The sports industry is hard to break into — even as a junior at Marist College majoring in Sports Communications and Public Relations. Taking a majority of my sports-related courses and having an opportunity to talk with people in the career, I have learned how tough it can be to really make it in the world of sports.
I am currently interning for The Relish, a women’s sports media brand creating cool videos and content (everyone should go check them out on Facebook and Instagram). I met the CEO, Ashley Wellington-Fahey and VP of Content, Lisa Raphael, at a Twitter event over the summer, and ever since, they have been guiding me in this world. Here are seven secrets I have learned so far about how to turn your love of sports into a career:
1. Do NOT let negativity second guess your dream
Let’s get this out of the way: a majority of the time when I say, “I want to work in sports when I am done with college,” people give me a half smile. Sadly, if you are not a dude with this dream, people probably start asking you a lot of questions to see if you even *know* anything about sports. Yes, you do, and you do not have to know who won the first Super Bowl in 1967 (FYI: it was the Green Bay Packers).
2. Stay informed and up to date on sports
Set alerts for your favorite sports news of the day and sign up for newsletters (sign up for The Relish here!) so that every morning in your inbox you should have different emails from all kinds of sports companies. Some of my favorites to read are ESPN, The Players’ Tribune, and The Relish (duh)! All of the emails are informational and get you in-the-know before you start your day or keep you updated if you missed the big Sunday Night Football game.
3. Fall in love with sports that aren’t your favorite
I love anything to do with baseball and basketball, but that doesn’t mean I can forget about all the other sports out there, too! In my dream world, I’ll work for the Golden State Warriors on community relations, but realistically, I need to know the whole industry well enough to be a great candidate for any job in sports. Therefore, I am always reading about football and soccer, too.
4. Network, network, and network
Everyone says it’s who you meet that will make the difference and that’s VERY true in sports, especially if you are a woman trying to break into. Luckily for me, Marist College helps put you in the right place at the right time. Talk to your professors, internship coordinator, and go to all your school speakers! They always will know someone who can help you. Learn your “elevator speech," a brief statement about yourself, and have it ready for any time; you never know who you’ll meet and where.
5. Ask questions
When you finally land that awesome job or internship opportunity, ask questions. Pick your bosses’ (or really anyone at the company who you think has a cool job that you want to know more about!) brains about the sports industry, life, and their career path.
6. Tell people what you think
When you are in class or talking to a bunch of people about something going on in the sports world right now, do not shy away. Talk about what you think is important and what you believe. Whether you are in a room full of men or women, stick to your gut. You will end up impressing them!
7. Don’t be afraid to be who you are (as a fan and more)
Hate to say it but, the sports world is classified as a “
Spoiler: It means being who you are and liking sports. Crazy, huh? They are making content that’s made not just for one gender (by one gender) and employing women who want to be a part of this movement — and that’s awesome!
