"Working in Sports – 5 Tips How To Be Successful Year 1"

A year ago I wrote about some of the truths and realities that come along with working in the sports industry. A year later, many of those truths remain the same but our industry is ever changing and continually bringing new challenges to the forefront of our jobs. Surviving the first year can be the hardest part about making it in the sports world. Misconceptions run rampant and expectations are often not met by the individuals who landed their “dream job.” The people who understand what the next year will actually entail will thrive while others will flunk out quickly.

Undoubtedly you had been told by your parents that you needed to have a job when you graduated because why else did you invest $200K for your education? I am here to tell you that if you haven’t landed the position you WANT, it is OK to wait to ensure you get the job that will help lead you down the right path rather than the job that leads to instant regret. Trust your gut, be patient and go with your instincts to launch your career.

When you finally do land that sports job here are some pointers to get you through Year 1:

The Good Ol’ Days –Andy Bernard said it best in the last episode of The Office “The weird thing is now I'm exactly where I want to be. I've got my dream job at Cornell, and I'm still just thinking about my old pals. I wish there was a way to know you're in "the good ol’ days", before you've actually left them.”

You may not realize it and on the surface it might feel far from it, but you are about to enter the ‘The Good Ol’ Days”. Everyone has a story of where they started in sports and if you asked most of the top executives, they would tell you their favorite memories come from early in their career. Much more responsibility and stress await so enjoy it while you can. I still remember it like it was yesterday when I had to jump in the Mascot suit in 95 degree weather in beautiful downtown Albany…But I was the best damn Mascot I could be.

This is the time to make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and grow your future career. Get to know your executives, co-workers, and other departments so you can learn from EVERYONE. If you aspire one day to run the team, you better have an understanding of how each department operates.

I promise you that one day you will look back and miss the long hours, jumping in the mascot suit, and after game drinks. It may seem like a long way from the corner office while standing at the ticket table on the concourse (missing the game), rolling the tarp, or lugging 100’s of Bobblehead boxes but this is where you pay your dues. Make sure to stop and appreciate that you are one of the lucky few who made it into this industry. Also…don’t take it for granted because there are lots of people out there who will be quick to inform you “I’d do your job for free.”

That leads to …. Money $ – This is always easier said than done but DO NOT chase the money or worry about your salary right now. No one makes a lot of money in this industry, or pretty much any industry, right out of school. What’s more important right now is the job you land sets you up for the next adventure and it’s actually a job that you enjoy. Start laying the foundation on your resume for when you are ready for the next step up from entry level. If it’s a PR path you want, don’t flood your resume with 3 years of sales experience.

You also likely had to move somewhere in the country to land the sports job so get ready to have about 5 roommates to make ends meet. You’ll be amazed at how resourceful you can be while finding ways to survive on such little income.

You also should be focusing on your job right now and not Friday night, leaving less time to spend money you don’t have. You aren’t in college anymore and those who put in the work will move up quicker. One thing people forget, while this is sports, it is still a job with billions of dollars in play. With that said, PLEASE make sure you find a balance because you don’t want to burn yourself out. You work a lot of hours in this industry so reward yourself with some downtime and vacation, even if it’s just going home for a quick refresh.

The good news is, everyone in your office is probably in the same situation leading to a great support system. Your co-workers will become your family, friends, and colleagues you rely on now and likely in the future.

And the money will come….eventually. People who are fortunate enough to work in a field they are passionate about typically are more successful leading to bigger rewards monetarily and overall happiness. My first paycheck with the NY Giants was for $525 after 2 weeks. I thought I was rich… and I was because I was I loved my job.

Fantasy Sports vs Reality – One of the harsh realities newcomers to our industry first deal with is they are not the general manager, scout, or head coach of the team. You find yourself in a cube, if you’re lucky, making 100+ phone calls a day, praying someone wants season tickets or a mini plan. If you so happen to be lucky enough to speak with 1 person that day, you consider it a success. Your story that you’ve undoubtedly told everyone in your interview process along the way that “you have a passion for sports” quickly comes head on with the reality that you aren’t actually playing the sport or picking the team, but trying to make ends meet by slinging tickets or making hundreds of copies of game notes.

Good news for you is… we ALL started there. Well most of us, but trust me when I tell you, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Most of your peers won’t make it to year 2 as they have a hard time accepting the reality vs the fantasy that was in their minds when applying to work for the Chicago Cubs. They hear their friends are working 40 hours a week, no weekends or holidays and making more $ so they bail; and that’s OK. Better to learn early on and set down the right path.

Some words of advice though…do your job; whether it be in operations, ticket sales, public relations, etc. and do it well. One of the benefits of sports is when your cube mate flunks out, it opens the door for you to advance quicker because you’re starting to prove you are willing to do what it takes to succeed in this business. It is one of the easier businesses to get ahead earlier in your career due to the sheer number of people who can’t hack it. Once you get 3-5 years under your belt, we all start to believe and know you understand the sacrifices and lifestyle that comes along with territory. I’d rather hire you for the open role and promotion then the person with more years of experience from a different industry. Take advantage of that fact.

Name on the Front vs the Back – Trust me when I tell you that no one besides your Mother and you care if you work for the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Rangers, or Denver Broncos. The better opportunity may actually lie with the Toledo Mud Hens or Hartford Yard Goats. Every one of your friends has their own problems and don’t have time to be impressed by who you are employed by. Plus you will be working so many hours and weekends you won’t have time to see them to impress anyone other than your boss.

While you may think it sounds better to say you work for “X” team, the only thing that truly matters is that you love your job and it’s setting you up for future success. Taking a job with an organization solely based on stature, especially at an entry level, isn’t always the best move. The opportunity and likelihood to move up to the “top organizations” is much less because 1) they don’t need you as much and 2) the top people don’t leave, which means ultimately you are going to have to leave anyway. Go prove yourself by selling hockey tickets in the desert and then land the big job at Fenway.

While the name on the front of your organization will change, yours will stay the same. Own that. Make sure you get involved in the community. Give back. Remember one day as you advance your career that you were in this position once. Take time to speak with the interns and provide them advice and guidance as well as college kids who reach out to you. It goes a long way. We all needed help at one point and someone probably helped you along the way. Send the elevator back down.

This is also my annual disclaimer to never dismiss the Minor Leagues. Still in my opinion the best place to hone your skills, learn all aspects of the business, and have a voice within the organization.

Take a Chance and Have Fun – If you start trying to predict the future or lay out how the next 5 years will go, don’t waste your time creating additional stress. This industry along with the world changes so quickly that you need to be ready, agile and adapt when needed.

Teams you work for will move, be sold, or even fold. Technology in sports is evolving with VR, E-Games, and new streaming platforms that didn’t exist 2 months ago. You’ll get job offers in other cities and sometimes other countries. Do not be afraid to make that move for a better opportunity; especially when you likely have less family responsibilities. One of the unfortunate parts of the sports industry is lack of opportunity city by city. You have to move. We all did it at some point. It’s rare to be with 1 organization for life.

But here is the great news …You are working in sports. You are about to experience some of the coolest moments of your life. Make sure to occasionally relish that your “office” is an arena or stadium. Your business card and email signature says you’re a co-worker of Mike Trout, Tom Brady, or LeBron James. Whatever happens from here on out… you made it to the show.

So smile. Relax. Have FUN! What’s the point if you aren’t actually enjoying this? Sure isn’t for the paycheck at this point.

And oh ya… "Welcome to the Good ‘Ol Days!"