Tips For Securing A Career In The Sports Industry
Just like any industry at the moment, it’s certainly taken a knock. However, when things get back to normal, it’s going to be a case of making up for lost time and perhaps some people will want a change of career.
Regardless of where you are in your job life right now, a career in the sports industry might be something that you’ve been thinking about for a while. Here are some tips for securing a career in the sports industry.
Find Your Passions
What are your passions when it comes to sport? Do you like participating in the sport or do you prefer to watch from the sidelines, giving advice and support?
There are lots of sports-related jobs that aren’t just simply front and center, playing on a field. With so many job options available, it’s important to first find some direction in where you want to go.
And it’s always good to lead with your heart because that’s where your passions lie.
Think about what it is that is truly making you happy when it comes to sports and see that as the potential path to go down when it comes to your career.
It can be hard to decide this when you’re just coming out of education or perhaps you’ve lost your job and have considered a change of career that’s resulted in the sports industry.
Make sure to reflect on your childhood experiences too where sports may have been a significant part of your life. Whether it was supporting the Titans in the NFL or cheering on your country in the Olympics.
Consider Any Qualifications Or Studying Needed
Like any other job or industry, there might be certain qualifications and areas of study that you need to explore and this is something to think about.
The wonderful thing about education is that you can go away and come back to it. There’s no age limit when it comes to learning and so if you’ve come out of one career and want to head into another career like sports, then it’s certainly worth taking full advantage of whatever education or qualifications that are needed.
If you’re thinking about personal training, for example, that’s going to require qualifications and perhaps even a course in nutrition if you want to incorporate nutrition plans for your clients.
The more experience and knowledge you hold, the better it’ll be when it comes to charging people for your services.
Experience Is Important
Experience is always going to be an important part of getting into any job or position and so it’s good to try and gain this experience as early on as possible.
There’s a lot that can be learned through books and studying but it’s not until you put that into practice in a real setting, that it shows just how effective your knowledge or skills are. Gaining experience is something to do as soon as you know what route you want to go down.
It’s all about doing the research and understanding what’s needed for you to get that specific job title or to have that foot in the door when it comes to trials and auditioning opportunities.
Never turn down opportunities to perfect your skills and to improve your experience, regardless of what area of the sports world you’re going into.
Network
Networking is a key skill to have and to do when it comes to any industry. The more people you know and can connect with in life, the better it can be for your career.
There are many doors that can be opened and opportunities presented to you when you have someone that you’re friendly with. There are so many networking events out there and chances to meet people through others.
Try to make yourself as sociable as possible and don’t shy away from the opportunity to meet people who could potentially do something for you.
Look for the opportunities that are out there and get to know everyone you meet within the industry but also outside of it.
There may be people in business you need to know or another field of study that might not directly be sports-related.
Think About Branding Your Image
Your image is important, regardless of the job you get into but it’s even more important if you’re thinking of going into a career that’s in the public eye.
When you’re thrust into the spotlight, it can take a certain type of person to thrive and survive when they’re celebrated or seen to be a public figure and celebrity. If that’s something you feel comfortable with being, then make sure you’ve got a squeaky clean image and consider your branding in general.
Who do you want to be when you’re in the public eye? And what opportunities would you like when it comes to branding and selling yourself as a brand?
Look After Your Body
As it’s the sports industry, there are going to be plenty of jobs that will require you to stay in some form of fit, physical state. When you’re playing for a sports team, there’s going to be plenty of training or if you’re a personal trainer, no one wants to work with someone who doesn’t look after their own body.
Think about the changes you can make to your lifestyle and routine so that you can keep yourself fit and healthy. It can make a big difference to how you’re perceived by your clients and those who can influence where you head in your career.
It’s not just about fitness either but about looking after your body through the food you eat. You also want to take care of your mental health as this can be a major contribution to the health of your body too.
Securing a career in the sports industry is exciting and just like any industry, there’s a wealth of jobs that you might not even know existed. With that being said, do your research, know where you want to go, and grab for it with both hands!
