Create a portfolio of work...
Getting a job in sport is very difficult and having a degree is simply no longer enough. In this short article I go into a bit more detail as to what I mean when I talk about 'creating a portfolio of work'
Having content that you can share online (and get noticed) and also include as part of a job application can be a great way to put you ahead of others. If you are passionate about something, a lot of times creating your portfolio should be fun and can actually lead you down certain career paths.
I've seen numerous people go from sharing work on Twitter to full time employment. This works, that is a fact and so if you are serious about getting a job in sports analysis you should be creating your own portfolio.
To start with I will say that you don't have to go full on 'creator' mode and start sharing things daily. The main idea would be to construct a nice collection of work pieces that can be shared but also included in job applications. If things are shared online, you are more likely to get noticed and then subsequently recognised when you do apply for a job.
Ok so when it comes to building your portfolio there are a few things to think about. I am going to cover 4 steps in that process.
Choose a topic
Right, if you are going to be putting work in, in your own time, you will want to choose a topic that you enjoy. You may be able to get inspiration from others but I definitely wouldn't just copy other people.
Have a think and see if there is anything you are interested in that currently isn't being done. How about focussing on your favourite team. There are a few twitter accounts like this and you can see whoever runs them is passionate about the team in general which will lead to better work being produced.
I'd say trying to niche down would be a good idea. You may start broader and niching may take more time (when you get used to what you enjoy the most) but something different would help you to stand out. Maybe even something that real world clubs would benefit from.
You may focus just on goalkeepers for example, or spend time analysing a certain playing position (left backs, centre forwards etc.) or even something like 'all south americans playing in England'. You get the picture. Try to be original, don't just copy others, and do something that you will enjoy.
Before we move on, I would suggest you put time aside to check out the video below which is a chat I had with Liam Henshaw . Liam is a perfect example of getting a job in football on the back of creating and sharing work online. Well done to Liam for doing that and you can learn about getting started from him too...
Start Simple
Ok, so once you have decided what you will be doing, it's time to pull the trigger. When you start, you may be overwhelmed by other people putting out high quality stuff, making yours look more basic. So what.
The guys that put the good stuff out started in your position too. Start simple and you can build up your skillset over time. Also, everything doesn't have to be centred around data and visualisations. You can share video you have edited, or match reports etc.
The more you do, the better you will become. Also, it may take time for you to change your niche and learn more about the things you are passionate about and want to cover.
Twitter & LinkedIn
Not much explanation needed. Make sure you have an up to date LinkedIn profile. Put your work on there, connect with others, network, ask questions.
As for twitter, consider creating a separate account just for your professional activities. Keep this new account for your portfolio and get mingled into the communities
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Mix it Up & Get Creative
This point refers to the type of content that you put out. Although you may have selected a niche topic, that doesn't mean you have to stick to a single medium to share your work. For example, you could produce a mixture of the following:
Also, when you start, don't think that it's impossible because 'you don't have access to expensive software'. That is a load of rubbish. You don't need software to watch a game and write a report. You can simply start with screenshotting parts of the video to show team shape etc.
Use your imagination. Also, get in touch and I can sort out a personal In-Play Online subscription to allow you to tag and annotate games using any device.
Don't be shy...
As I touched on above, your initial work will likely not stand out as a pure masterpiece. And don't think you have to wait until it is before you share it to others. By sharing, you will be able to gain feedback to improve.
You can also comment on other peoples work too.
This could be to ask a question on how they've done something, or ask their opinion on a thought you had. As you do this, people will likely begin to do the same for your work which will help to both improve it, and also allow it to be seen by more people.
Networking is so underrated in the sports industry. Most jobs come down to relationships that you either have with someone already at a club, or that person knowing a rference that you include on your CV. It definitely can be 'who you know, not what you know'. If that is the case, get to know more people and make an impression on them!
Share your Work!
If done correctly, over time you will build up a collection of work that can be shared in various places. You may have you shorter form and quicker topics shared on Twitter (this will help build an audience) and then you can also share these same items on LinkedIn.
However, on LinkedIn you can attach certain pieces to your profile which I think is a good idea to do. If you are then networking with others and they click on your profile, they will likely see your better items that you have saved on there.
Also, you can include a link to a collection of your work on your CV or job application. This could be link to a personal website, a Dropbox or Google Drive folder, or even your professional Twitter account.
Ok, that's it for this one. I also did a video on this very topic which you can check out below.
Thanks again for reading and watching and if you are interested in getting a job in sport and also hearing from industry professionals, I highly recommend you subscribe to my YouTube channel. I put out a new video every single week, and it's free, why wouldn't you.
Have a great day!