Getting a job in sports?

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  • Based Doc
    Rookie
    • Aug 2011
    • 51

    #1

    Getting a job in sports?

    I'm about to graduate from college in a few weeks and I've started my job search. I'll be getting a psychology degree which is fairly useless I know. I do however have strong statistical training, good writing skills, and good experience working with others.

    I'm applying for psychology-related jobs (mostly at universities) but I've been trying to figure out if I can somehow break into the sports world. I feel like everything is against me here as I was only an athlete for two years in HS and in a non-traditional sport (cross country and track). I've looked up jobs but it all seems so damn confusing.

    Does anyone have any tips on getting a job related to sports?
  • TripleCrown9
    Keep the Faith
    • May 2010
    • 23721

    #2
    Re: Getting a job in sports?

    Originally posted by Based Doc
    I'm about to graduate from college in a few weeks and I've started my job search. I'll be getting a psychology degree which is fairly useless I know. I do however have strong statistical training, good writing skills, and good experience working with others.

    I'm applying for psychology-related jobs (mostly at universities) but I've been trying to figure out if I can somehow break into the sports world. I feel like everything is against me here as I was only an athlete for two years in HS and in a non-traditional sport (cross country and track). I've looked up jobs but it all seems so damn confusing.

    Does anyone have any tips on getting a job related to sports?
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    • NYG_Meth
      The OS Artist Guy
      • May 2003
      • 3920

      #3
      Re: Getting a job in sports?

      This thread could just as easily be called "Getting a job?"

      You're going to have a tough time REGARDLESS of your industry.

      (I've been an unemployed, starving artist for way too long now...)
      Last edited by NYG_Meth; 03-22-2012, 09:38 PM.
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      • Gotmadskillzson
        Live your life
        • Apr 2008
        • 23442

        #4
        Re: Getting a job in sports?

        Originally posted by NYG_Meth
        This thread could just as easily be called "Getting a job?"

        You're going to have a tough time REGARDLESS of your industry.

        (I've been an unemployed, starving artist for way too long now...)
        Yeah I can't see how you not hired by a video game company by now as an artist or a start up comic book company. You can draw very well.......

        But anyway........on to the topic on hand. Yeah you going to struggle regardless of what industry. Good luck to you.

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        • 12
          Banned
          • Feb 2010
          • 4458

          #5
          Re: Getting a job in sports?

          I don't know, man... The sports field is HIGHLY competitive. Unless you have an "in" somewhere, you might be looking for a long time... Not to be a downer, but you're going to have to really, REALLY want it if you want a foot in the door...

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          • RockinDaMike
            All Star
            • Feb 2003
            • 9092

            #6
            Re: Getting a job in sports?

            I know people that work for the Suns/Cardinals/Dbacks. Most all of them started as interns not getting paid, and some that did for like 10 bucks an hour. You seriously have to grind for awhile (Years) and show that you are worth it. No joke, HIGHLY competitive. Even becoming an intern is a battle.

            One guy I know started off as a ball boy for the Suns when he was young and would do it after school. Started doing jobs like being a stat boy and bring stats to commentators and picking out contestants for half time shows and breaks. He's now in front office assisting Sarver and company doing stuff like depositing checks and getting stuff done.

            I don't know what he is doing now but I get a hook up every once in awhile and get suite tickets.
            XBL: Mike Deuce
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            Teams: AZ Cardinals, Suns, Diamondbacks, Duke, Arizona State

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            • Jr.
              Playgirl Coverboy
              • Feb 2003
              • 19171

              #7
              Re: Getting a job in sports?

              You have to know someone in sports. There are so many former athletes out there that want to keep sports in their life in some way now that they can't compete anymore that the field is flooded with candidates for pretty much every job.

              You have to find a way to get your name out there. Look for organizations to join and do some networking. If there are teams around where you live, send out some emails to their HR departments and let them know you're looking to break into the industry. It's going to be tough with a BA in psychology. There isn't much you'll bring to the table with entry level positions.

              Be open to any job. You'll probably have to start in the ticket booth or somewhere similar for a while. Be a hard worker and get a good relationship with your bosses. From what I've learned from friends in the sports industry, organizations like to promote from within if they can. If you can manage to get your foot in the door, talk to your supervisors and ask what you need to learn or do to move up. Look into whether the organization will help pay for school so you can get another degree that's more applicable to sports.

              I'm not sure what you're looking to do in the sports field, but if you want to use the psychology degree start looking at Master's programs.
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              • DJ
                Hall Of Fame
                • Apr 2003
                • 17756

                #8
                Re: Getting a job in sports?

                There's some great advice here. I just got back in the industry after being unemployed for 2 years. I didn't even know about the job opening; a friend of mine told me about it, I applied (I also knew the boss, which helped) and boom, I got the job.

                If you have any connections, be sure to stay in contact with them. If you don't, do as others said and send e-mails to anyone you can think of to a particular team, organization, newspaper, radio station, etc. and see what you get back in terms of responses.

                Sure, the market is competitive, but I think that is true of any field these days, as (and I know from experience) that being out of work is no fun at all.
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                • TheMatrix31
                  RF
                  • Jul 2002
                  • 52931

                  #9
                  Re: Getting a job in sports?

