Landing your first job in sports is a huge challenge. The demand for sports jobs is incredibly high. The opportunities are limited. And the competition is fierce.
There’s no such thing as “secret strategy” or a “magic bullet.” And there are no shortcuts. But there is an answer…
According to SportsBusiness Journal there are 24,000 college students majoring in Sport Management today looking to break into sports.
Not to mention the thousands of Business majors, Journalism, PR, Marketing, Advertising, Communications and Finance majors that share the same dream. It seems like everyone wants to work in sports, including experienced executives currently in other industries.
Without question sports is one of the toughest industries to break into. So, if you really want a career in sports, you need to understand there’s no such thing as “secret strategy” or a “magic bullet.” And there are no shortcuts. But there is an answer…
You Need a Game Plan
If you truly want to break into the business, you’re going to need a game plan. Start by asking yourself these ten questions:
- Which companies do I really want to work for?
- What area of the company could I bring the most value?
- Who are the executives that hire for those positions?
- How do I get relevant experience?
- How do I get my foot on the door?
- How do I stand out and position myself as the best candidate?
- How do I network effectively?
- How do I write a cover letter and resume that gets me the interview?
- How do I prepare for the interview?
- And most importantly: How do I knock it out of the park?
You Control Your Own Destiny
The only person responsible for your sports career is you. Not your friends. Not your parents. Not even your professors. It’s you. You control your own destiny.
There are two types of people breaking into sports today:
- Those who hustle
- Those with relatives in the business
Do yourself a favor. Take a look at your last name and figure out which one you are. Most of us have to hustle.
You don’t accidentally land a job with the New York Giants. You don’t accidently end up working for The Worldwide Leader in Sports. And you don’t accidentally fall into a career with Adidas.
The truth is, breaking into sports happens on purpose.
Take Action!
If you’re feeling frustrated because you don’t know where to begin, you’re not alone! Getting started is one of the biggest hurdles.
The way you get over that hurdle is by taking action. Taking action is the key to a successful career launch.
Anyone can say they’re passionate about sports. But not everyone can turn that passion into a profession. (With the exception of you, of course.)
To make that happen, you’ve got to be aggressive, or you will lose. President Lincoln said it best, “Good things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”
It’s time to hustle.
ACTION ITEMS:
- Get a spiral notebook and write, “GAME PLAN” on the cover using a big marker
- On the first page, write: “My #1 Career Goal is to Land a Job in Sports”
- On the next 10 pages, write each of those TEN QUESTIONS at the top and answer them
These action items will establish a solid starting point for your sports career-launching plan.
In the coming weeks we will discuss various career strategies and tactics that will help you answer those 10 important questions.
Always remember: I’m in your corner! Feel free to reach out to me via email and I’ll help you any way I can.
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