25 sports industry networking and career growth tips

As many of you know, I serve as an adjunct professor for Canisius College (soon to be University), where I teach an online course about the business of professional sports. Every semester, I dedicate one week toward industry immersion and two weeks toward career research, positioning and networking.

Not unlike any other niche industry, working in sports is unique and challenging - and can be very difficult to get a foot in the door. My hope is that anything I share helps students avoid many of the mistakes I made earlier in my career, and provides information to help support more opportunities within the industry.

Full disclosure, this is a repurposed and modified version of something I wrote a few years ago, but given that many recent graduates are aiming to work and/or grow in the sports industry, I wanted to share this information in case it can help recent graduates or those looking to make a career change. Hopefully, this information helps:

25 TIPS FOR SPORTS CAREER GROWTH AND NETWORKING

1.?Reputation matters!?Your personal social media is a major part of that reputation, whether you like it or not.?Think carefully about what you share - but also about how these platforms can be used as an asset to help you interact with the right people to build your network and help you land the job you want.

2. The sports industry is incredibly small.?Everybody knows everybody, so reputation and proper networking are the best ways to find success. It’s cliche, but the unfortunate truth of this industry (and many others) is very much about “who you know," rather than "what you know."

3.?Sports industry professionals congregate on Twitter and LinkedIn. Follow the hasthags #smsports and #sportsbiz and find ways to respectfully interact with the community in order to become a familiar face in the landscape. Praise work that resonates with you. Ask thoughtful, researched questions about why someone and their team approached a campaign a specific way. The sports industry community is friendly, helpful and welcoming (and sometimes boastful) but you have to contribute to the community to be part of it. Be thoughtful and authentic in your interactions – quality over quantity. By being somewhat active and professional in this space, it will help you make connections but also stand out when you apply for jobs. When I see a slightly familiar name or face on a job application, it gets noted.

4. Bring value to online (or in-person!) conversations. Provide insight that cannot be found with a simple google search. Think critically about what you contribute and don’t be scared to ask questions. On twitter and LinkedIn, look for insights and opportunities for discourse in the replies.

5. Plug into the industry! Follow websites like Sportico, Front Office Sports, Morning Consult, Forbes, Sports Business Journal, etc. It is so important to follow the business side of the industry and can accelerate your understanding and growth.?Pay?close attention?to what sports teams and brands are doing on social and their website. It might present an opportunity for you to find a role with that team.?

6. Networking is an opportunity to build meaningful relationships. This is about quality, not quantity. It's not about amassing the largest network possible and "knowing" everybody - your goal should be to connect with people who are open and willing and also have time to guide you through this very unique landscape. Don't get discouraged if you don't get a response, people have their boundaries which are valid and fair. It never hurts to ask, but always respect and appreciate the response - even a lack of a response.

7.?Contact industry executives that inspire you – but let them know why you are reaching out and be prepared to ask insightful, well-researched questions about their role, background and approach. Ask them what they are proud of. Ask them what they wished the did differently at your age or at the early stages of their career.?Please don’t immediately ask for a job, or if the company is hiring. Transactional relationships and authentic networking do not mix. Don’t ask if there are openings.?That is information that is super easy to find on your own on TeamWork Online or LinkedIn. Don’t ask if they will have future openings, they don’t know. Your job is to plant the seed of a relationship and continue nurturing that relationship it in a meaningful way.

8.?Don't just focus on networking with senior executives. Young professionals who have a few years of experience can offer you great advice and may have insights that may be more relevant at this stage in your career. Everyone has a different path and they all have advice to offer.

9.?Take networking seriously, but don't overdo it. You want to show others that you can be a reliable and insightful professional that is easy to work with. That means you should not reach out to 10 people at the same organization or send identical texts / e-mails / DMs to multiple individuals.

10.?Lean on your alumni database. If someone works in a job you find interesting – talk to them about it. Most want to help fellow alumni succeed, so there can be fewer barriers. If someone agrees to speak with you, research their background, ask thoughtful questions and if the mood is right - ask if there is anyone else that they would recommend contacting for a similar discussion.

