Sports job guide 2 Sports jobs | Sport Management Sportidealisten

Decoding Job Descriptions in Sports

09/01/202507/09/2024 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Job seeker analyzing sports job descriptions and optimizing their resume for ATS in the sports industry

When reading job postings, understanding the jargon can be tricky, especially in the competitive sports industry. Crafting a resume that not only passes the initial screening but also resonates with hiring managers in the sports industry requires a unique approach. Sports organizations often look for specific traits like leadership, teamwork, and results-oriented performance. To stand out and increase your chances of success, your resume should not only reflect your qualifications but also align with industry-specific expectations. Here’s a deeper dive into how you can craft a winning sports resume:

1. Tailor Your Resume to the Sports Industry

Just like in any other industry, customizing your resume for each job application is key. However, in sports, it’s even more important to align your experience, skills, and achievements with the demands of the role you’re targeting. For instance:

Use Sports-Specific Keywords: Many hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in sports use job-specific keywords to filter resumes. Keywords could include “athlete management,” “sports marketing,” “event coordination,” or “coaching development.” Look at the job description to identify these and incorporate them into your resume naturally.
Highlight Industry-Specific Accomplishments: Focus on achievements relevant to the sports industry, such as leading a sports team to a championship, coordinating large-scale sporting events, or managing high-profile athletes. Quantifying your successes (e.g., “increased team performance by 30%”) makes your resume more impactful.

2. Optimize for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

As mentioned earlier, many sports organizations rely on ATS software to streamline the hiring process. ATS scans for specific information in your resume, and failing to meet its criteria can mean your resume is automatically discarded, even if you’re highly qualified. Here’s how to improve your chances:

Proper Formatting: Avoid complex layouts, graphics, and unusual fonts that ATS may have difficulty reading. Use standard headings like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.”
Use a Clear, Consistent Structure: ATS software prefers simple, reverse-chronological resumes. Start with your most recent experience and make sure your employment dates are accurate and easy to find.
Focus on Keywords: Incorporate the job title you’re applying for and industry-specific terms throughout your resume. For example, if applying for a role as an “Athletic Director,” use variations of that phrase along with terms like “sports operations” or “athletic program management.”

3. Highlight Transferable Skills

If you’re transitioning into sports from another industry, or moving within different sectors of sports (e.g., from coaching to sports marketing), highlight your transferable skills. These are abilities you’ve honed in other areas that are valuable in sports roles, such as:

Leadership and Teamwork: Essential in both individual and team sports, leadership roles can translate into positions like team management, coaching, or even sports marketing.
Communication Skills: Whether it’s presenting game strategies to players or negotiating contracts for an athlete, strong communication is key in sports roles.
Time Management and Organization: Coordinating training schedules, managing events, and balancing the needs of athletes all require excellent time management.

4. Quantify Achievements

Hiring managers want to see evidence of your impact. Instead of listing job duties, focus on how your actions made a tangible difference. Did you improve team performance? Manage a sports event that drew record attendance? Examples of quantified success in sports could include:

For Coaching Roles: “Developed training programs that increased athlete performance by 20% and led the team to two state championships.”
For Event Management: “Organized a multi-day sports event with over 5,000 participants and increased event sponsorship revenue by 40%.”
For Sales/Marketing: “Implemented a sports marketing strategy that boosted social media engagement by 35% and increased ticket sales by 25%.”

5. Showcase Relevant Certifications and Education

Sports roles often require specific certifications or degrees that show you are prepared for the unique demands of the industry. For instance:

Certifications: These might include a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), USA Track & Field Coach, or even sports management certifications.
Education: Be sure to include degrees related to sports science, sports management, physical education, or business management with a focus on sports.

Additionally, consider ongoing education or workshops you’ve attended in areas like coaching techniques, sports nutrition, or sports marketing, which can set you apart from other candidates.

6. Use Action Verbs and Avoid Passive Language

Strong resumes use action-oriented language to create an impression of leadership and initiative. Instead of saying “responsible for managing,” opt for stronger verbs like “led,” “coordinated,” “executed,” or “implemented.” These verbs convey a sense of ownership over your duties and achievements.

Examples include:

“Led the development of new training protocols, improving player performance by 15%.”
“Executed a marketing campaign that resulted in a 50% increase in fan engagement during the season.”

7. Highlight Volunteer or Internship Experience

Especially for those at the early stages of their careers, volunteering and internships are critical to gaining experience in sports. Be sure to list:

Volunteering: If you’ve volunteered at sports events, helped coach youth teams, or worked behind the scenes for local or regional sporting events, include these details. Sports organizations value commitment to the industry.
Internships: If you’ve completed internships with sports teams, marketing agencies, or sports event organizations, emphasize what you learned and accomplished during these experiences.

8. Network and Leverage Connections

Networking is a huge part of the sports industry. Make sure your resume reflects your connections, especially if you’ve worked with prominent teams, athletes, or events. In sports, a referral or a mutual connection can significantly boost your chances of landing a job, so don’t hesitate to mention collaborative work or partnerships in your resume.

Conclusion

A successful resume in the sports industry is more than just a list of your experiences—it’s a tool to showcase how your skills, achievements, and knowledge align with the needs of the role you’re applying for. By tailoring your resume to the job, optimizing for ATS, and focusing on results-driven accomplishments, you’ll position yourself as a standout candidate ready to thrive in the dynamic world of sports.

