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This post is part of the #YPSportsChat Blog Series! This series will give young professionals an inside look at the intricacies of the sports business world and advice on how to navigate it.
By Erik J. Holth, @ejholth
As some of you know, I have been on the hunt for a permanent sports information home since June of 2016. Since then, there have been numerous phone interviews, several on-campus interviews, and meetings with members of the administration. In that time, I have gained several helpful tips and found useful ways to keep myself up to date and interview ready. Here we go:
1. Have a professional look at your resume and make it look competitive in the field! My wife is a professional resume writer, and before I sent anything out when I first lost my job, I said, “Hun, I need something that looks better than what I have now.” She made it look more professionally appealing and it grabbed enough attention to get me several interviews.
2. Get feedback! If you don’t get hired by the place where you interviewed, it’s not the end of the world. Make sure you get feedback from the person that led the process. Find out where you need to improve and what you may/may not have said that led the institution to go in another direction.
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3. Even if you don’t get hired, send a thank you note! Employers and even those places that don’t employ you will always look highly on you if you are thankful even in rejection. It makes you a desirable candidate because trust me, ADs talk to other ADs.
4. Offer your services to others. You can make connections with other industry professionals, and you won’t forget how to stat a game when the school that wants to hire you is ready. As an example, I have statted football, baseball and softball all since my position was cut, and once I got back into it, statting was just like riding a bike. Make connections and you never know when you will be able to ask that person to be a reference. Chances are they will speak highly of you because of how you helped them.
5. Finally, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP! It is not the end of the world if you don’t get hired somewhere. Keep pushing and stay fresh and you will eventually find a place that desires the skills that you have.
I pray these tips are both helpful and encouraging for you as you search for the place you need to be. If you ever need more advice, don’t be afraid to contact me!
