The Work in Sports Podcast - Insider Advice for Sports Careers

How do you gain enough experience so that you can land competitive internships? We have a bunch of great ideas on this episode of the Work In Sports podcast that will help you stand out from the crowd.Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break since as you know I didn’t release a podcast last week you can assume I had a very nice relaxing time of it. In all seriousness, the first year of the podcast I had a theory that Thanksgiving week would be the absolute best week to publish an episode because people are traveling, flying, driving all across the nation… and what better time to have a great podcast episode. Well, that was a fallacy. First-year, we had a super slow week for downloads and I felt like I wasted a great guest. The next year I was like -- you know let’s give this a go again -- I’m going to trust my instincts and try really hard to get a great guest and promote the heck out of this thing… and crickets. Now, I’ve learned that my instincts in this were wrong, so I kind of take the week off from publishing and recharge a bit. Let that be a lesson to you -- don’t be stubborn in your decision making, check the data to back up your instincts and be open to being wrong. I am wrong often, and I am 100% OK with it. While I’m not a motivational “sayings” guy, I do believe it is better to make mistakes by trying new things, than to get stuck in repeating mediocrity. Ok, well..over this break… my kids got way into Avengers movies… so yeah, we watched a ton of Avengers movies. Obviously, they loved Endgame and infinity War… but boy did they fall hard for Black Panther and Captain Marvel. I think my daughter has new goals in life. Forget being a famous author and artist - now she wants to be captain marvel.   I, of course, love Thor. It’s more of admiration than a man-crush. Oh who am I kidding, it’s a full-on man-crush. That’s the best part of Thanksgiving if you ask me -- forgetting all the things you need to do in the future and just being present in the moment with family. Some hot chocolate and a comfy couch make it all the better.But enough superhero talk --  let’s get into our Q &A session!Question comes from Anita in Michigan  --“Hey Brian -- I LOVE your podcast. (she capitalized the LOVE, so I tried to give it the right emphasis) You are fun to listen to, plus, your information and advice is so easy to digest and put to action. I can’t believe I’ve never been taught anything like this during my first two years of college!I’m writing today because I have a bit of a problem I’m hoping you can help with. I know how much you stress the importance of internships and gaining experience...but as I look at internships I’m amazed how competitive they are, and how much experience they expect. I thought that was the whole point - to gain experience on their internship!What can I do to make myself more marketable to internship opportunities so I can gain the experience I so desperately need!”Anita - this is so great. I know you are frustrated, I can hear it in your writing, but trust me the fact you are asking this question shows your head is in the right place. I would much rather you ask this question in your sophomore year...than others who come to me in their senior year, or during grad school, or even after graduating… saying something like “um, so I have no experience, didn’t do any internships, but I love sports, and have a high GPA - can you get me a job?”You laugh -- but this probably happens twice a week. So Anita -- let’s talk strategies!1: Volunteering is your first move. 2: Start a blog and attempt to interview people who are in the niche you want to pursue. 3: Join industry groups4: Job Shadow 5: Seek out Leadership opportunities in campus - connected to sportsListen in to this great episode of th...

Esports is more the just an opportunity for programmers and gamers, the business is broad and growing as Kevin He explains on today's edition of the Work In Sports podcast.Hey Everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports Podcast…Back in 2003 when the book Moneyball was published by Michael Lewis, everyone I knew in the industry grabbed a copy and read it. Most of us were a bunch of knuckleheads who couldn’t tell you the Pulitzer Prize-winning books of the era but had all read Friday Night Lights, The Natural, Ball Four and the Boys of Winter.  At this time though, Moneyball was all any of us could talk about. This was pre-Brad Pitt movie release - this was just a book that had been whispered about and we were all excited to get a copy of. What we read, changed our knowledge of baseball, but also formulated new methods of decision making. Ever since that day, I knew two things -- 1: analytics was going to be a thing 2: I always wanted to stay ahead of what is next.I hammered it into my head - you have to keep seeking what is next because the world and the industry will not be static. The next big wave that was obvious and plain to see, it didn’t take a soothsayer, was social media. The growth, reach and the opportunity was obvious -- but in some parts, the sports world was still really slow to adapt to this change.I left a really great prestigious job in part because I thought they were way too slow to see social and digital media as a necessity, not a luxury.Well… I bring all this up to say -- I didn’t see Esports coming. Not only that...but I didn’t see the sports world adjusting to the phenomenon so quickly.../ and then not only that but I sure as heck didn’t see institutions of higher learning adjusting to the demand this quickly. Esports is a special case. And what may have seemed like a playground for computer programmers, animators, and gamers - is actually a huge business with multiple levels of employment opportunities far beyond programming.   This is why we have on today’s guest Kevin He, Instructor for Esports Project Management t UC-Irvine…Questions for Kevin He, instructor Esports Project Management UC-Irvine1: In my experience – advanced education is often slow to respond to newly emerging trends. They tend to wait and see rather than set the trend in motion.You’ve been in the Esports industry for around 5 years, and we’ll get into the details of all of that soon, but I’m curious how this opportunity came up for you to become an instructor in Esports Project Management at UC-Irvine – that’s a pretty forward-thinking decision by the university to see this need and do something about it – how did it come about for you?2: Let’s go back a bit before we move forward… what is your personal history with Esports, was this something you always had an eye for? Something that developed over time? How did you find your niche on this side of the industry?3: Your first big move into this industry after you graduated was in Community development. Explain this a little – I think this is an area where Esports really stands out in almost a grassroots way, building their audience in a very personal way, can you explain the role and importance of community in Esports?4: Community is common ground amongst people, and I think the Esports world does a better job than most in the sports industry of building this sense of community.As I looked through your bio, I kept seeing the word Tespa come up over and over…so being a good researcher that I am I looked it up on Google. I want you to explain it to all of us… but before that, I want to read the vision statement at Tespa to set the context --  “We believe in a world where gaming is celebrated by people of all ages, recognized as a force for good, and a catalyst for bringing people together.