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

How to Write a Convincing Resume

How to Use the STAR-Method in Your Resume

Essential Questions to Ask When Interviewing for a Role in the Sports Industry

LinkedIn profile optimization and job search strategies in sports

09/01/202501/09/2024 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Navigating the competitive sports industry requires strategic use of LinkedIn to enhance your job search. By leveraging advanced search techniques, decoding job descriptions, optimizing your profile with targeted keywords, and networking effectively, you can significantly increase your visibility to recruiters and connect with valuable opportunities. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to make a career move, these LinkedIn strategies are essential for standing out in the sports job market.

1. Advanced LinkedIn Profile Search Using Google

Overcoming LinkedIn Search Limits: LinkedIn often restricts the number of searches you can perform, especially if you’re a free member. A useful workaround is to use Google search operators to find LinkedIn profiles more effectively.
How to Execute:
- Use the Google search operator "site:linkedin.com/in" to filter results to LinkedIn profiles only.
- For example, if you’re looking for sports marketing professionals in New York, you could search for: "site:linkedin.com/in sports marketing new york". This will provide direct links to relevant LinkedIn profiles without LinkedIn’s search restrictions.

2. Decoding Job Descriptions in the Sports Industry

Interpreting ‘Years of Experience’:
- Job descriptions often list specific years of experience required, but this isn’t always a strict rule. For example, if a sports management position asks for “3-5 years of experience,” a candidate with just 2 years of significant achievements might still be considered.
Understanding Job Titles:
- Job titles can vary greatly between companies. A “Coordinator” in one sports organization might have responsibilities equivalent to a “Manager” in another. Focus on the responsibilities and requirements rather than getting caught up in the title.

3. Effective Job Searching on LinkedIn

Include a Current Role Even If Unemployed:
- If you’re currently between jobs, add a title that reflects the position you’re seeking, like “Aspiring Sports Coach” or “Freelance Sports Journalist.” This increases your visibility to recruiters who search by current roles.
Utilizing Alumni Networks:
- Tap into your college or university’s alumni network via LinkedIn. Your connection to fellow alumni can provide insider advice, industry insights, and potentially job leads or referrals. Use LinkedIn’s university pages to search and connect with alumni in the sports industry.

4. Networking Tips During Challenging Times

Specificity in Networking:
- When reaching out to sports industry professionals, be clear about why you’re contacting them. Mention specific aspects of their career or expertise that you admire and explain how their insights could benefit you.
Time Management in Networking:
- Respect the time of the person you’re contacting by being concise. Think about what you genuinely want to learn from them and include those questions in your message.
Show Appreciation:
- Always express gratitude for their time and advice. Follow up after your interaction to let them know how their guidance helped you, which keeps the door open for future interactions.

5. Keyword Optimization for Your LinkedIn Profile

Optimizing for Recruiters:
- Use keywords that recruiters in the sports industry are likely to search for. This includes specific roles like “Sports Analyst” or “Athletic Director,” and skills like “sports management” or “athletic training.”
Where to Include Keywords:
- Incorporate these keywords into your LinkedIn headline, summary, and job titles. This ensures your profile ranks higher in search results when recruiters or potential employers are looking for candidates with your skills and experience.

By following these strategies, you can effectively navigate LinkedIn and the broader job market in the sports industry, enhancing your visibility and connecting with opportunities more efficiently.

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

How to Write a Convincing Resume

How to Use the STAR-Method in Your Resume

Unlocking Hidden Sports Job Opportunities: The Side Door Strategy for Getting a Job in the Sports Industry

How to write successful resume bullet points

09/01/202523/08/2024 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Resume bullet point tips: action verbs, achievements, and metrics

To create an impactful sports job resume, focus on the content, not just the design. Start each bullet point with a strong action verb, quantify your achievements with specific numbers, and highlight accomplishments rather than just listing responsibilities. Keep bullet points concise (1-2 lines), avoid vague language and personal pronouns, and emphasize past achievements with clear metrics. This approach ensures your resume stands out to hiring managers.

When applying for sports-related jobs, the substance of your resume is what truly matters, not just the design. Even the most visually appealing resume won’t impress hiring managers if your bullet points aren’t compelling and impactful.

So, how can you create successful bullet points for a sports job application? Here’s a framework and checklist to help you:

Lead with a strong action verb: Begin each bullet point with an action verb that clearly demonstrates your role (e.g., Led, Organized, Facilitated).
Avoid vague language: Be precise. Instead of using vague terms like ‘various’ or ‘multiple’, quantify your achievements. For example, rather than saying you ‘coordinated multiple events’, specify that you ‘coordinated 5+ sports events.’
Quantify your impact: Use numbers and metrics to highlight the impact of your work. Did you increase team efficiency? Boost ticket sales? Whenever possible, include concrete results to illustrate your contributions.
Focus on achievements, not duties: Your bullet points should reflect what you’ve accomplished, not just your daily tasks. If you find yourself writing ‘Responsible for’ or using weak verbs like ‘Assisted’, you’re likely focusing on responsibilities instead of achievements. Past tense verbs like ‘Managed’ or ‘Executed’ emphasize completed accomplishments.
Eliminate personal pronouns: Your resume should be focused and professional. Avoid using personal pronouns (e.g., I, my) to keep your bullet points concise and relevant.
Keep it brief: Each bullet point should be 1-2 lines long. Concise, well-crafted points make your resume easier to read and understand. Lengthy paragraphs are likely to be skimmed over or ignored.

