If you’re smart—and I know you are—you’re going to set sports career goals for 2012. But before you do, read this first:
The key to achieving your sports career goals is to know exactly where you want to go and how you plan to get there.
Generic goals such as, “I want to work in sports” is too broad. It doesn’t mean anything. Even when you narrow your goal to something more specific such as, “My goal is to work in sports marketing” — that’s still too vague.
The two most crucial areas of concentration for achieving sports career goals are the “Where” and the “How.” Where do you want to go? How do you plan to get there? Below are two ways that will help you answer those questions. [click to continue…]
Chris McKinney is the president of SPORTS LAUNCH™, a career services firm dedicated to helping college students and career-changers launch sports careers. Chris' new book, How to Land Your First Job in Sports: 7 Simple Steps can be found on www.SportsLaunch.net.
Here at Sports Networker, we are constantly striving to bring you the best advice from successful sports business professionals on how to get a job in sports.
In this interview, Darren shares his best tips on how to get a job in sports and advance your sports career. Here are a few of the key takeaways:
Follow your passion and be willing to work for free
It’s not who you know, it’s how good you are!
Put it in a box (make sure to watch the video to understand what this means)
How To Get A Job In Sports With CNBC’s Darren Rovell
What do you think of Darren’s advice? Leave your comments below and if you found this interview helpful, send a tweet to @DarrenRovell and @LewisHowes to let them know!
6 Inside Ticket Sales Managers walk into an Arena…
Ok, it sounds like the great start to a joke, but in essence this piece is more about how those managers got into their coveted sports jobs.
I often get asked how I got my foot in the door in professional sports and the answer is usually a bit longer than expected. Like many of those whom I’ve crossed paths with, the opportunity that helped launch my sports career was being a part of an Inside Sales Department with the Chicago White Sox. If you are looking for a book on the topic, check out Mark Washo’s Break Into Sports (or find him on Twitter @BreakintoSports). I’ve recommended this book to college grads looking to get into sports for a while.
As so many sports executives get their start in ticket sales, I figured I’d round up a few Inside Sales Managers around professional sports jobs and knock out a few simple questions to learn more about this revenue generating niche. The group has over thirty plus years of combined experience in professional sports and includes; Cody Haynes (Houston Rockets, NBA), Eric McKenzie (Cleveland Indians, MLB), Jude LaRose (Chicago Fire, MLS), Derek Iversen (Colorado Avalanche, NHL & Denver Nuggets, NBA), Travis Apple (Pittsburgh Pirates, MLB) and Jake Reynolds (Washington Capitals, NHL & Washington Wizards, NBA). [click to continue…]
Tyler Johnson is an innovative thinker inspired by the likes of Bill Veeck, Jon Spoelstra, Pat Williams & Brooks Boyer. Currently working for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment as a Group Sales Account Executive for the Denver Nuggets. Prior he worked as the New Business Development Executive with the Chicago White Sox. Tyler has also worked directly with the inventor and creator of Arena football and also for Mike Ditka’s former Chicago AFL franchise. As a former collegiate athlete and business sensed individual Tyler ventured to combine his passions to get into the business side of sports.
Are you seeking a career in the sports industry or are you already steeped in it? No matter where you find yourself, I have highlighted seven helpful ways to use resourcefulness so you can gain an advantage in the sports field.
1. Preparation Is Everything. It’s always a good idea, whether in your career or in life, to be proactive instead of reactive. The more resources you have prepared ahead of time, the better equipped you’ll be when life gives you a present; expected or unexpected. If you’re seeking a sports career, be proactive by making sure your resume, cover letter, and reference list are polished and ready to go.
If you want to take your current sports career to the next level, prepare by taking relevant classes or workshops to increase your industry knowledge – your professional accomplishments will shine bright. Remember, prevention is better than cure. “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Seneca [click to continue…]
Michelle Hill, the Strong Copy Quarterback for Winning Proof, is a sports and fitness copywriter. My mission is to help pro athletes, coaches, and sports agents increase their success score in their entrepreneurial endeavors with my writing expertise and creative turn of mind.I write website content, client letters, media pitch letters, sponsorship proposals, and brochures for sports-related companies. www.winningproof.com
Schuyler has a wealth of innovative knowledge in the sport industry, in addition to being an amazing, strategic, out of the box thinker. His ability to think ‘big picture’ helps him land the big deals with major companies around the globe as well as driving huge success for his clients.
KRISTEN SONSMA: What would you say is the main vision behind your role as the Director of Revenue Development for the Los Angeles Dodgers?
SCHUYLER HOVERSTEN: The vision is to be cross-departmental and look at revenue opportunities that exist among all of our business units – Sponsorship, Premium Sales, Ticketing, Stadium events and rentals, Concessions and Merchandise. It’s a more efficient approach to driving our revenue in that I’m looking out for all opportunities rather than just focusing on one specific department.
KRISTEN SONSMA: We share a bit of history that includes working with the Colorado Crush, in AFL alongside John Elway and Michael Young. As Vice President of Business Development of that organization, what were some of your key takeaways from that opportunity?