The bond and connection you form with people you come in contact with is far more important than the number of connections you have. We explain in this edition of the Work In Sports podcast.Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…So quick story before we get into today's podcast - it will make sense to you as it all comes together but you have to go along for the ride with me for a bit. When I first started in the industry, yes you have all heard me mention it 10,000 times, I was working in the sports broadcast media at CNN/Sports Illustrated. One of the first things I noticed on the job was that there was a division amongst the staff. There was the editorial staff -- producers, anchors, reporters, editors, production assistants And there was the operations staff - camera operators, graphics, directors, audio ops, master control, sub-control etc. These were like two different operations in the same small area. It’s not to say the two groups didn’t get along, but there was a bit of a ...I’m searching for the right word here… disconnect. I was on the editorial side, and I’ll admit, our group had more ego and a feeling of self-importance. We were creators...and you are just executors. Again, it wasn’t a spoken thing, it was just a feeling in the newsroom. It kind of bothered me, but I was so young I had no idea what to do with that ...disconnect. So I started really subtly, maybe even subconsciously, trying to be a bit over the top with my connection to the operations side. I’d spend my day creating the show ...and then as I'd enter the control room to make it all come to life, every day no matter how stressed I was or if there was breaking news  or whatever...I’d enter the control room and boisterously exclaim “hey everybody”And everyone would kind of laugh a bit. It becomes a bit of a joke… where I would be grabbing lunch in the food court and hear someone on the operations staff yell across the room -- “Hey everybody!”I’d hear it everywhere… and we’d all laugh a bit.We are on our 228th episode of this show, and every single one I have started with a simple “Hey everybody” and it’s my subtle reminder to myself, to remember, this whole thing, everything we do in life, is about forging relationships, connections, and bonds with others. Last week I spoke in a class at Arizona State University, and it was a really great session. I have a rough idea of points I want to make in these sessions, but I am so afraid of being and sounding rehearsed, that I always try to let it flow and see where the conversation goes. Well, we got into a subject and discussion on networking and I couldn’t stop thinking about it all weekend. We’ve got this whole thing backward. So many people view networking as a gamified version of their career, where whoever connects with the most amount of people wins the virtual trophy.And, once they make a connection, they view it as a one-way street, or an obligation for that connection to help them. I literally can’t tell you how many people connect with me and immediately ask me to do something for them. And not only do they ask, but they go through chapter and verse about their life, challenges and missteps to I don’t know to provide me context for the advice I’m required to give them?Now, I do it, because that’s my game… I respond and try to give value. BUT, I think this is also a teaching moment to say -- you’re doing it wrong.I want to give you an example, and in fact, I’m going to give my example a name. It’s Gregory Goodman, and I hope I don't embarrass him here by sharing this.  January 10th of this year Gregory messaged me on LinkedIn:Thank you so muchYour podcast tonight was so wonderful! I couldn't have asked for any better adviceThank you, Gregory!Absolutely! I'll be there Thursday night and I'm re-energized to go even that much ...

Joan Lynch, Chief Content and Programming Officer at WorkingNation joins Work In Sports podcast host Brian Clapp in a probing interview into the future of sports employmentHey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…Something struck me the other day as I was writing the outline for one of our episodes. When I was in college, I wouldn’t have been my target market. Flashback to 1995, I’m a college junior at the University of Delaware, I’m a solid B+ student, involved in some clubs, done some interviews… knew that I loved sports. But I would not have listened to this podcast if it had existed, which it didn’t, because we barely had cell phones and email then. I wouldn’t have listened because I was always all about the sports events, the sports talk, the sports debate, the highlights, the dunks the grand slams… blah blah blah. I thought the sports business shows on Saturday mornings on ESPN were just the most boring thing in the world.I thought I had it made no matter what. We weren’t being hammered over the head with how hard it was to get a job, or how competitive it was… I was just having a good time cruising through life.Bottom line - I would have sucked in today’s work environment.Times have changed, and while I still feel like a 20-year-old kid, I know what worked when I actually was 20, wouldn’t work now. Which brings up a really interesting question -- what about what works now? How will it change in the future? How will it change even 5 years from now?!Our world is changing exponentially. Allow me to riff for a second -- I went to Europe about 10 years ago. We visited Charlemagne’s castle in Germany, which they began construction on in 792. Beautiful structure.Then we went to Edinburgh - and of course, visited Edinburgh Castle...and bought a kilt. Well, that castle was built in 1130 nearly 350 years later. You know what is remarkable -- the castles weren’t all that different. Sure there were different styles, but really they were both remarkable stone-built structures that stood the test of time. Over 350 years technology in construction hadn’t changed all that much. Now just think of the last 10 years of your life. Think about how many drastically different inventions have come about. Think about how different global existence is today. We’re not talking hundreds of years, we’re talking exponential change over a decade.\I’m not here to tell you that is good or bad, I’m just telling you it is happening, sop we all have to be on top of what is next and what is coming. You have to be flexible and adaptable…and you have to listen. Some people have a knack for knowing what’s on the horizon, like today’s guest Joan Lynch, Chief Content and Programming Officer at WorkIng Nation...and prior to her becoming a top dog at WorkingNation, she was a VP of Content Development at ESPN...so you know I’m going to ask some questions about that too…Here’s Joan Lynch…Questions for Joan Lynch, WorkingNation Chief Content and Programming Officer1: Before we get into the future of employment in the sports industry, which is a massive conversation, lets dig into you a bit – ABC News, Yahoo, ESPN – all on the content side of the news and sports industry – what led you to content and why was that your personal career fit?2: You spent 7 years total at ESPN – first 2 and a half you’re an Executive Producer creating and developing many of the networks non-scripted programming – poker, reality, game shows. As EP You’re overseeing the entire process, both the creative side and the business - things like budgets and staffing – what were some of the biggest challenges in this role?3: How would you describe your approach to managing staff and did your leadership style change at all as you progressed from ABC to ESPN?4: After being an EP you jumped up to VP of Content Development -  a...