Example:
Here’s a strong bullet point that adheres to this 6-point framework:

Spearheaded the development of a new training program, resulting in a 25% increase in team performance metrics.

For more tips, consider revising your resume by focusing on these points. Review sample bullet points from top resumes to get inspired and apply these strategies. Once updated, resubmit your resume for feedback to see how it has improved!

Sportidealisten also gives you the opportunity to:

Review your resume – get access to a full resume review; including sample bullet points you can copy into your resume.
LinkedIn review – optimize your LinkedIn profile in minutes and start getting opportunities from recruiters

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out.

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

LinkedIn Profile Optimization and Job Search Strategies in Sports

Four Tips for a Successful Cover Letter and How to Write It

Sports Job Search Checklist

Sports job search checklist

09/01/202511/08/2024 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Navigating the job search process, especially in the sports industry, can be challenging. To enhance your chances of success, it’s crucial to approach each stage strategically—from crafting a standout resume to optimizing your online presence and preparing thoroughly for interviews. This step-by-step sports job search checklist offers practical tips and tools to streamline your job search, ensuring you make the most of every opportunity.

Below we will go through our sports jobs checklist:

Resume
Online presence
Finding a sports job online
Applying for a sports job online
Get an introduction or a referral
Interviews

Resumes

Use a readable template

When applying online, your resume is often first scanned by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) at least at the bigger sporting organizations. Many candidates are rejected because their resume templates aren’t compatible with these tools. Make sure your resume is easily readable by ATS.

📍 Use standard fonts and section titles.
📍 Create your resume in Word or Google Docs, and export it as a PDF. Avoid using Photoshop or creative design tools.

📍 Your resume should highlight your accomplishments, not just list your responsibilities. Avoid writing it like a job description.
📍 Use action verbs and quantify your achievements.

Know someone’s who’s currently looking for a new job? Send them this checklist or share it with your network.

Online presence

The stronger your LinkedIn profile, the easier it is for recruiters to find you, leading to more opportunities coming directly your way.

What you should do

Update your LinkedIn profile:

Ensure your LinkedIn profile and work experience are up-to-date. Craft an engaging LinkedIn headline and summary.

📍 Use an engaging LinkedIn headline.
📍 Write a compelling LinkedIn summary.
📍 Ensure your LinkedIn aligns with your resume, including job titles and work history.

Keyword optimize your LinkedIn profile:

An optimized LinkedIn profile makes it easier for recruiters to find and contact you for relevant roles. To identify the right keywords, review job descriptions you’re interested in or check top LinkedIn profiles in your industry.

📍 Tailor your LinkedIn profile to the sports industry or job you’re targeting; update your job titles accordingly.

Clean up your social profiles:

Take the time to review all your social profiles, not just LinkedIn, and remove anything you wouldn’t want a potential employer to see.

📍 Consider setting your non-professional social profiles (e.g., Instagram, Twitter) to private during your job search if needed.

Finding a sports job online

Explore niche job boards and connect with recruiters in your industry.

What you should do

Search niche job boards related to your field:

While platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn are popular, many jobs tailored to your skills are often found on niche job boards that larger sites don’t aggregate. Employers frequently post on these smaller sites to attract more targeted candidates, resulting in less competition and a higher response rate for you.

📍 To find niche job boards, search “sports jobs” on Google or just stay with us at Sportidealisten.
📍 You can still use Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn, but complement them with niche job sites like Sportidealisten. Employers often receive many irrelevant applications on larger platforms, leading them to focus less on those candidates.

Contact a recruiter directly:

If you have a company in mind or already have a contact at a company you’re interested in, reach out to the recruiter directly.

Applying for a sports job online

Follow these steps for every sports job you discover online.

What you should do

Tailor your resume to a job posting:

To pass resume screeners, customize your resume for each job application by incorporating the key keywords from the job description.

📍 Save the job description to your computer when you apply. The employer may remove it by the time your interview is scheduled.

Cover Letter (Optional):

A cover letter can help you stand out from other applicants, particularly for your dream job.

📍 Avoid simply summarizing your resume. Your cover letter should offer new insights or information.
📍 While writing a cover letter for each job application can be time-consuming, you can reuse sections across different applications. Just make sure to customize the introduction and highlight relevant skills for each position.

Follow up with the recruiter:

It’s often straightforward to locate the recruiter handling the role you’ve just applied for. Find their contact information on LinkedIn or Google and reach out to them via LinkedIn or email.

📍 Send a personalized connection request on LinkedIn.

Get an introduction or referral

In addition to applying online, consider reaching out to your network to seek an introduction to the company. While optional, this approach can significantly boost your chances of landing an interview.

What you should do

Ask your network who’s hiring

You might already know people who are employed at companies you want to work at. They can directly refer you to companies so you can skip the initial resume screening stage.

📍 If you have a company in mind, go to LinkedIn and find people in your first degree network who work at your dream companies.

Get introduced by mutual contacts:

Utilize LinkedIn to identify contacts outside your immediate network who share mutual connections with you. Request a ‘warm’ introduction from these mutual contacts.

📍 You likely have friends or acquaintances who work at your dream companies.

Set up informational interviews and get referred

📍 Do not ask for a job or a referral directly. Instead, ask your contacts about their company and get a sense of if it’s the right role for you. Take notes – these learnings will also help you stand out at the interview stage.

Interviews

How to prepare for the interview.