11.?Reach out at the right time! For example, not during a game or on the first day of free agency. There are few "slow times" in sports, but anyone with an understanding of the industry should be able to identify a less busy period. Be thoughtful about your approach always.

12. ?I know this is a repeat - networking is always about quality over quantity. Build real relationships. Network with a plan in mind, not by casting a large net and hoping for the best. People talk to each other and you can hurt your reputation if you are overly aggressive.

13.?Give and expect nothing in return. As you build meaningful relationships with your network, find out if you can help them. This perspective holds true elsewhere in life too - help others because it is the right thing to do, not because you need something in return.

14. Be a sponge! Learn from everyone you meet. This is SO important early in your career. It's not just about technical skills - soft skills are just as important. Being a strong, kind communicator and solutions-based will get you far.

15.?Start looking at job postings for your goal positions way before your graduate. Not for the purpose of applying for that job, but for getting a better understanding of the expectations associated with the position and the skills you should focus on learning. No job description is fully accurate, and it is ok to get intimidated by the responsibilities - often times an organization will search for a unicorn before getting a better understanding of the landscape. That's on them, not you - believe in yourself - if you are putting in the effort - you belong.

16.?Need experience? Contact your college athletics department. You may be able to gain practical experience and begin building relationships and the staff often has connections to others in the industry. It does not matter if the school is D1, D3 or NAIA. Experience matters. Many hiring managers do not care where or if you went to college - they look at experience first.

17.?Diversify your internship experience! I made this mistake in college. It's always better to figure out what you like/don't like at the start of your career. If you stick with the same job or internship every summer, you won't grow and learn at the same rate - or meet new people. This is an opportunity to let your work and effort on a job build your network. Hard work and a good attitude always speaks for itself.

18.?If you plan on using Teamwork Online to apply for jobs,?make sure your profile is optimized and you use a current resume in PDF format.?Make sure you have multiple versions of your resume (fancy, simple, etc.) and be ready to make changes based on the nature of job. If you are a creative (graphic designer, video producer, etc.) - make sure your portfolio is easy to find online. Sports brands often get hundreds of resumes and if it takes more than five minutes to find your portfolio, there's a good chance your resume will be passed over.

19.?The NHL, MLB and NFL have positions called RTCs or LSCs that capture social content on behalf of the league and each team playing. There are tons of minor league baseball and soccer teams that may want or need extra help somewhere. Keep an eye on Teamwork Online for these postings, but also don't hesitate to reach out to someone at the business. This is a great way to gain valuable experience while connecting with every team in the respective league.

20.?If there is a volunteer or part-time opportunity that can give you additional relevant experience - pursue it if you are able to handle it from a financial and time standpoint. If you can provide value, do not de-value yourself. Experience is important, but so is your time. Think carefully about each opportunity that comes your way.

21.?When it comes to identifying ways to gain experience,?think outside the box. If you can provide a valuable contribution, take the risk of reaching out and offering your services. There might be a local college baseball league that needs an extra set of hands on their Instagram account during the summer. It never hurts to explore and ask, even if the answer is no.

22.?The sports industry is broad - and new opportunities and positions are created often. It's not just about working for pro teams or Division I athletic departments. Working on the agency side, or with a publisher - or even with a consumer goods company that markets through sports can be a way you can build a career that intersects with something you are passionate about.

23.?You probably won’t land your dream job out of college. You will have to start in the basement and work your way up. Learn as much as you can along the way.

24. On that same note, be open to starting your career in an adjacent industry.?You can work your way toward the job you want while building important skills like advertising, communications, data science, etc. Build important skills and your network at the same time. If you immerse yourself in the sports industry, you can find connections based on your experience.

25.?Just because you are not able to get a call back from an employer out of the gate, it does not mean you'll never get your foot in the door. Social media often makes us feel like everyone else is ahead in the game, but it is not real. It takes everyone years to learn and grow and find the right position or a company that provides the right fit. Along the way, build relationships and skills - no matter where you are. Don't be in a rush to get to the finish line, enjoy the journey.