Fact: Those who don't get real experience while in college, feel ill-prepared to enter the workforce. Let's examine.  I’m feeling pretty fired up this morning –ready to dive into today’s show… but before we do… Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…We’re going to veer of course a bit today, but I think you’ll like it. No fan question, rather, I’m going to share some recent data and give a bit of analysis on it, from my own perspective.Now, a major part of this discussion is to validate your moves. Those of you listening to this podcast regularly know my theories on employment, standing out from the crowd and getting yourself IN the consideration set for jobs.To define that, when I say consideration set, that means in the top 5-10% of applicants for any job. Why is this number important? Because, and this is rough data of course s changes from job to job, but the top 10ish % are the ones who get the initial phone screening.So if I post a job for a marketing coordinator, and we get 200 applicants, my first step as the hiring manager is to whittle that list down to those worthy of a callback. So in this instance, I’d be looking at 20-30 people who would get a phone interview.This is the consideration set. You are in consideration for the role.Now, how do you get in this set? Well you’ll have to listen to all of my podcasts and take our online courses in the Work In Sports academy – just $39 each and available 24/7/365 at workinsports.com/academy… but a quick extremely superficial summary would be:* Gain the experience the marketplace needs* Intern, intern intern and then intern some more* Build industry-relevant relationships* Customize your materials, resume cover letter et all to each job application* Master the art of selling yourself during the interview process.Now again, that is way way, way rough and superficial… but that’s the start of the conversation to get into the consideration set for sports jobs.Notice what isn’t in there. High GPA.Now that is not an argument against taking your college courses seriously… of course, you have to and need to. But that is so you have the brainpower to do the job… it is not what gets you hired!So just to spell this out again – taking macroeconomics is great! You will learn concepts and skills that will apply to your sports business life…so take it seriously! That will help you be good at your job… but it isn’t the thing that will get you noticed and hired.So let’s get into this data a bit.I was doing a ton of research for my upcoming interview with Joan Lynch Chief Content Officer for Working Nation. Quick aside on Joan, whose interview comes up on Wednesday. Prior to becoming the big cheese covering the future of employment in America, she was a big-time executive at ESPN, and one of the main creatives behind 30 for 30 amongst other projects.She tells some really cool stories about her ESPN days during our interview.Anyway, that’s Wednesday tune in them for that. But in researching for that interview I came across some data released late last year from McGraw Hill’s Education’s Future Workforce Survey which detailed statistics about recent college graduates.  #1 – this is a really big survey, I’m just going to distill it down to a few major pointsCollege graduates don't feel well-equipped to face the real worldOnly 4 in 10 college students feel very or extremely prepared for their future careers.While low, the percentage is a significant increase from 2017, when only 29 percent of students reported feeling as prepared.Many reported feeling like their college experience did not provide the critical skills they need to transition into the workforce, such as solving complex problems (43%), resume writing (37%), interviewing (34%) and job searching (31%)Ok so let’s talk about this first. For one,

