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Professional Development & Sports Career Management

More than 45 million people find themselves unemployed each year. Millions of others try to increase their satisfaction within the workplace as well as advance their careers by looking for alternative jobs and opportunities. Statistics show that you will make more than 10 job changes and between three and five career changes during your lifetime.

Many people transition into a sports career by accident. They do little career planning, other than take advantage of opportunities that arise unexpectedly. While chance and luck do play important roles in finding employment, when you plan for future sports career changes, you will experience even greater degrees of chance and luck! [click to continue…]

About Mark Tudi

Mark Tudi is the Founder of SPORTSEARCH, with its primary business activities completely focused on Human Capital Change Management for leading Organizations in over 75 Sports, Recreation and Live-Event Industry marketplace segments. Founded in 1988, SPORTSEARCH specializes in sourcing the critical layer of Executive Management, customized recruiting assignments, “Professional Door-Opening”, and leadership development. For over 30 years, Mark has established a high-profile track record in sports career development, with over 25,000 personal interviews and 850+ successful retained search assignments. He has represented the career interests and managed opportunities for many of the leading executives, personalities and organizations in Sports. His Client list includes members of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers’ Association (SGMA), the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), over 250 Professional Teams, Leagues and Sports Marketing Organizations, as well as several leading Corporate Sports Empires. In 1988, Mark created SPORTS CAREERS, the Industry’s original and most comprehensive Employment Resource Program, designed to help individuals build and manage a career path in Sports. During the 1990’s, he successfully financed the business through the ownership group of the Phoenix Suns, led by Jerry Colangelo, which was later sold to the Franklin Covey Corporation and established as a job board on CBS Sportsline.com. Since then, Mark re-acquired SPORTS CAREERS and has served over 250,000 members, 5,000 active Employers and over 15,000 filled positions at all levels through multiple strategic assets at WWW.SPORTSEARCHONLINE.COM. In addition, Mark founded the Sports & Entertainment Human Resource Forum (SEHRF) to build professional recognition and a unified Industry community for today’s Human Resource Managers, Hiring Authorities and Employers. Most recently, he resurrected the SPORTS CAREERS Conference, the Sports Industry’s first and largest meeting of its kind, where people managers and the career-oriented connect. Mark started his career in sports at the age of 23 by starting his own sporting goods sales agency and then helped build the annual sales volume to over $100 million for two of the nation’s leading Manufacturer’s Rep firms. A graduate of Bowling Green State University majoring in Journalism and Business Administration, Mark has written over 300 articles and made over 300 radio, television and speaking appearances. He is a Visiting Professor of Practice and Student Mentor for the Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University Sports Business Programs. Mark has been an active Member of the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission for the past 20 years, serving as the Chairman of the Board, Executive Director and currently on the Board of Directors for a 6th term. Most recently, Mark was appointed to the Advisory Board of The Perfect Game Foundation, a Non-Profit Organization dedicated to the funding of scholarships for Candidates focused on a Career in Baseball. He is also on the Board of Directors and a Chartered Founding Member of the International Retained Search Associates (IRSA). Some of Mark’s personal accomplishments include a 35+ year marriage with three children, successful rehabilitation from a fractured neck, coaching a three-time Arizona State champion youth soccer team, and is a founding Board Member and original Executive Director of the National Pain Foundation. Mark was also a highly ranked and decorated amateur wrestler…back in the day.

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by Lewis Howes- The Sports Networker

“There are over 380,000 student athletes, and most of us go pro in something other than sports.” This tagline was created by the NCAA nearly two years and it emphasizes how difficult it is in getting paid to play sports. Finding a job in the sports industry may not be as difficult as becoming a professional athlete, but it is still competitive.

There are some simple ways to improve your chances to finding any job you desire. Whether you are a student looking for a college internship, you are a recent graduate starting out, or you are a seasoned professional changing jobs, these simple steps will enhance your odds at becoming a pro, in sports.

1. Research Your Audience- If you are attending a career fair, a networking event, or an interview, get to know the people and companies you will meet before you meet them. Who are you speaking to? What is their current and past work experience? What type of candidates do they look for? Find any information through current connections, or by researching company websites or social networking sites to give you helpful information.

2. Dress the Part- Take pride in the way you look. There is no need to try and go over the top, but first impressions are everything and you want to make sure you are dressed to impress. Look like you are a champion and you will set yourself up for success.

3. Listen- An important aspect of successful networking is showing others you have a genuine interest in who they are and what they do. If you talk about yourself the entire time without letting others speak, you will come across as self-centered. Listen to what other say, then talk about what they said the next time you meet and they will appreciate that you listened and remembered.

4. 10 Second Rule- Traditional networking suggests we have 30 seconds to leave a lasting impression during any introduction. I like to think we only have 10 seconds when competing for a job in the sports industry. Try to state four things in these first 10 seconds: 1. your name, 2. your school/company, 3. your unique talent/skill set, and 4. what goal/job you want to have. Be crisp and to the point to show others you know exactly what you want.

5. Ask Compelling Questions- What do you do? Where did you go to school? Where are you from? These are the same boring questions that we all hear. Instead of blending in with the crowd, stand out by asking a compelling question to a potential contact or employer: What led you to become so passionate in this industry? What has been your most difficult challenge to overcome, and how did you overcome it? What is the defining moment that brought you to this point in your career?

6. Stay in Touch- Make it easy for people to contact you:

Update your current information on your business card.
Leave a signature at the end of every email with the best number to reach you.
When you leave a voice message for someone, first state your name and your phone number, followed by when and where you met.

7. Follow Through- For an athlete, it is hard to complete a pass, throw a strike, shoot a 3-pointer, or hit a hole-in-one without the follow through. This is also true in networking. Once you make a connection or find an interesting lead, always follow through with an e-mail, a phone call, or both. This will keep you on the fore front of their minds if an opportunity arises.

Did I miss any important networking principles? Feel free to post your thoughts in the comment section below. Subscribe to the RSS feed to receive updates from this blog and add your your e-mail to receive the monthly SportsNetworker Newsletter.