Every year, thousands of students across the country search for sports internships to break into the sports business industry. In this ultra-competitive field, it’s becoming increasingly necessary to gain as much as experience as possible and meet influential people in just a few few short months of the summer.

Students need to maximize their time in order to truly get a comprehensive and worth-while experience. However, many students lack the skill and resources to truly make the most of their internship and fail to translate their experiences to a full-time job.

A New Model of Sports Internships

A new program called the Manhattan Sports Business Academy, aims to change traditional sports internships. Founded by Leverage Agency CEO, Ben Sturner, MSBA has launched to prepare students for the sports industry in an eight-week immersion in a sports business leadership program catered to give college students a jump start into the sports business world through internship, mentorship, and networking in the mecca of sports, New York City.

MSBA is not your average sports internship program as you can see below from their mission statement:

“It is our goal to broaden the traditional internship into a 360-degree experience that helps college students prepare for their future career in the business of sports. At MSBA, we strive to increase the value of internships by incorporating additional academic, interactive, and entertainment components; we do this through group outings, networking events, a weekly speaker series, and providing one-on-one mentorships with established and successful industry executives”.

An Intern’s Perspective

I had the great pleasure of interning for Ben Sturner this past summer at Leverage Agency in New York City. I can say that my experience interning for Leverage was one of the best professional experiences I’ve had in my young career. He really understands how difficult it is for students to enter into the sports industry and does everything he can to make sure the intern gets the most out of the experience.

Everyday I learned something new from Ben and my mentor within the company, Chris Farrell. I was given unparalleled opportunities to interact with very influential people, attend prestigious events and gain hands-on experience that will no doubt be beneficial to me in my future career. I would without a doubt recommend anyone who is serious about becoming a force in the sports industry to apply for the Manhattan Sports Business Academy.

Launch Your Career In The Sports Industry

The Manhattan Sports Business Academy, a leadership and mentoring program, was launched to give undergraduate and graduate students the skills and resources to launch a career in the highly competitive sports business world.

MSBA is an eight-week program that includes internship placement, career development workshops, weekly guest speakers, one-on-one mentoring with established sports industry professionals, weekend group outings, and an optional fitness and training component.

Participants in this program will have the opportunity to intern with teams, leagues, agencies, and events in the area of focus that interests them such as marketing & sponsorships, event management, public relations, and athlete representation.

A total of 45 notable industry executives have been confirmed for the weekly speaker series. Some of the confirmed speakers are Darren Rovell (Sports Business Reporter for CNBC), Doug Smoyer (VP of Business Development at NY Giants), Lou Koskovolis (SVP of Corporate Sales and Sponsorship at the MLB), Dan Singer (Managing Director at McKinsey & Company), and Ross Greenburg (Former President of HBO Sports).
The following is an article in SportsPro Magazine where Ben Sturner, founder of MSBA, speaks about the program: http://www.sportspromedia.com/quick_fire_questions/ben_sturner_an_education_in_sports/

How To Apply

MSBA serves as a valuable experience for young professionals looking to jumpstart their career in sports and get the job they have always dreamed of. MSBA is a competitive program and is only accepting 25 people for its inaugural year. Click here to apply for the 1st MSBA Summer Program. Applications are due January 31st, 2012.

Do you know of any other sports internships that are helping students enter the industry? Let us know if you are planning on applying for the MSBA by leaving a comment below and make sure to send a shout out to Ben on Twitter to show him your passion for the sports industry!

About Holly Koski

Holly Koski is a recent grad from Indiana University majoring in Sports Marketing & Management. As the Sports Networker Marketing Intern, she is responsible for managing the Sports Networker Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages while promoting Sports Networker content through various online and email marketing strategies.

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Trying to land a job – any job – can be a challenging experience. And when it comes to the sports industry, that challenge can easily turn into frustration.

I get a lot of emails that express that frustration such as, “I feel like I can’t break into sports because there’s nowhere to go!” Or, “I feel like my biggest challenge is getting my foot in the door.” Or, “I’ve had two internships with two different professional sports teams and I still can’t find a paying sports job. I must be doing something wrong!”

If you can relate, and I think most of us can, I’ve outlined 5 ways to help you deal with your frustration.

1. Understand you’re not alone. You can find solace knowing everyone else pursuing a sports career is having difficulty just like you are.