What is it really like working in Minor League Baseball? Kurt Landes, Lehigh Valley IronPigs President and General Manager joins the Work In Sports podcast to share his experience in MiLB.Hey, everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…ESPN had it right when they named their network in 1979. While most of us hear ESPN and immediately associate it as a sports brand, the actual name stands for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.Sports is entertainment - the overarching theme of attending a movie or going to a sports event is the same -- you want to be entertained. Nowhere is this concept of sports as entertainment taken more seriously than in Minor League Baseball. 176 teams, often in smaller cities like Eugene, Biloxi and Lake Elsinore, unifying under a perspective that to get people to buy tickets, merchandise and concessions means they need to be entertained by more than the game itself. This is the platform every night in Minor League baseball -- what can we do tonight that will make people see value in the money they spent, a sense of community and just have a good time?!How do we create an environment where fans say, man, I had so much fun at the game last night. It’s the perfect calculus between affordable tickets, food and concessions, creative marketing and entertainment… and sponsorships. In minor league baseball, everything has to be seen as a sales opportunity.  And that is where the role of President and General Manager in minor league baseball differs from the majors. In major league baseball GM’s are in charge of player development, the roster, coaches and more  -- in minor league baseball it’s all about the business of entertainment, and turning a good time into revenue for the operation. In my mind, there is no better training ground to work in the business of sports than minor league baseball -- the opportunities to learn all angles of the business, how decisions relate to revenue creation and gain experience are without parallel. But even more, to understand the importance of entertainment and keeping the fans happy, because without fans there is no product. No one knows this better than today’s guest Kurt Landes, President and GM of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, winners of the 2019 Larry MacPhail award given to the top promotional team in minor league baseball…Questions for Kurt Landes, Lehigh Valley IronPigs President and General Manager1:  I have so many questions to ask about minor league baseball and your role as president-general manager of the IronPigs – but before we get into all of that, let’s get into your background a little.You’ve been in minor league baseball since 1995, starting out in community relations for the Toledo Mud Hens and never looking back. Of all the sports, all the leagues and all the roles available in the sports industry – why baseball, and why the minors?2: So many people I’ve interviewed for this show have jumped sports, or changed from team to media, or team to an agency – but you’ve been rather consistent. What benefit has it provided you to focus solely on the business of baseball?3: There is no denying the baseball season is a grind. Long seasons, long road trips, games every night – after 25 years in baseball you are an expert on surviving the grind, what advice would you give people starting out in baseball to survive the day-in and day-out?4: The role of a general manager in the minors is much different from that of an MLB general manager – you’ve been GM and Team President of the IronPigs since the team inception -- can you explain a little of your role and expectations as President and GM of the team and how that differs from an MLB GM?5: Let’s talk about branding and overall creativity – minor league baseba...

Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp V of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Just a quick personal vent -- not a big fan of changing the clocks. I think it is purely mental, but I get the worst night's sleep for about a week after the clocks change. My 12-year-old daughter was up at like 5:30 this morning, so clearly I passed this trait down to her as well. Not a fan. What makes it even worse is staying up to watch your team stink on Sunday night Football… but I digress, as fully recognize that no one feels sympathy for Patriots fans like me. I would just like to again state for the record, I am from Boston and therefore my fandom is legit and earned through decades of sucking… Alright now that we’ve cleared up the massive problems with daylight savings and sucking on Sunday night football.. Let’s get to a question, shall we?I get all types of questions -- but this one from Teague in Oregon stuck out to me this week:“Hey Brian, I suck at networking, can you help?”You know I respect the brevity of this request. There is no flattery, no sugar coating, just straight to it. And while I love it when people say “hey brian, you are awesome!” sometimes a good old “I suck can you help, really cuts through the BS.OK, so this is a big subject, this networking things here, and I don’t want to go on for hours and hours, so I’m going to focus this a bit. If you want more I have an entire course on networking as part of the Work In sports Academy… but for now, I’m going to go at this like I approach most things, I flip the conversation on its head. Let’s reverse engineer the heck out of this thing...and ask the question -- what makes someone become your friend?Does that seem to be a weird question to ask in regards to networking? Well, let’s think about this -- as I analyze my network of contacts, the only ones I would rely upon, disclose things about myself too, give deep time and effort to helping when asked… are those people I would consider more than just a connection, I’d call them a friend. So how do you build more industry friends? That is the key to networking - it is the depth of the relationship, not the number. So I’ve moved around a bit in my life, and I’ve figured out that it can be pretty hard to make friends when you get older. You have shared experiences. Shared schedules. We’re all on the same career status entry-level. Less responsibility. You can go out all night and not have to worry about things. It makes it pretty easy to connect with people.   But as you get older, it gets harder to break in with people. I left my cushy world in Atlanta to move to Seattle knowing no one. I’m 28, the new boss, and everyone you meet already has a circle of friends they’ve been hanging with for years. We don’t have shared experiences. We all have different job levels, more responsibilities, life is changing...and this tends to make people lean into the group they already have. Networking is the same damn thing as making new friends. Just connecting with someone. Or just engaging them in small talk at a conference. Or just liking their posts. Isn’t going to cut it. The person you do that with, isn’t going to stick their neck out for you next time you need a job, or need advice, or need a hand. Building a network is the creation of multiple mini friendships. Maybe not your tell them everything and complain about your spouse best friend, but it follows the same rhythm. In life, we aren’t trying to make 5,000 friends, we’re trying to make the right 20 friends.Networking is the same thing.  I have 6,536 connections on LinkedIn, I know very few of them. These people are opportunities to network, but they are not a network. They are lumps of relationship clay that I have done little to nothing with yet. Many people compare their network to the expectations they have in their heads.