What you should do

Prepare questions to ask the interviewer:

At the end of your interview, you’ll likely be asked, “Do you have any questions for me?” Be ready with thoughtful questions!

📍 This is your chance to determine if the company is the right fit for you and to leave a positive impression on your potential employer.

Learn about the employer:

Research the organization to understand what they do, who their clients are, and their overall approach.

📍 Start by visiting the company’s About Us page, review recent news, and pay attention to any updates on funding or strategic announcements.

📍 Discover what sets them apart from their competitors.

Learn the job description:

Thoroughly understand the job description, including your daily responsibilities and the teams you’ll be working with.

📍 Be prepared to explain why you’re a great fit for the role when asked by the interviewer.
📍 For each responsibility or task listed in the job description, come up with specific examples that demonstrate your relevant experience or skills.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Rehearse the most common interview questions with a friend or in front of a mirror.

📍 Be ready to answer questions like “Tell me about yourself” and “Tell me about a time when…”.
📍 It’s normal to feel nervous, even for seasoned interviewees. Practice in your interview attire to help ease nerves on the big day.

Conclusion

Successfully securing a job in the sports industry requires a multifaceted approach. Start by using a readable resume template and tailoring your resume for each job application. Enhance your online presence by optimizing your LinkedIn profile and cleaning up your social media. Explore niche job boards and connect with recruiters directly to uncover hidden opportunities. Follow up on applications, consider using a cover letter to differentiate yourself, and leverage your network for introductions and referrals. Finally, prepare diligently for interviews by researching the employer, understanding the job description, and practicing common interview questions. By following these steps, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the job market and increase your chances of landing your desired role.

The sports job search can be incredibly challenging, but we hope our checklist help simplify the process. To receive these tools and career insights directly in your inbox, join our newsletter.

If you found this playbook useful, please consider sharing it with your network. Doing so not only helps others but also allows us to reach more people, enabling us to maintain and expand our free resources.

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

LinkedIn Profile Optimization and Job Search Strategies in Sports

How to Write Successful Resume Bullet Points

Four Tips for a Successful Cover Letter and How to Write It

The Importance of Sports in Job Seeking: A Key to Success

09/01/202507/03/2024 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Job seeker reviewing opportunities in the sports industry, symbolizing career growth

In today’s fiercely competitive job market, academic qualifications alone are often insufficient to secure success. Beyond the confines of classrooms and lecture halls lies a realm where invaluable skills and traits are honed – the world of sports. Far from merely promoting physical fitness, engagement in sports cultivates a myriad of qualities essential for navigating the professional landscape. From fostering teamwork and leadership to instilling resilience and problem-solving abilities, sports offer a holistic training ground for aspiring professionals. In this article, we delve into the profound significance of sports in the realm of job seeking, highlighting how its lessons serve as a cornerstone for career triumphs.

In today’s competitive job market, having more than just academic credentials is crucial to stand out and succeed. An activity often underestimated in terms of developing essential skills and traits is sports. Sports not only promote physical health and well-being but also offer a plethora of qualities and abilities that are invaluable for job seeking and success. Let’s explore why sports are so vital for career pursuits.

Teamwork: Sports train individuals to effectively collaborate in groups. Being able to communicate, support, and rely on teammates is crucial for achieving common goals, something central in the professional realm. Work teams function like sports teams, where each member plays a unique role in achieving success.
Leadership: Within sports, individuals often have the opportunity to assume leadership roles, either as team captains or leaders of specific exercises or strategies. These experiences contribute to developing the ability to motivate and inspire others, a priceless skill in the workplace.
Goal Setting and Drive: Setting and working towards goals are the essence of sports. By striving to improve skills and achieve specific objectives, athletes learn to be disciplined and focused. This ability to stay motivated and resilient is also crucial for achieving career success.
Stress Management and Patience: Sports teach how to manage stress and pressure, which is a vital trait in the professional realm where deadlines and demands can be taxing. Additionally, athletes learn to be patient and persevere even when faced with challenges, which is invaluable in any profession.
Loyalty and Engagement: Being part of a sports team often entails strong commitment and loyalty towards the team and its goals. This sense of belonging and engagement is also crucial in the workplace, where loyalty to the company and its goals is essential for success.
Problem-solving and Conflict Resolution: In sports, individuals often encounter problems and conflicts that need to be resolved quickly and effectively to maintain team harmony and focus. Being able to handle conflicts and solve problems constructively is an invaluable skill in any work environment.

In conclusion, sports are an invaluable resource for developing the skills and qualities necessary for job seeking and success. By practicing teamwork, leadership, goal setting, drive, patience, loyalty, and problem-solving within sports, individuals prepare themselves to become successful and well-adjusted professionals. So, the next time you ponder how to enhance your prospects in the job market, don’t forget that sports can be the key to success.

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

LinkedIn Profile Optimization and Job Search Strategies in Sports

How to Write Successful Resume Bullet Points

Sports Job Search Checklist

Four tips for a successful cover letter and how to write it

09/01/202525/11/2021 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Successful sports job cover letter example.

Want to craft a successful cover letter and learn how to write it? Create the perfect cover letter that takes you closer to your dream job in sports. Save time and at the same time get help from the experts through a technical solution that gives you an edge. In addition to creating and submitting your CV when you apply for a job, it is usually the cover letter that gives you the opportunity to present to yourself. In this post, you get four tips for a successful cover letter and you get tips on how to write a successful cover letter that is tailored to your dream job in sports.