2. Change your routine. Many times we get into a rut based on our daily routine. Making a simple change like getting up an hour early in order to work on your career goal will help ease the pain and bring clarity. Small adjustments can make a big difference when it comes to your career.

3. Make to-do lists. You know there are certain things you need to do in order to land a job in sports. Things such as conducting informational interviews, tightening up your resume, learning how to answer tough questions, etc. But for whatever reason, you’re not doing them. One of the easiest and effective ways to get things done is to write down exactly what you need to do. Put it in your calendar. And like Nike says, “Just do it.”

4. Create a small group. There’s a good chance you know other people who are trying to find a job either in sports or another industry. When you find these people, it’s a good idea to meet with each other, even just one person who, on a weekly basis. Use each other as a sounding board to test some ideas. A small group presents a great opportunity to let off some steam, gain confidence and find encouragement from one another.

5. Keep your eye on the prize. And don’t give up! The number one reason people fail to land jobs in sports is not because there aren’t enough jobs. They fail because they let the frustration get the best of them and they simply quit. Don’t let that happen to you! It’s your choice. Create a vision of the outcome you desire in your head and use it as fuel to keep going.

I hope these quick tips help you. Let me know if there’s anything specific you find challenging. I’d love to help any way I can.

About Chris McKinney

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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I’ve decided to take a detour from writing about current issues and events surrounding sports public relations to provide some simple tips to young people entering the business.

I recently read a query from a college-age man who is set to graduate this spring. He asked for advice from the panel about how to get a job in sports the sports industry. I asked myself, “What took you so long to ask?”

My post today is an effort to help people who are preparing for this stage of education not have to ask that question. You’re read it right – as a second-semester senior in college, you will hopefully not have to ask how to break into your field of choice because you’ll have already done your research, laid a foundation for your own brand and even completed an internship or two. In essence, you must create your own public relations campaign and pitch yourself.

At most universities, students are required to select a major after their sophomore years if not sooner. Of course, there are always going to be those who have realized that they selected wrong and opt for different courses of study and that’s fine. But for those who know what they want to be when they grow up or as they prepare to declare a major, identifying practical work opportunities should be just as important as the classes they choose. When it comes to finding a job in an ever-competitive job market, let alone one that is as narrow as sports, the key ingredient employers look for, is experience.

As a student, you might say, “I’m in class and have to study…when would I have time to work?” I promise you that if you can snag a spot as a student-assistant or intern in a sports information or marketing office, write for your school newspaper or find another opportunity that offers even the most menial job in your field of choice, the experience you gain will far outweigh the extra night out with your friends. There are also semester and summer breaks that allow for time to work in real-world situations that will help you look that much more attractive to potential employers after you have your diploma in-hand. It’s all a part of building your own brand.

Last year a local student contacted me with the same question as the person mentioned above. She was a couple of months shy of college graduation and wanted to find a job in sports. I asked her what internships she’d completed to date, and she said she hadn’t done any. She said she’d worked as a bartender, but hadn’t pursued any professional experience during that time. What I heard was, “I wasn’t ambitious but now I’m graduating and guess I have to find a job.”

Keep in mind that as you gather professional experience, you might have to work for peanuts…even nothing for some projects. It’s worth it. While your friends start below the first rung of a ladder in their first year or two out of college because they didn’t see future passion in their professions, you can emerge from your classes with the a resume that could land you a respected spot in an organization and not only earn a living, but make a difference and great impression.

Tips to land that perfect internship are much like those that seasoned veterans use to find a new job: network (in person and online), volunteer, and try to pick as many professional brains as you can. Share your story; show potential employers that you’re trustworthy, eager to learn and willing to pitch in. These are all elements of your own PR campaign.

In an effort to stand out from the crowd, always write thank you notes after someone has given you their time whether it’s five minutes or two hours. You’d be amazed at how many people don’t even consider this step.

For more information about internships and opportunities for you to grow the buds of your career, consult professional organization directories and newsletters. You can follow a targeted group on Twitter, create a professional profile and answer question on LinkedIn and make sure lots of people know how to contact you. That perfect first job could be yours.

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About Gail Sideman

Twenty years of public relations experience, including 10 in NCAA Division I sports information during which she received national awards for her work, have helped Gail Sideman emerge as a nationally-respected publicity professional in sports, social media and publishing. She is also a veteran support staffer of sports television crews for events that include the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA regular and postseason and others. You may learn more information about Sideman's business at www.publiside.com or follow her at www.twitter.com/PUBLISIDE and www.facebook.com/gail.sideman.