Ever considered working for a purpose-driven organization? Adam Fraser, Chief Executive of Laureus Sport for Good joins host Brian Clapp on the Work In Sports podcast.Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…If I say the New York Yankees - you know who that is right? Of course you do…Big Ten Network -- you know them, familiar with their work recognizable brand…Adidas, Under Armour, Puma - sureUS Soccer Federation -- of course.  Have you heard of Laureus? Likely not. And yet, Laureus has made a larger impact on the world through sport, than any of the aforementioned brands we are all so familiar with.Sports is a simple industry. Athletes and events - everything in sports branches off these two pillars. Ticket sales, trainers, coaches, scouts, operations, travel, equipment, apparel -- it all branches off of athletes and/or events.   Laureus is a little different. They use sports as a means to change the world. You hear that phrase “change the world” and it sounds like an ad campaign from a brand trying to make you think, they are more altruistic than they are. They are trying to sell you a message rather than an action.Laureus lives that action. Change the World isn’t a banner ad for them, it’s a repeatable mission statement, put into action by their everyday. Founded under the Patronage of Nelson Mandela, Laureus Sport for Good uses sport as a powerful and cost-effective tool to help children and young people overcome violence, discrimination, and disadvantage in their lives. Over the past two decades, they have developed a worldwide charitable infrastructure to use the power of sports to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage. It was Nelson Mandela who said, “Sports has the power to change the world.”And while most of us hear those words and agree, but do nothing about it. Laureus is actively working to make it happen. It is my honor to introduce you to this purpose-driven sports organization, who is changing the world through sport. Here is Laureus Sport for Good Chief Executive, Adam Fraser.Questions for Adam Fraser, Laureus Sport for Good Chief Executive1: There is so much I want to talk about in regard to Laureus and all the organization does to improve the lives of people through sports – but I want to dig a little into your background and personal story first.You’ve gone on quite the journey in your career – the first 5 years of your career after graduating from the University of Leeds, was in journalism. What led you to sports and why was working as a journalist your first career choice?2: It’s quite the transition going from reporting on the World Cup and Formula One to the foundation/advocacy/fundraising side of the industry. Where were you and what was happening that led you to this dramatic shift not only in career but overall purpose?3: You became the executive director for Sports Industry Group and Communication Director for Benchmark – their tagline is “creating and investing in purpose-driven businesses” so this was your transition move in a way, starting you down this path of sport for good.What was that initial feeling like being involved with a company with a different set of goals than others you had worked for prior?4: Going from journalism to the Public Relations/Communication Director side seems like a pretty natural transition, what were the biggest challenges transitioning to this role?5: After Benchmark you transitioned to your current organization – Laureus Sport for Good. I want to dig into your roles within the organization, but first, let’s look through a broader lens.Nelson Mandela, famously said “sport has the power to change the world” – I’ve read this quote a thousand times. I had never listened to him actually say it until ye...

 Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.We just recently passed a quarter of a million downloads. That is far beyond what I thought we would be able to do on this show, so I owe all of you a huge thank you. When we launched this concept, I had major concerns, even though it was my idea. I worried about being able to come up with enough content -- well, it turns out there is never a shortage of questions from you the fans, or just about career advice in general. And I worried about getting guests -- again, so many experts out there willing to share I am blown away by the level of guests we have had on the show. From super agent Leigh Steinberg to Vegas Golden Knights CMO Brian Killingsworth, to Boston Celtics VP Kara Walker -- we’ve had guests come in from everywhere and share their knowledge. 2 years on the air -- and we have a long way to go. So, on Mondays, I handle a fan question, and I’ll do that shortly. But I also want to have some fan feedback time…Where do you want me to go in year three?To hell - is not an applicable answer. No I mean - are there subjects you want me to hit harder? Types of guests? Should I change the format of the show? Do you want me to have more roundtable discussions? Do more video components? Do more live sessions? I want your feedback because I sincerely value your advice.Here is my personal email. Bclapp at workinsports.com - you can send me anything. I want to hear feedback from all of you. You are my market research, and you are the people I want to please. Seriously, say anything. There are no bad ideas.Ok, on to today’s question -- and I’m warning you, it may get a little sentimental. This question comes from Alan L in Colorado “Hi Brian, thank you so much for the podcast, I’ve learned more impactful things from you through this medium, than I have in my four years of college. I write today because I want to expand upon a subject you brought up lately regarding finding your fit in the sports industry. Outside of researching companies, what can I do to prepare myself to be successful in my career choices?”Alan, I like how you kept this question vague -- I think that was intentional so that I’d take it in whatever direction struck me. I like that. I like to have thought exercises that aren’t too constrained by the question -- so thank you, and thank you for the kind words. One thing I’d like to stress for everyone listening, or considering sharing with a friend… of course, I am consumed by the niche of sports, it is a love of mine, and where my personal experience lies. But I’d also like to state that so much of my advice isn’t just relevant to sports, it’s about life and about career...and those things fit anyone, not just sports fans.I bring this up because the way I’m going to answer Alan’s question - likely isn’t sporty at all.  What can you do to prepare yourself for success? Know yourself first.I’ve spent episodes talking through techniques, approaches, strategies, tactics… I love all of that stuff. But if you don’t start with internal knowledge, you are destined for failure. Let me repeat that -- if you don’t start your career with internal knowledge, you are destined for failure.No one can give you insight into yourself like you can, and until you know what makes you work at your best you won’t be happy in your career, life or relationships. Ok, so enough of the broad talk - let’s get into specifics. Well, let’s start with a story first. This concept of knowing yourself was something I struggled with for decades. For a very long time, I behaved in manners I was expected to, or I thought would garner me positive attention. But that action was not in concert with my true self, so I struggled through it. It wasn’t until I started managing others that I recognized this.

