10 Tips to establish yourself in the Sports Industry

“Success in the sports industry often requires creativity and persistence. Trying a variety of strategies to break into the industry can help you uncover new opportunities and ultimately achieve your goals.”

Are you looking for your first job in sport?

Have you decided on a career change and are looking for a new role with your local club?

Have you retired from playing and want to make the transition into coaching or sport leadership roles?

Individuals looking for their first break should be aware of the considerations that can impact or influence their ability to secure their first role. This is not only applicable to younger sports people who are transitioning from playing or studying, but also to those who may want to make a career change later in life and don’t know where to start.

Based on my experiences to date, I have listed ’10 Tips to establish yourself in the sports industry’, which also references some of my previous articles, to help educate and support your journey as you embark on a new career within the wonderful world of sport.

These are not listed in any order of importance or impact, but hopefully, provide guidance to help you make the important first/next step.

1. Research, research, research
   Firstly, understand what opportunities are available. There are ample job sites (Seek, TradeMe) that list job openings suitable for your current skill set and qualifications. Not all roles will be advertised, (though in my opinion they should be — read more on that here) so you may need to dig a little deeper to find these roles. You can do this by contacting organisations directly, creating a proposal for a role you desire and/or sending your CV and personalised cover letter. Ensure to extend your research to understand more about the environment they work in. For example, if you are applying to a club, what do you know about the league they play in, the staff that work there or existing links with other organisations? Remember, details matter.
2. Respect the history
   Understanding existing relationships or conflicts between organisations is vital before you are able to reestablish or maintain any collaborations. You can extend this to understand other societal and historical moments in the sport that may have an impact on your current position or the desired organisation. I would even extend this to understanding and respecting previous employees in the role as well as any policies or procedures in place that you can learn from, adapt or disestablish.
3. Know your people
   Understanding those around you and which individuals/organisations are connected to the business should be a priority. For example, if you’re looking at a local football club, know who the competitor clubs are. Who is the local federation and national body? Where are the local schools, competing academies and wider organisations (such as Regional Sports Trusts) that the club is directly or indirectly linked to? This will help you to visualise a web of connections and create a fuller picture of those you may need to collaborate with throughout your employment.
4. Diversify
   I myself have deliberately made the choice to become a ‘sports generalist’. This has enabled me to work and contribute to various areas of the sports industry such as coaching, coach development and club management as well as many others. This can be a way to open up broader opportunities and set you up to explore a wider scope of work in the future. There’s nothing wrong with going in one direction if that’s your goal, but be aware of the limitations. For example, if you specialise as a Coach, you may limit yourself to player coaching roles only. But, if you remain open to being a Coach Developer, Sporting Director, Sports Administrator, or even an Event Manager (all of which require similar skills and attributes), you may find that more opportunities present themselves. This diversification can also provide the ability to gain different perspectives and understand opposing viewpoints which will support robust discussions and help you to empathise with individuals you may engage with throughout your career.
5. Connect
   Your connections could be the key to unlocking a prosperous career. Get out there and network, but don’t be a pest. The industry is very much about who knows you, not who you know. It’s a fine line but an important one! You can connect physically by requesting an informal meeting, or through online platforms such as LinkedIn. Take time to plan out a list of the leaders that you want to contact and make respectful and bespoke connections. In my experience, most people are willing and able to help up and comers, share advice and point you in an encouraging direction.
6. Keep your word
   By keeping your word and earning trust you will demonstrate respect, a commitment to your profession and a willingness to invest in your own development. This will help establish your credibility within the sports industry and position you as a valuable asset to any organisation. Ensure you understand your limits and how much you can realistically commit to a new role. Hiring managers will be wary if you have to let them down due to over-commitment.
7. Get experience
   This can be a great way to establish yourself in a new organisation. I personally got my first opportunity after volunteering at my local football club putting down cones for the Men’s First Team Coach — I was essentially the assistant’s assistant! Not only did it lead to a role, but more so that introductory position enabled me to learn and be around an aspirational environment, observe the demands of the club and establish an understanding of the local context while crafting the beginnings of my career reputation. While certainly challenging in today’s climate, this is where working for free is often undervalued. Six months of volunteering in your desired organisation could lead you to a full time job far quicker than waiting for the paid full time role to come around. Make it work where you can, even if it’s just evenings or weekends when you can spare the time — dedication and accountability are valuable assets that don’t go unnoticed!
8. Get Qualified
   The reality is that many jobs in sports require specific levels of qualification. Some coaches/sports leaders can bypass the system but it is a factor that everyone will need to contend with. Pre-requisite qualifications should always be advised on job descriptions or adverts so take note and devise a plan to achieve the necessary levels. For example, if you are currently a Level 1 coach but you need a B License for the role, you will need to plan how you can achieve this qualification in time. Qualifications may not always be the determining factor but they are often a baseline requirement.
9. Travel
   If there are limited opportunities where you live or with your local club, are you in a position to move to a new town, new county/region or even a new country? You may find that the number of opportunities increases when you widen your search parameters. Of course, there are logistical considerations and this isn’t possible for everyone. Finances, visa availability, accommodation and accessible support networks are just some of the limiting factors, but if it is a possibility for you, I would strongly encourage any new coach/sportsperson to expand their horizons and explore somewhere new.
10. Keep an open mind
    Finally, try not to restrict yourself to one particular goal. Keeping an open mind! The sports industry is very transient with coaches and sports managers moving on more frequently than other roles. For me personally, even just 10 years ago, I never would have predicted the exact role that I’m in now, nor do I know where I will be in 10 years time. Ensuring my interests and skill set continue to grow and evolve over time enables me to remain open to potential opportunities as they arise. You never know what’s around the corner, so be prepared, well researched and open minded for whatever role is next.

The tips above should form part of your overall development plan. Consider the pros and cons of any decisions that you make and remember that you can always change your mind. You can continue to adjust and pivot your plan as your interests and knowledge grow. Your next role is out there, you just have to find it. Good luck!

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