SCHUYLER HOVERSTEN: Primary take away from that role is – work for good people that trust you to do what’s best for the organization. Michael and John empowered me with so much autonomy to really just go out and make things happen, that trust is something that made the role and every day with the team truly rewarding. Secondly, the Crush/AFL provided great challenges, namely having to deal with public misperceptions about the sport, and strategizing on how to get people to come to games. It really helped me immerse my mind in the worlds of ticketing, marketing, and game day entertainment as they were all so integral to our success. [click to continue…]
Kristen Sonsma has spent most of her sports career in ticket sales with experience in the AFL, MLS, and NHL. Connect with her on LinkedIn or on Twitter
I don’t know about you, but taking tests in school wasn’t one of my favorite college pastimes. However, tests are important because they let you know where you are in terms of your mastery of the subject you’re studying. Plus, some tests can also help you make educated decisions.
If you’re considering a career in the sports business industry, but aren’t 100% sure it’s the right field for you, I recommend you take this simple “True or False” test. This test is far from scientific, but it will help you determine if a career in sports is something you should pursue. [click to continue…]
Chris McKinney is the president of SPORTS LAUNCH™, a career services firm dedicated to helping college students and career-changers launch sports careers. Chris' new book, How to Land Your First Job in Sports: 7 Simple Steps can be found on www.SportsLaunch.net.
According to the Legal Community Against Violence, “the United States experiences epidemic levels of gun violence, claiming over 30,000 lives annually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
Firearm homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans ages 1-44.
African Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, but in 2007 suffered over 26% of all firearm deaths – and over 55% of all firearm homicides. In 2011, those statistics have not improved. [click to continue…]
Michelle Hill, the Strong Copy Quarterback for Winning Proof, is a sports and fitness copywriter. My mission is to help pro athletes, coaches, and sports agents increase their success score in their entrepreneurial endeavors with my writing expertise and creative turn of mind.I write website content, client letters, media pitch letters, sponsorship proposals, and brochures for sports-related companies. www.winningproof.com
Before we jump into the three ways industry experience can help launch your sports career, it’s a good idea to first understand why employers want you to have industry experience.
Employers don’t want to spend the time, the money, or the energy to train you for certain aspects of the job. Some things just need to be learned in a real-world environment, not on the employer’s dime.
Employers also recognize that if you’ve been able to gain experience through an internship, or a part-time job, or even volunteering, this shows solid evidence that you’re willing to take action, a critical trait that employers love.
Your experience shows proof to employers that you’re a go-getter and that you’re truly passionate about your sports career. Employers also understand human nature: If you’re action-oriented before you have the job, the odds of you becoming an action-taking employee are very good.
The reverse is also true. If you can’t demonstrate on your resume that you’re action-oriented, then employers will perceive you as unmotivated, or just not that serious about your sports career.
Below are three ways sports industry experience can help launch your sports career: [click to continue…]
Chris McKinney is the president of SPORTS LAUNCH™, a career services firm dedicated to helping college students and career-changers launch sports careers. Chris' new book, How to Land Your First Job in Sports: 7 Simple Steps can be found on www.SportsLaunch.net.
If you want to discover the black hole of job-searching, the place where resumes and cover letters vanish, and the place I call a “dead-end street” for aspiring sports executives, look no further than the HR department.
I’ve heard too many sad stories where students or career-changers blindly send hundreds of resumes and cover letters addressed, “To Whom It May Concern” within the HR department, only to find out later that no one’s concerned.
The reason the HR department is the worst place to go when you’re looking for a job in sports is because HR doesn’t make decisions on who gets hired and who doesn’t. It’s a complete waste of your time — and theirs — to mail out expensive paper that ultimately ends up in File 13 (i.e. the trash can). [click to continue…]
Chris McKinney is the president of SPORTS LAUNCH™, a career services firm dedicated to helping college students and career-changers launch sports careers. Chris' new book, How to Land Your First Job in Sports: 7 Simple Steps can be found on www.SportsLaunch.net.
If you’re pursuing a job in sports, one of the most frustrating things you will hear from employers—that is, if you’re not prepared—are those two dreaded words: “Experience Required.”
I always thought, “How in the world can I get experience, when the only employers hiring are those that require experience?”
It never made sense to me. That is, until I started hiring college students and young professionals for my other business, an event marketing company (www.bangadvertising.com). With my company’s reputation on the line, we have to weed through hundreds of job candidates to find the right fit for my clients.
Whether we’re organizing an NCAA Final Four promotion for Staples, or a simple grand opening event for Wells Fargo, I have to make sure the people we hire will represent my clients (and my company) at the highest level. [click to continue…]
Chris McKinney is the president of SPORTS LAUNCH™, a career services firm dedicated to helping college students and career-changers launch sports careers. Chris' new book, How to Land Your First Job in Sports: 7 Simple Steps can be found on www.SportsLaunch.net.
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If you’re smart—and I know you are—you’re going to set sports career goals for 2012. But before you do, read this first:
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