Four tips for your successful cover letter

Let’s start by sharing four tips for your successful cover letter in your sports job application. There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to crafting a cover letter, but to give you some help, we have provided 4 tips to create that successful cover letter.

# 1 Write to the right target group, who reads your sports job application?

To begin with, keep in mind that the person who reads your sports job application probably has limited time to devote to each application that comes in. It can be as tough as it is with only 25-30 seconds to make a first impression on the reader. This rule of thumb especially applies to services that many seek. Therefore, it is important that you make your application concrete, concise, attractive and easy to understand. Everything to make it easier for those who read your application.

# 2 Be personal

As it sounds, the cover letter is about you. It is your opportunity to “sell” yourself. While it should be short and concise, it should also arouse interest in you as a person and make you the pink elephant in the room among the other applicants. It is a personal letter, though not a private letter. Thus, you should be personal without becoming too private. In comparison with your CV, this is a forum where you can talk about things that are not included in your CV. Be careful to use clichés and phrases, preferably avoid them altogether.

# 3 What do you contribute?

Do not look too far back in time. Even if you should be able to tell what you have done before to arouse interest in a new job, it is not just a matter of looking in the rearview mirror. Also think about what you can contribute to the organization you are applying to. What exactly can YOU add and create together with them in the future?

# 4 Create a positive feeling

Finally, also think about how you write your cover letter. We all have some bad memory or have made mistakes. Be positive. Try to keep a positive tone, firmly in writing. Try to come up with qualities that are associated with or describe you as a positive person. Once you know what you can add according to # 3, talk about what added value you are contributing with. Throughout the application, you should avoid talking about bad experiences with previous employers or old colleagues. Though you can turn a bad experience into something you did well. So create and contribute with a positive feeling. Simply, nothing remains negative in the application.

How to write a successful cover letter

Be sure to read the sports job advertisement carefully and follow the instructions given by the employer. There are a lot of tips to find a sports job, but there are also a few that are unexpected. It may be that the employer wants special documents such as grades, certificates, register documents, etc. must be included in the application. Make sure that your application is complete with all the information that the employer requests. Answer correctly. The employer may have requested how to submit the application. It may be that they want the application to be sent by e-mail or as a letter. The application may need to be addressed to a specific person or department or a reference number may need to be provided on the application.

A smart service that helps you write your cover letter

Does it still feel difficult to know how to start and know when it feels perfect? Now you do not have to guess how to write a successful cover letter, with the help of Cowrite you get the help of experts to create a successful cover letter tailored to the sports job advertisement. Cowrite believes in letting the pros do what they do best. They want sports job seekers to be able to spend less time in front of the computer searching for sports jobs and finding the sports job faster. They have therefore developed a text robot that helps sports job seekers to smoothly write structured and selling cover letters with high quality in a very short time.

Pioneering technical solution gives you an edge

The technology behind Cowrite is as simple as it is ingenious: you answer simple questions about yourself, your background and the job you are looking for, and your answers are seamlessly woven together with prescribed texts from a large database of Cowrite’s advanced algorithms. The texts in the database have been written by professional writers, which means that your cover letter will maintain a very high linguistic quality. Avoid beginner mistakes such as disturbing repetitions, aiming errors and incorrect sentence construction – Cowrite will help you write like the pros!

Save time – both your and the recruiter’s

By using Cowrite’s automated writing service, you save both time and energy. A common tactic to use when you do not have the time, energy or knowledge to write your own letters, is the infamous cut-and-paste method. However, this is quickly seen by recruiters, who read cover letters daily. In rare cases, they are tolerant of this, and you may be called for an interview if you have a really strong CV that fits the sports club’s requirements profile, but usually this seemingly innocent shortcut leads to you being quickly sold out. If you have not even spent time writing a letter adapted for the position you are applying for, why should the recruiter then spend time meeting you?

2 tips to get the dream job in sports

Personligt brev, Cowrite, Cover Letter, Framgångsrikt Personligt brev, Successful Cover letter

Write successful cover letters like the ancient Greeks

How does Cowrite really work? The technologically advanced machinery behind Cowrite may be modern, but the fact is that the basis of cover letters rests on the wisdom of ancient Greece. Even today, the classical rhetorical disposition is unsurpassed when it comes to writing compelling texts. Do you not have a close eye on propositio, argumentatio and conclusio? No danger, this is where Cowrite comes into the picture. The cover letter is basically to be regarded as an argumentative text, where you as a writer must convince the employer that it is you he or she should invest in. Cowrite helps you to dispose your cover letter according to all the rules of art, and you do not have to figure out interesting exordium and inviting peroratio.

Is not a good CV enough?

Of course, it’s great if you have a nice CV with good positions at relevant companies and sports clubs. Your CV is what the recruiter first sees, and it is important that you capture his or her interest. However, a CV is not as lively and dynamic as a cover letter. The cover letter requires more time, reflection and work. When several applicants with similar work experiences apply for the same position, it is not entirely easy to show what makes you unique with the help of just a CV. In the cover letter, you argue why you, of all applicants with a similar profile, should get the sports job.

Highlight your positive experiences from sports

With a passion for sports, you are probably determined, competitive and always give 100% for the team. These personality traits are not only useful in sports, but also sought after by many employers. Therefore, let your positive qualities and experiences from sports shine through in your cover letter when you apply for a sports job! Here, too, Cowrite can help you highlight your strengths and give your cover letter a clear, selling structure.

