What are the hottest employment prospects in sports? These days, its the sports-related companies making news. Everyday, something new and exciting is breaking in the sports business world: new product launches, new companies, new divisions, new corporate sponsorships, new vice presidents, new arenas, new channels, new programming, new sporting events – you name it – sports entities of all sizes and from every sector are making big, bold announcements every single day.

Who They Are & How You Find Them

So, how do you find them? It’s simple. The hottest employment prospects in sports can be found in the SportsBusiness Journal, Advertising Age, Brandweek, Adweek, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek and USA Today, to name just a few.

This is what I call the hidden job market in sports. It’s a virtual goldmine for anyone looking to launch a sports career. Or even a small business.

Years ago, as the proud owner of a one-man sports marketing firm in my early-20s, I utilized those same publications for client leads all the time. That’s how I launched and built my sports business and my sports career.

It’s also how you can launch and build your own sports career. Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites can be terrific resources as well.

Crucial Contact Info Right at Your Fingertips

One of the most valuable pieces of information you can get is a person’s name and title. Do you know how hard it is to get a “marketing person” on the phone at Frito-Lay’s corporate office? If you don’t have a name and title, it’s nearly impossible. I know, because I’ve tried.

However, by using the same tactic I’m sharing with you here, I was finally able get through to Frito-Lay’s marketing department. Plus, I learned about their new product launch. And who they were targeting. And who was in charge.

Armed with this info I was able to position myself as a highly-attractive marketing partner. Frito-Lay became my client. Because of the timing of the new product launch, I could have landed a job with Frito-Lay instead of landing them as a client.

Learn to Read With Your Hands

Next time you’re reading your favorite business magazine or trade journal, grab a pen and start circling every company name that pops up. Between press releases and reporters doing their job, all the heavy lifting is done.
All you have to do is circle names and figure out how you can bring value to their new event, or new stadium, or new product. In most cases you’ll even find a blurb about what their goals are, which will help you better understand how you fit in and can make a difference.

Plan of Attack:
Make a list of all the companies that are doing things that excite you the most. These are your hottest employment prospects. The key is to include every single name you read in the article, including the strategic partners mentioned. The idea is to create a profile for each prospect. (In future posts we will cover how to contact these companies in a way that will make them want to hire you.)

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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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This week Matt Crevin from Voice of the Box interviews writer Kevin Lynch. Kevin has been covering the NFL for 21 years and explains his role as well as the keys to staying current in the ever changing world of sports journalism.

About Matt Crevin

If you are passionate about pursuing a career in the sports industry and want to discover how top level insiders got their start, connect with Matt today. Matt provides a unique look into the careers of many sports industry executives, revealing their success stories, advice and techniques you can put to use as part of your search strategy. Collaborate with Matt and start listening, learning, creating and executing your own action plan! Equipped with business background and sports insider’s knowledge, Matt is ready to share his passion and knowledge with you! He delivers to his individual clients a unique process and format which gives sports industry hopefuls a unique look into the numerous career opportunities available in the sports industry and more importantly how to position yourself to break in.

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