Dr. Lea Thomann from the US Soccer Federation joins the show to discuss sports careers connected to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).Hey, it’s Brian - when you are looking for a sports management masters program, most of you tell me you want flexibility and credibility. Makes sense - you want your efforts to be worth it!Well, with Georgetown’s part-time Masters in Sports Industry Management you get the best of both worlds! The program is ideal for working professionals, offering flexible options to take classes online, on-campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. Plus it’s Georgetown, one of the best schools in the nation, I just looked this up 5 minutes ago they are ranked in the top 25 of national universities via US News and World report  - so you can get your masters from a top university, in a manner that fits your schedule. Win-win.I just told you a lot...but to learn more they are hosting a webinar on Tuesday, October 29th at noon eastern time. Learn more - ask questions - figure out your life plan... that’s a lot. How about you just start out by RSVP-ing. Visit scs.georgetown.edu/sportswebinar to RSVP.And the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work in Sports Academy - If you are looking to get ahead in the sports world, you need an advantage over the competition. Yes, your degree, your clubs, your sparkling personality all help… but we’re going to go a lot deeper than that. Check out the WorkInSports Academy -- 4 online courses designed to increase your chances of being hifred in the sports industry. All of my best advice, culled from not only my 20 years of experience… but from the hundfeds of people I’ve interviewed over my career.Check it out today -- WorkInSports.com/AcademyAlright, let’s start the countdown…Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast.As I search for guests to pique your interest I’m always looking for fields I haven’t covered. Yes, there are more perspectives to learn and share on sales, marketing, and operations…and we will continue to do so... but there are also many fields out there that deserve attention and discussion that we haven’t ventured into yet.Over the last couple of months, I’ve been meeting with college professors all over the nation, discussing our Sports Career Game Plan online materials, and one thing became abundantly clear to meThere are a ton of people in Kinesiology programs. A fancy world for the study of how the body moves. Athletic trainers, physical therapists, sports scientists, medical doctors - they all start with kinesiology. Now I hate to sound naive, this is just me being transparent,  I always think of the business of sports, because that is my personal background. But there is a gigantic swath of the sports industry that is less connected to the dollar signs behind the marquis events, and more connected to athlete performance and recovery. Sports are very connected to STEM, science technology, engineering and mathematics, careers. Kinesiology is a perfect example of this - sports through the lens of science. But, in this section of the sports industry, women are poorly represented. Women constitute about half of the college-educated workforce in the United States, but just a quarter of STEM professionals are female. This STEM gender gap has impacted perceptions of women in STEM and trickles down to younger generations.The US soccer federation is looking to help change those results by joining forces with IF/THEN a leading group support...

What Kind of Research Should You Do to Determine if you are a Match for a Job? Hey it's Brian before we get into todays podcast ...The University of San Francisco’s Sport Management Master’s program has been educating industry professionals for 30 years!!  *     Take the fast track to the career you’ve always wanted. ○     Earn your Sport Management master’s degree at USF in 23 months○     Learn from industry-experienced faculty○     Gain over 1,000 hours of internship experience○     Join a network of 2,500 alumni who are leaders in the industry — and mentors to you*     For more information go to the University of San Francisco’s Sport Management Master’s program WEBSITE at usfca.edu/smAnd the WorkInSports podcast is brought to you by the Work In Sports Academy -- Look I get it, the last thing you want to do is take more classes, and read another dry textbook teaching you something you may never use in the real world. This is not that. I have created 4 different online courses that are not a dry textbook full of useless information. This is the stuff that will make getting hired in sports easier. Everyone tells you how hard it is to work in sports… but you want to anyway… well, if you’re going to do it, do it right. Our courses are designed to teach you how to get hired. Networking, Interviewing, Building your personal brand, gaining the right experience -- and I’m much more fun to learn from than some BS textbook that puts you to sleep. I am interesting!So come check it out -- workinsports.com/academyAlright, let’s start the countdown…Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast...A few weeks back… or maybe a few months, I don’t know, Time is a relative thing. A few weeks back I brought up the concept of searching for jobs based on the company you want to work for... A company first pattern. I’ll recap quickly -- rather than looking for jobs, looks for companies you want to work for and figure out a path from within. Most people say I want to work in sports marketing and then look for jobs in marketing. Nothing wrong with that, that’s how I did it, and that’s how millions of others have too. BUT, I propose that it is an alternative approach, that could work out better, in the long run, to start with the company that fits you and work your way into the role. So for example,  if you say NIKE is my spirit animal, I love everything about them. Still, learn your passion in school...still focus on marketing and everything that goes into it… but start studying NIKE specifically, learn where their entry-level positions are, learn what qualifications they need and want, learn about their internship programs. And focus deep into what it will take to get hired there.Your first gig may not be in marketing… but that’s OK, because you are where you want to be, and you can work your way into the role you ultimately desire. That is the skin-deep version of a company-first approach, there is more detail out there in a previous podcast… but I bring that up because it was the spark for today’s question and you all listening needed some context!So the question from Monique in Ohio… “Hey, Brian I loved your prior podcast on having a company focused approach to your job search. I love all of your podcasts, but that one really resonated with me. Anyway, just a follow-up, what things do you look for in a company?”I love this question because it applies to the new version of me. When I was in your shoes… all of you wonderful folks out there...I was just happy to get any job anywhere. I didn’t pick CNN Sports Illustrated… I was thrilled to get a callback, interview, and job. Even my next role at Fox Sports Northwest… I didn’t really set out to work there. I got a call from a recruiter,