                  Originally posted by RockinDaMike
                  I know people that work for the Suns/Cardinals/Dbacks. Most all of them started as interns not getting paid, and some that did for like 10 bucks an hour. You seriously have to grind for awhile (Years) and show that you are worth it. No joke, HIGHLY competitive. Even becoming an intern is a battle.

                  One guy I know started off as a ball boy for the Suns when he was young and would do it after school. Started doing jobs like being a stat boy and bring stats to commentators and picking out contestants for half time shows and breaks. He's now in front office assisting Sarver and company doing stuff like depositing checks and getting stuff done.

                  I don't know what he is doing now but I get a hook up every once in awhile and get suite tickets.
                  Damn, I'm jealous. If I lived in Phoenix already, I'd be more than willing to start that low in the chain. Unfortunately I'd need more money than that to pick up and move there. Dream stuff.

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                  • RockinDaMike
                    All Star
                    • Feb 2003
                    • 9092

                    #10
                    Re: Getting a job in sports?

                    Originally posted by TheMatrix31
                    Damn, I'm jealous. If I lived in Phoenix already, I'd be more than willing to start that low in the chain. Unfortunately I'd need more money than that to pick up and move there. Dream stuff.
                    Yeah man, hopefully you can get down here. I'm friends with one of the owners daughters so I can at least help and put a good word in for you, obviously can't promise anything but at least I can try for you and you got somewhat a connection.

                    To be honest, you don't really need much if you are willing to room with someone here. On average, rent with utilities will be about 500-700 a month at a pretty good place. I do recommend having a car here since the valley is huge but if you live by a light rail location, it parks you right in front of the Suns and Dbacks stadium.

                    It's pretty cheap to live here, rent is not very high and if you can't get a job with a sports team right away you can find normal jobs fairly easy especially if you have backround with the internet and technology field. I work for godaddy.com and they are always looking tech minded people so I can recommend you there too. For that mattter, anybody on OS wanting to live in Phoenix, PM me and I can get info on them. Great company to work for.
                    XBL: Mike Deuce
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                    Teams: AZ Cardinals, Suns, Diamondbacks, Duke, Arizona State

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                    • Shortsinator
                      Banned
                      • Feb 2012
                      • 122

                      #11
                      I'm currently going to Kennesaw State for a Bachelors in Sports Management. I am really hoping to find an internship soon in the Atlanta area. I just knew that I had to go to college for something I loved, and sports will always be there along with the medical and law fields.

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                      • TheMatrix31
                        RF
                        • Jul 2002
                        • 52931

                        #12
                        Re: Getting a job in sports?

                        Originally posted by RockinDaMike
                        Yeah man, hopefully you can get down here. I'm friends with one of the owners daughters so I can at least help and put a good word in for you, obviously can't promise anything but at least I can try for you and you got somewhat a connection.

                        To be honest, you don't really need much if you are willing to room with someone here. On average, rent with utilities will be about 500-700 a month at a pretty good place. I do recommend having a car here since the valley is huge but if you live by a light rail location, it parks you right in front of the Suns and Dbacks stadium.

                        It's pretty cheap to live here, rent is not very high and if you can't get a job with a sports team right away you can find normal jobs fairly easy especially if you have backround with the internet and technology field. I work for godaddy.com and they are always looking tech minded people so I can recommend you there too. For that mattter, anybody on OS wanting to live in Phoenix, PM me and I can get info on them. Great company to work for.
                        You guys have room for someone who has a few years experience helping manage a small business and a degree in poli sci from UCLA? loll

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                        • ImTellinTim
                          YNWA
                          • Sep 2006
                          • 33028

                          #13
                          Re: Getting a job in sports?

                          As Matrix found out, it also helps if you have a nice rack.

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                          • bad_philanthropy
                            MVP
                            • Jul 2005
                            • 12167

                            #14
                            Re: Getting a job in sports?

                            I work in pro sports currently, and as others have said, it is ridiculously competitive. Check for internships in the career section on the website. That's the best way I've seen. A lot of people approach working for these organizations in any capacity as a dream job, and it becomes a battle between ridiculously over-qualified people. I'm not aware of any standard track or specific degree qualification giving one an advantage. Our boss says everyone working in our organization "has a story about how they got here."

                            I got a lower-level job doing event security (which was actually a blast) because I was back in town and hooked up with a girl working in a fairly high up position of the parent company. Terrible, I know.

                            I worked my way up to a staff job just by getting to know people in the organization. A conversation here showing passion for the sport and the organization went a long way. I have an environmental sciences degree and don't do any work even remotely related to it.

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                            • buckeye02
                              MVP
                              • Jul 2009
                              • 4152

                              #15
                              Re: Getting a job in sports?

                              I was a beer vendor for 2 seasons for the AAA Memphis Redbirds. Never thought of getting my foot in the door and advancing myself. Not sure how hard that would be as a beer vendor. I just thought it was an easy way to enjoy some baseball and have a little extra change in my pocket.
                              PSN: buckeye02

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