades alone and more on demonstrating applied competence, professionalism, and self-awareness within their applications.
Employers place high value on relevant applied experience, even if it is voluntary or assistant based. Experience within real sporting or clinical environments demonstrates:
- An understanding of injury management in context
- Exposure to time pressures, unpredictability, and limited resources
- The ability to work alongside coaches, athletes, and other practitioners
Students should clearly articulate what they have done and what they have learned from these experiences, rather than simply listing placements or roles.
From experience, employers consistently value:
- Reliability and consistency
- Willingness to learn and accept feedback
- Professional communication and appropriate boundaries
- Adaptability and calmness under pressure
These behaviours often matter more than advanced technical knowledge, particularly in early-career roles. Showing self-awareness and honesty about limitations, alongside enthusiasm for development, is viewed positively.
What helps applicants stand out is the ability to reflect meaningfully on their experiences. This includes:
- Demonstrating clinical reasoning rather than memorised knowledge
- Showing awareness of the demands of the role and environment
- Evidencing commitment through CPD, volunteering, or sustained involvement in sport
Applications that clearly show why the applicant wants that specific role, how they would fit into the environment, and how they intend to develop professionally are far more compelling than those focused solely on academic achievement.
My first role snowballed the rest, It was at Braintree Town FC, playing in the national league south. A very good friend of mine was playing for their rivals, Chelmsford at the time in the same league, and knew the newly appointed assistant manager at Braintree. He gave me his number and I sent him a whatsapp. We spoke, I talked about my experience with my placement hours, my interests, why I thought I would be a good match and what I would bring to the management team and he took me on. Albeit very lucky I got the role this way, I was doing all the right things alongside this. Indeed and other job sites, Linkedin, Social media, it just so happened that it was a lucky contact that worked out in the end.