Create your next cover letter for your dream sports job and try Cowrite for free today!

Writing a cover letter from the beginning usually starts with a blank A4 on the computer, and often ends there as well. Avoid tearing your hair and fussing over wording, grammar and writing cramps and let Cowrite handle the writing instead. Save time and apply for your dream sports job with a professional and successful cover letter.

What could not be better than testing Cowrite today? It costs nothing to try. Do not sit and wait when others are called for an interview – check out Cowrite today and create the first draft. Maybe this is the beginning of your dream job in sports?

Have you finally found your dream job in sports but not dared to apply?

Cowrite’s cover letter writing service helps you maximize your chances before the final sprint!

This is a guest post written by Cowrite.

So for your next sports job application, read through the sports job advertisement, create your content, and when you are done, check the grammar and what your application looks like. Finally, go through the sports job advertisement again and see if all the points requested are answered.

Good luck!

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

How to Write Successful Resume Bullet Points

LinkedIn Profile Optimization and Job Search Strategies in Sports

Sports Job Search Checklist

Four great tips for your cover letter in the sports industry

09/01/202515/05/2021 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Tips for writing an effective cover letter in the sports industry

Thinking about that dream job? In addition to creating and submitting your CV when you apply for a sports job, the other important part of a job application is the cover letter. This document gives you the opportunity to present who you are and what you can contribute with. In this post, we will share our four great tips for your cover letter in the sports industry.

Here are four great tips for your cover letter in the sports industry

Be short and concise in your cover letter in the sports industry

To begin with, keep in mind that the person reading your job application probably has limited time to devote to each application. It can be as tough as it is 25-30 seconds to make a first impression on the reader. This rule of thumb especially applies to services that many seek. Therefore, it is important that you make your application concrete, concise, easy to understand, attractive and easy to understand. Everything to make it easier for those who read your application.

It is about you in your cover letter in the sports industry

As it sounds, the personal letter is about you. It is your opportunity to “sell” yourself. While it should be short and concise, it should also arouse interest in you as a person and make you the pink elephant in the room among the other applicants. It is a personal letter, though not a private letter. Thus, you should be personal without becoming too private. In comparison with your CV, this forum is where you can tell about things that are not included in your CV. Be careful to use clichés and phrases, preferably avoid them altogether.

What value you will contribute with in your cover letter in the sports industry

Do not look too far back in time. Even if you should be able to tell what you have done before to arouse interest in a new job, it is not just a matter of looking in the rearview mirror. Also think about what you can contribute to the organization you are looking for a job for. What exactly can YOU add and create together with them in the future.

Keep it positive in your cover letter in the sports industry

Finally, also think about how you write your personal letter. We all have bad memories or have made mistakes. Be positive. Try to keep a positive tone, firmly in writing. Try to develop qualities that are associated or describe you as a positive person. Once you know what you can add according to # 3, talk about what added value you are contributing. Throughout the application, you should avoid telling about bad experiences with previous employers or old colleagues. Though you can turn a bad experience into something you did well. So you create and contribute with a positive feeling. Nothing remains negative in the application simply.

Four steps to write a great cover letter in the sports industry

In this post we have shared four great tips for your cover letter in the sports industry. To help you easily remember these, we have highlighted the four tips below and then we have also provided all four tips in a short sentence so you can easily remember them.

Be short and concise in your cover letter in the sports industry
It is about you in your cover letter in the sports industry
What value you will contribute with in your cover letter in the sports industry
Keep it positive in your cover letter in the sports industry

A story about four great tips for your cover letter in the sports industry

To remember these four great tips for your cover letter in the sports industry, you can try to see the following in front of you:

Imagine a short phone salesman sitting in a car that lacks a rearview mirror and the salesman says, ‘Whoa, who needs a rearview mirror when I’ll just drive forward?”. However, it may be needed when you are in situations where you need to go back and prove what you can do.

Good luck and keep an eye out here for more tips for a good job application in the sports industry.

Have you tried these tricks? Do you have your own proposal? Comment in the comments field below this article.

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

How to create a great sports job application

How to use LinkedIn to find a job in sports

Why You Can’t Land a Job in the Sports Industry (And How To Fix That)

How to create a great sports job application

08/01/202513/05/2021 by Jakob Wikenstaal

completing a sports job application form with attention to detail.

Have you had thoughts of a job in the world of sports but are unsure of what it could be? Or maybe due to the pandemic you are considering sport studies? If your answer is yes, then maybe we can give you two great and perhaps unexpected tips to try out. First of all test yourself and think about what you feel most excited about. In this post, we share two tips for creating a great job application, that are often underestimated.

Before you read further, you might want to start by finding your dream job? Then you should probably read 2 tips for you who are looking for the dream job.

If you have already applied for a Sport Management program this year, then we recommend that you still keep an eye out for vacancies in the world of sports. Because you never know what opportunities that may arise.

2 underestimated but important tips for your sports job application

Be sure to spell, grammar and review the layout in your application

Make sure that your application does not contain any spelling or grammatical errors. This can be crucial for your chances to land that dream job. Any errors like these could help the recruiter to go on with another candidate.

Feel free to ask a friend to proofread your application to make sure no language mistakes exist. One common mistake is to mix fonts and font sizes. Go through all headings and paragraphs separately or mark all text and delete format in order to start from scratch with the same font throughout your whole application. Then you can put headings into a heading font.

