Top Menu

The Best Route to Getting a Job in Sports

This is a guest post by Dave Fogelson

Job in SportsIn all likelihood, people aspiring to “work in sports” are over-looking the sporting goods industry, particularly the retail end of the business, as the starting point for a career path. Retail is where people seeking entry-level jobs can find the most opportunities to apply their sports interest and knowledge and acquire invaluable, real world experience.

Landing a job in sports with an Adidas, Nike, Under Armour or Reebok can be as challenging (and frustrating) as finding a position with an amateur or professional sports organization; however, the need for retail sales floor help is ongoing.

The $52 billion sporting goods industry is home to some of the most recognizable and iconic consumer brands and biggest names in retailing. National chains like Dick’s and Sports Authority, regional stores such as Modell’s and Hibbett, specialty retailers in the team sports, golf, running and outdoor segments and many other brick and mortar and on-line outlets need people who either have or can acquire product knowledge and possess a commitment to customer service.

The Least Glamorous Job in Sports is Still Relevant

The retail environment isn’t glamorous and can be down-right difficult. Working retail requires scheduling flexibility and a willingness to pitch-in whenever and wherever situations demand. The compensation is modest.

The challenges you’re likely to encounter every day at retail are best surmounted by taking a broader view and looking at the time and energy you’re spending on the sales floor as a means to a greater end.

Every organization in every industry needs people who can sell. Sporting goods retail associates play an influential role in the space known as “the last three feet of the sale.” In the majority of instances, the investments brands make in product development and marketing are all for naught absent the sales associate creating connections for the product and brand with consumers. Building these connections is the stuff with which attention-getting resumes are built.

Over time, what can this lead to? Possibly moving into a corporate position with the retailer as a buyer, merchandiser or in marketing. If retailing isn’t for you in the long run, brands across the spectrum of sports, fitness and recreational product development and marketing are in need of experienced people who know how their stuff actually gets sold to consumers.

And if your ultimate goal remains to one day work for the Yankees, all of this tangible experience is relevant for any job in sports.

 

Dave Fogelson is the former head of public relations for adidas USA and Reebok.  He also held PR positions with Miller Brewing, Pan-american Sports Network, Sharp Electronics and Octagon.  For the past 2-1/2 years, he’s held a retail sales position in athletic footwear and golf for a major sporting goods retail chain.

Looking to land a job in sports? Make sure to download our free Sports Job Guide! If you have any comments, leave them below and please feel free to share this article with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.


Latest Posts by Lewis Howes

The type guide of the Modern Language Association is often used in forms compiled by academics and professionals inside liberal arts areas or the humanities. MLA – style now is easier and more to-the-level than different types of quotation; it functions not long in- text details and an alphabetical report on solutions linked in the…

Edit Article Howto Be Considered A Salesman that is Wonderful Sales can be an art. Component aggressive, element inactive, if you balance the marketing and charm of a great salesman, you’ll be able to market ketchup popsicles to some girl in bright gloves to the 4th of September (although something marginally more practical is recommended).

Long skirts are advanced wonderful and ideal for preserving you cool through the hot summer temperatures. It’s outdated significant therefore it doesnt appear strict although, to mix them with all the right-top or plain boring. becauseclothing.com Watch all 9 photos highessay.com arbitrarilyvoguish.blogspot.com Take a look at which type of top matches which prolonged dress!

You realize anything about is a destination for a begin, check that highessay.com in case you want to write and sell Ebooks online, picking a subject. Some Guide writers are Professionals around the subject they write about, some are with the niche at minimum just acquainted. If you should be merely acquainted with a subject,…

Guest article by Oscar Ugaz. His view that an important part of the future will be in the hands of mathematicians and statisticians. And the reaction it received from more traditionally placed ‘experts’. Connect with Oscar on Linkedin and follow on Twitter. A few weeks ago, I was invited to participate in a round table…

 The Best In #Sportsbiz This Week is a collection of articles curated by Sports Networker’s Online Marketing Intern – Holly Koski Sports Business Eagles’ Michael Vick launches sports clothing line Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is launching a sports clothing line called V7 that will be sold exclusively at East Coast sporting goods chain Modell’s. The…

Sponsored Post by Brian Collin The NFL has decided to release its All-22 film to the general public for the 2012 season. An invaluable tool for football coaches, the All-22 film does exactly what its name implies – allow viewers to see all 22 players on every play. The tape, which has been dubbed as the…

Guest post submitted by Lucas Biebelberg Today, one of the greatest sports agents in history, Leigh Steinberg, was incredibly gracious in allowing me to interview him for Sports Networker. Leigh is the founder and CEO of Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, and has represented athletes such as Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Bruce Smith, Ben Roethlisberger,…

The Best In #Sportsbiz This Week is a collection of articles curated by Sports Networker’s Online Marketing Intern – Holly Koski Sports Business Nike and O2 launch sports loyalty scheme Nike has formed a first of its kind partnership with O2 to provide the operators’ customers with exclusive content and offers under the “Priority” loyalty banner….

A Guest Post by Steve Hamilton Many people believe that success in sports is driven solely by talent and training, but that’s not always true. There’s another “t” word that often plays an important role: technology. The recent controversy about the role that advanced swimming suit fabrics played in Michael Phelps’ impressive Olympic wins is…

, , , ,

One Response to The Best Route to Getting a Job in Sports

  1. spam blocking December 9, 2011 at 7:59 am #

    This is something new to me.. Another aspect that was greatly emphasized throughout the entire conference was that sports are becoming an increasingly global enterprise.

Leave a Reply