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(This is a guest article by Mark Washo)

I host a weekly online Sports Management chat as an Adjunct Professor for Sports Management Worldwide where I’m able to invite guest speakers from within the sports industry to participate. Over the past few months the students have learned from executives at many top teams, companies and agencies.

I also have been on the sports conference circuit in the past year, participating in numerous sports business panels. Whether I am sitting on a panel or facilitating chats, I hear the same reoccurring advice about how to break into the sports industry. Here are some tips from recent calls to help give sports job seekers a head start.

1.  Network, network, network- build your pro sports Rolodex

• One of the most important things you can do when trying to break into sports, is to build your Rolodex of professional sports contacts.  Learfield’s Mary Lee Gilliland comments “Job seekers should seek out events and opportunities to meet as many sports executives and people working in the industry as they can. The first place sports executives look when they have open positions, is within their own network.  I receive dozens of e-mails a year from my friends in the business asking me if I know of candidates that would be qualified for their open positions.”

2.  Ask for informational interviews

• Another great way to build your Rolodex of contacts is to ask for informational interviews.  Chris Canetti COO of the Houston Dynamo states, I am surprised to learn many people are intimidated to approach sports executives.”  Meanwhile, I can tell you that I rarely get approached for informational interviews and would be more than happy to grant them.” Do not be afraid to ask for an informational interview.

3.  Attend sports marketing conferences, seminars and job fairs

• More and more companies, resources and websites such as SportsNetworker.com now exist to aid you in your job seeking efforts.  Chris Keeney of Lone Start Sports encourages students to attend as many industry events as possible, “a proven way to build your sports contact Rolodex is to attend sports marketing conferences, seminars and job fairs.

4.  Intern or volunteer

• Every sports executive I talk to mentions the fact that they have volunteer opportunities at their team. Beth Cunningham of Northwestern University and Brian Flenner of Ohio State both indicate they need help both days of game as well as in the office during the week. “If you volunteer and do a great job, you will further your efforts towards breaking into the industry”, encourages Beth Cunningham.

5.  Resumes and cover letters need to be as professional as possible

• Drew Young from the Philadelphia Eagles has reviewed hundreds of sports job seeker resumes warns, “If your resume is not professionally done, highlighting your strengths and background you will get passed over.”  Also if there are typos, miss-spelling or poor grammar, this also can dismiss you as a viable candidate.”  Therefore, make sure you have at lest two or three other people review your resume.

6.  Prepare for interviews (job interviews and informational interviews)

• Interview preparation includes researching the executives you will be interviewing with, familiarizing yourself with the teams ticketing and marketing programs, and the overall team itself.  Ralph Rosello reminds job seekers “you should prepare educated questions, since every interviewer will give you an opportunity to ask questions.”

7.  Utilize Social Media tools to build industry knowledge and relationships

• “There is a wealth of knowledge out there on social media networks and communities just waiting to be tapped” says John Guppy from Gilt Edge Soccer Marketing, a sports social media expert. “Social media has also broken down many of the barriers to starting, developing, and maintaining relationships. While I don’t recommend harassing sports executives on Twitter, if used correctly, tools such as this do represent a way for a job seeker to raise their profile in the eyes of an individual and begin to establish a connection.”

8.  Stay persistent a “no for now” is not a no forever

• Matt Difebo from the newly formed Difebo Company tells job seekers, “Breaking into Sports is NOT an easy task.  However, once you get in the sky is the limit.  I have seen too many potential sports job seekers get discouraged and give up; only to miss opportunities that would have come their way.”  If you follow all the tips presented in this article, and stay persistent, over time you will land a position with a professional sports team.

9.  If at first you cannot get it, consider gaining sales experience

• The final piece of advice for you to consider is that if for some reason you cannot land a position in sports, the next best experience you can gain outside the industry is sales or revenue generating experience.  In all sports businesses revenue generation is king.  Therefore if you can learn how to generate revenue, no matter what profession or industry, you will be valuable to the sports industry.

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Mark Washo is an 18 year professional sports executive and author of Break Into Sports Through Ticket Sales. He is the current President of the Washington Freedom. Mark has experience in Minor League Baseball, the NBA, MLS and now Women’s Professional Soccer.  Please visit www.breakintosports.biz to learn more.

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About Lewis Howes

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