Last but not least, the layout is part of the application too. If the text is in different colors or if there are more spaces between one paragraph at one place than another the recruiter will react negatively. Ask a friend to check this too. Ensure that your application has an appealing layout.

Follow the instructions

Be sure to read the job advertisement carefully and follow the instructions given by the employer. Sometimes the employer wants special documents such as grades, certificates, register extracts, etc. sent with the application. Sometimes people forget that thing about attaching the grades or some sort of a register. If a recruiter is not getting all information they are looking for, you will limit your chances of getting that job. Make sure that your application is complete with all the information that the employer requests. Answer correctly.

The employer may have requests for how the application should be submitted. It may be that they want the application to be sent by e-mail or by letter or only be send in via their own application system.

The application may also need to be addressed to a specific person or department or a reference number. So make sure to read through the job advertisement you are applying to.

2 tips of how to create a great sports job application

In this post about how to create a great sports job application, we share two underrated tips for your sports job application. To summarize, make sure to:

1) be careful about the spelling, grammar and the layout of your application

2) follow the instructions in the job advertisement. It easily happens that all focus is on creating your CV based on what you have done and then a cover letter that should say something about you. It is very easy to forget the additional information that the employer requested.

So for your next sports job application, read through the job advertisement, create your content, and when you are done, check out the grammar and how your application looks like. Finally, go through the job advertisement again and see if all the points requested are answered.

Good luck with your future sports job applications.

Have you tried these tricks? Do you have your own proposal? Comment in the comments field below the article.

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

Four great tips for your cover letter in the sports industry

How to use LinkedIn to find a job in sports

Why You Can’t Land a Job in the Sports Industry (And How To Fix That)

How to use LinkedIn to find a job in sports

08/01/202530/04/2021 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Professional using LinkedIn to search for sports industry jobs.

Have you ever asked yourself, how to use LinkedIn to find a job in sports? LinkedIn is the professional platform for every industry to connect and find like-minded people, finding clients and customers, but it is also a great platform to find a job in sports. This article is a short one where we bring up some good tips of how to find a job in sports, how to apply for a job in LinkedIn and some benefits for sports employers and job seekers to use LinkedIn.

Is LinkedIn a good tool to find a job in sports?

When our founder was interviewed at the Halftime Snacks podcast he got a question about the impact of LinkedIn to find a job in the sports industry. Here is what Jakob answered.

I think it’s actually the platform for showing your professionalism or where you aim to be. The people at LinkedIn have done a great job so far with building this professional approach to finding jobs. I think there’s a lot of great jobs out there on LinkedIn. And some of them are posted from the hiring organization looking for candidates and some are the recruiting firms that post. And some of the job posts on LinkedIn are from sports organizations. But yes, there many different jobs on LinkedIn and some are for us in the sports industry.

Easy to apply for sports jobs on LinkedIn

So from a job seeker side of it, I think there are actually great opportunities out there. And it’s easy to apply for a job because you can also share your resume very easily, so to say, from your LinkedIn page immediately. Basically, applying for LinkedIn jobs is so easy that it is enough to share your LinkedIn profile as a resume.

Another great thing about LinkedIn and having an updated LinkedIn profile is that many hiring organizations also provide the opportunity to apply with your LinkedIn account on their recruiting platforms.

No matter if you apply for jobs via LinkedIn or on other platforms with the help of using your LinkedIn profile, the importance of an updated LinkedIn profile is hugh!

However, some sports jobs ads on LinkedIn will be more basic and will ask you to send in your normal resume via the hiring organization’s email. So sometimes you just have to accept that some organizations aren’t that modern yet.

So is LinkedIn a good tool to find a sports job?

I would say so! I think it’s worth it.

If you have an updated profile that you’re making sure looks professional, you will have come far and have already improved your chances of getting a sports job via LinkedIn. Just make sure to have a good (serious/professional) picture, a realistic title, the latest working experiences added, and so on.

The importance of LinkedIn in the sports industry

If you’re thinking about a sports job and want to act professionally, you should start with your LinkedIn profile. Is it up to date? The sports industry is smaller than you think and when people find you on LinkedIn you want to make sure to capture their attention and when they are checking out your name or your profile page, you want to make sure they are seeing the latest version of you.

Another point of the important of LinkedIn in the sports industry is that if you are applying for a sports job, the chances that the hiring manager is looking at you on LinkedIn are quite high.

That’s one way to look at it. And for me, you shouldn’t look at LinkedIn as the one thing. You should look at LinkedIn as a tool that can help you boost your career, either finding a sports job or finding great candidates, and so on. But don’t look at it as the only way. We have to use it as a tool to help us increase our chances to find the next sports job or the next candidate.

This was an excerpt from an interview with our founder Jakob Wikenstaal in the Halftime Snacks podcast.

Listen to how to use LinkedIn to find a job in sports via Spotify below

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

How to create a great sports job application

Four great tips for your cover letter in the sports industry

Why You Can’t Land a Job in the Sports Industry (And How To Fix That)

What does a content producer in sports do?

08/01/202518/04/2021 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Image of a content producer working during a floorball match

In this article we will share the story from Adam who is the content producer at Storvreta IBK. You will learn what floorball is and how to get a job in sports. What does a content producer do and what are the tasks included? The full story is based on a podcast episode from Sports Views Podcast.