Chris Grosse, Penn State Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing joins host Brian Clapp on the Work In Sports podcastHey everybody it’s Brian -- are you considering getting your Master's degree? Georgetown offers a part-time Master's in Sports Industry Management that prepares you to excel in the global sports industry. Ideal for working professionals, the program offers flexible options to take classes online, on campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. You'll leave the program with the communication, business, and leadership strategies that position you for success.To learn more about the program, you’re invited to attend an upcoming webinar on Tuesday, October 29, at noon Eastern Time. Visit scs.georgetown.edu/sportswebinar to RSVP.And the Work In Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work in Sports academy -- our four online courses teach you the skills you won’t learn in the classroom - but will make the difference on whether you get hired for jobs in the sports industry or not. Learn how to network, build your personal brand, interview for jobs and internships, and create a strategy for gaining the experience the industry needs. Make yourself more employable -- check out the Work in Sports academy classes today! They are taught by me -- so get in there. WorkinSports.com/academyAlright let’s start the countdown…Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of content and engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…There is something magical about college sports. I’ll be the first to admit, growing up in the Boston area, there isn’t a huge college sports component, it’s all pro sports. I always thought of college sports as the minor leagues to the pros, and therefore less important. In my world view the pro game was the pinnacle and everything else was just a pathway. But really, this is the wrong lens to look through. This perspective changed for me, when I was in my late 20’s. I travelled to England to watch a few premier league soccer games -- I saw a game at Arsenal, and another at Chelsea - and these were experience I had never had in sports.The fans were different, the stadium experience was different, the vibe was different. I remembered returning, and going back to work, which was at CNN/Sports Illustrated at the time and telling anyone who would listen.. Oh my gosh, I feel like a different sports fan with different expectations. One of my co-workers said to me… have you ever been to a game at UGA? Well, no. Another -- have you been to a game at Tennessee? (this is when Peyton was huge) And then my boss a Michigan grad said ..dude “what about the Big house?” you been?It wasn’t until I started experiencing these sports cathedrals that I realized mine was the skewed perspective. That the real passion and enthusiasm and maniacal fandom was in college sports. That booming of 106,000 people chanting so loud your chest felt like it was compressing. That’s the magic you want from sports. And as my journey has continued, as I’ve interviewed associate athletic directors from Ohio State, Purdue and Michigan… you realize how much goes into operating a department representing sometimes 30+ teams, not just one. The effort and coordination it takes to maximize the experience of thousands of student athletes across a department...and to draw fans not just to football saturdays, but mid-week soccer games, and water polo and baseball. The challenge is real, and it’s exciting.I’m in awe, and for that reason I watch,

Hey, everybody, it’s Brian --  Georgetown offers a part-time Master's in Sports Industry Management that prepares you to excel in the global sports industry. Ideal for working professionals, the program offers flexible options to take classes online, on campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. You'll leave the program with the communication, business, and leadership strategies that position you for success.To learn more about the program, you’re invited to attend an upcoming webinar on Tuesday, October 29, at noon Eastern Time. Visit scs.georgetown.edu/sportswebinar to RSVP.And the Work In Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work in Sports academy -- our four online courses teach you the skills you won’t learn in the classroom - but will make the difference on whether you get hired for jobs in the sports industry or not. Learn how to network, build your personal brand, interview for jobs and internships, and create a strategy for gaining the experience the industry needs. Make yourself more employable -- check out the Work in Sports academy classes today! They are taught by me -- so get in there. WorkinSports.com/academyAlright -- let’s start the countdown…Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of content and engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…From Kae in New Hampshire -- Kae is a member of our private facebook group - you should really check it out, incredible conversations are happening over there and you get a myriad of perspectives...and great opportunities to network. Let me make this point really quick -- networking isn’t just vertical - it’s also horizontal. What I mean by that is, if you are a student, you don’t just try to build your network with directors, VP’s and CEO’s. That’s networking vertically -- up -- and it is important, but it’s not the only direction you go. You also network horizontally, with your peers, or people right around your level. The people in our private facebook group are the motivated core -- they are pushig themselves to break into the industry, they are interviewing for jobs, networking, going to conferences, building their expertise -- it is powewrful to know these people. So, I’ll just throw out a few names here -- name dropping -- when Kelsey Smith gets a job with the Lansing Lugnuts or Harrison packer gets hired by the LA Rams, or Jake Kernen gets hired by Florida State athletics, or Scott MacDonald gets hired by the Atlanta Gladiators, or Dasmine Evans gets hired by GSE worldwide… these are just a few examples of the people who are in our group, who have broken into the industry in the last year or so. Let me give you a real life scenario before we get into today's question. Harrison Packer, just mentioned that he’s been hired by the LA Rams in their marketing department... He’s been a fan of the show and active in the podcast group for the last two years. Well, now that he’s in a position to hire staff, you know where he went first… our group. Join the group and connect with harrison if you want to learn more… but my point is even bigger. Networking horizontally can often be even more beneficial that networking vertically. Make friends with your peers. Alright -- that was a tangent I didn’t expect to go on…but it was good, I liked it, a good solid learning point.Ok, so now we can get to Kae’s question from New Hampshire… BTW, I met Kae and others while speaking at their University of New Hampshire sports management club-- always cool to not only speak with people virtually, but to see them in their native element.OK,

Katie Gillen, Atlanta United FC Manager of Social Media and Analytics joins host Brian Clapp on the Work In Sports podcast!Hey, It’s Brian -- what if I told you you could get your Masters from one of the best schools in the nation, part-time and with the option of online. Would you be interested? I would!Georgetown offers a part-time Master's in Sports Industry Management that prepares you to excel in the global sports industry. Ideal for working professionals, the program offers flexible options to take classes online, on-campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. You'll leave the program with the communication, business, and leadership strategies that position you for success.To learn more about the program, you’re invited to attend an upcoming webinar on Tuesday, October 29, at noon Eastern Time. Visit scs.georgetown.edu/sportswebinar to RSVP.And the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work in Sports academy -- 4 online courses built by yours truly to give you the insight and knowledge into getting hired in the sports industry. It is competitive! It is hard to get in! But trust me, when you do, you are going to love it...and getting into a career you love is worth the effort. Check out our online courses that will give you a leg up - visit WorkinSports.com/academy today!Alright, let’s start the countdown….Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of Content and Engaged Learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.On our job board at WorkInSports.com, we currently feature 21,183 active sports jobs and internships in the sports industry. That’s a lot. That is literally the highest number of job openings we have ever featured in our 20 years of existence. The opportunities are out there. But that’s not why I brought it up, I brought it up because I was doing a little research this morning. In 2004 USA Track and Field was the very first business or organization to post a job related to social media on our site.  It was a ‘Website and Social Media Intern’, and man what I wouldn’t do to find out who that person was and see where they are now. But that’s not the point, so I’ll keep going.USA Track and Field were way ahead of their time… LinkedIn was under a year old, having launched in May 2003Facebook had just launched in February of 2004Twitter was still two years away from existingThere was no Instagram or SnapChatAnd yet, they were hiring a social media intern. Pretty cool. What is really amazing is that in 2005 there were zero jobs posted on our site with social media either in the job title or description. In 2006 there were two. 2007 there were 5, 2008 just 18.From 2004-2008 in the early blast of the social media world phenomenon -- no one in sports was hiring people to be experts, solely focused on social media messaging and impact. Well, not no one… more like 26 people were hired into sports social media over 4 years.Then the jump came. Sports organizations thought to themselves -- hey lookey there, this twitter thing looks popular. And that facebook, wow, maybe we can get our messages out there too?In 2012 - 1,297 jobs related to social media were posted on WorkInSports.com.Not bad. This world was being taken seriously. Back then, and I remember this well, people were speaking of social media like it had reached its apex… no need to focus on these roles, no more growth from here, it’ll die off, they were a passing fad, we’ll just lump them in with marketing and call it good.  People coming up in the industry were asking me,

Hey It’s Brian -- Typical sports guy, I grew up in the 80s and 90s loving Georgetown Basketball -- watching Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, and even Patrick Ewing play games against Syracuse was like a dream Saturday afternoon for me in the winters of my youth.Funny thing is as a sports fan you don't think of schools as institutions of higher learning, you value them by the stregnth of their teams. You know what I never realized back in that time - Georgetown is one of the best schools in the nation. I know that now, that’s for sure. And the good news is, you can get a Master’s from Georgetown and open up doors in your sports career. Georgetown offers a part-time Master's in Sports Industry Management that prepares you to excel in the global sports industry. Ideal for working professionals, the program offers flexible options to take classes online, on campus, or through a combination of both—so you don't have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. You'll leave the program with the communication, business, and leadership strategies that position you for success.To learn more about the program, you’re invited to attend an upcoming webinar on Tuesday, October 29, at noon Eastern Time. Visit scs.georgetown.edu/sportswebinar to RSVP.And the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work in Sports Academy -- 4 online courses built by yours truly to give you the insight and knowledge into getting hired in the sports industry. It is competitive! It is hard to get in! But trust me, when you do, you are going to love it...and getting into a career you love is worth the effort. Check out our online courses that will give you a leg up - visit WorkinSports.com/academy today!Alright, let’s start the countdown….Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of content and Engaged Learning for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Sorry for being a day late everyone -- my apologies -- trust me my intent is to always do a Monday and Wednesday episode… but you know, life and work and stuff. A lot of questions have come in recently about the validity of using a competency based resume rather than a traditional style. I have some thoughts on this technique, but before i get into the subject I reached out to 5-6 of my friends in the industry directly connected to talent acquisition -- these are the people on the front lines of hiring, who look at resumes and evaluate candidates all day long. I want their thoughts and feedback before I start telling you my thoughts -- because in all honesty, the thoughts of Mailynh Vu with the Cleveland Indians and Colleen Scoles with the Philadelphia Eagles and Mark Cosacarello with the USGA are far far more valuable than my thoughts. So hold on for that...expect it soon. I’ve also been working really hard on guest booking the last few weeks -- long time listeniners of the podcast have noticed I’ve rerun a couple of our all-time best the last two weeks, Leigh Steinberg and Mike Judge -- this is happening as I ramp up a new wave of guests on the show. We’ve got some really cool guests coming down the line which have me really really excited.But -- that leaves us to today and a great question that came in from Justin in Ohio -- Justin writes in:“Hey Brian huge fan of the show, I’ve listened to every episode, in fact when I have long drives I often go back and pick a few episodes to listen to again. I like your style and it’s easy to engage with your content and learn important techniques that help my career.One question I wonder if you could expand upon is the importance of soft skills and how you can sell them on a resume,