This is a shorter article based on an interview with Adam Troy from the Sport Views Podcast! The sport we are talking about is a well-known sport in Sweden so therefore we believe it is important to share this conversation with Adam. In this episode, you will learn a lot! Adam will share what content production is all about, why he is unique in many ways in Sweden but also in America. We talk about the sport Floorball, how he created a federation, as well as:

What does a content producer in sports do?

Adam Troy is a digital communicator and content producer. But for many of us it could be hard to understand what that mean. Here is some of the main tasks:

Updating website, social media as well as taking photography, producing videos, organizing the occasional event, networking at events all over the world and more.

As well as work on newsletters, organize training camps, visit clubs abroad to promote Storvretacupen.

Read the summary of how to create a sport federation

How Adam got into his sports job with content production in floorball

Adam shares some great advice on how to get a job in sports.

If you want to learn more about working with content production, Adam recommended the podcast, Social on the Sidelines

If you want to learn more about adding value, Adam recommends to read Gary Vee’s books, e.g. Jab Jab Jab Right Hook

Also, Adam had a question to the audience, feel free to answer in the comments below:

What is the content piece/social media post that has made you emotional or gotten your attention?

Watch some of Adam’s work in the videos below

The first video is Storvreta’s special intro.

The second video is a player presentation with one of the best player in floorball history, Anna Wijk.

Listen to the full episode in the player below or at your podcast player.

Storvreta Floorball Club: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Join the Sports podcast, Sport Views Podcast

Want to learn more, join Sports Views Podcast and the guests behind the scenes on Instagram, find them @sportviewspodcast. If you got any feedback or want to recommend any future guests feel free to let them know on Instagram or send them an email at sportviewspodcast@gmail.com

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

How to use LinkedIn to find a job in sports

How to create a great sports job application

Finding your passion and to work as an account manager at PUMA

How to find a sports management program?

08/01/202501/04/2021 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Student researching sports management programs online

Do you love sports and want to work in the sports industry? Maybe you lack the experiences and knowledge to find a sports job? Well then it could be a good step to study a sport management program. In this article we will share with you how to know if you should study sport management programs, what to consider, as well as what to know to study sport management programs.

Are you considering to study sport management?

Do you love sports and share the emotions of competitiveness or the leadership or social benefits? Sport Management is the program for you who want to work with leadership, organization and development in the sports, health, leisure and event sectors.

Are you interested in leading and developing the sports of the future in associations, federations, municipalities, companies and other organizations? Be part of the developments of a sports society that is characterized by inclusion, gender equality and entrepreneurship and that meets the challenges of the future.

Do you feel align with the above? Well then studying sport management might be something for you. As with everything it is important to make the right decision when studying at a university since the study time will be at least 3 years. There are so many different programs within the sport management field. You could study the managerial side of it, you could study the science part of sports or more the analytical side of it. Start thinking about your future job. What would you like to work with?

Make a list of tasks you would like to do. Then start identifying if you want to go abroad or not. Head over to the universities that offers sport management related programs and look through their study plan. Try to identify what sport management program that could help you explore those skills and areas of work that could take you on the journey to find your dream job in sports.

Here is a list of different topics and areas of sport management:

Sport Governance and Policy
Strategy, Leadership and Stakeholder Management in Sport
Sport Marketing
Sport Consumer Behaviour
Sport Events and Tourism
Sport, Media and Communication
E-Sport and Technology
Sport Facility Management
Sport Funding and Finance
Legal and Ethical Aspects of Sport
Public Health and Physical Activity Management
Sport Development and Socio-Cultural Perspectives
Sport Management Education
Broader, New and Critical Aspects of Sport Management

What can you work with from a sport management program

The job opportunities from a sport management program are plenty, however vacancies in the sports industry are quite hard to find. But when it comes to what you can work with in the sport management filed there are opportunities available in both the non-profit, public and private sectors. To start with, you have good conditions to influence your professional career during the sport management studies. You will have internship opportunities and you will write theses and you can of course also volunteer at different sporting events to try out different areas in the sports sector and see what you enjoy to do. Examples of professional titles in sports and leisure are: development consultant, sports and club manager, coach / trainer, sports manager, sport administrator, event manager, coordinator, media manager, facility manager, office manager and project manager. In addition, the core areas of sport management programs – management and organization – provide career opportunities in other sectors too.

Think about this before applying for sport management programs

Make sure to do your research about the different studies and their application processes. When to apply and how to apply. Do you want to study abroad? Do you want to go for an exchange semester? There are different benefits at each sport management program. Find out if you are eligible and make sure to contact the program manager in order to ask those questions you might have. It will be worth the time to ask those questions you might have when looking at the different sport management programs.

In order to find different sport management programs we have created this page where we have gathered the sports programs that are offered in the Nordics starting with sports programs in Denmark, then sports programs in Finland and then Norway and lastly Sweden.

What to know as a sport management student

Tons of people start every year a sport management education in order to later work in sports, to get that dream job. There are also lots of unanswered questions or hidden tips of how you actually getting through your education and getting closer to that dream job in sports. Check out this article if you want to get some advice about what to know as a sport management student.

Time to apply for sport management programs

Depending on you want to study abroad or not you need to apply several months ahead. For example, in Sweden, you can apply for sport management programs in the middle of the Spring or Fall. Make sure to do your research in time and take your decisions without any stress. You can find a mix of native speaking courses and programs to international Bachelor, Master and PhD programs in sport management at our list of sports studies in the Nordics here.

Good luck applying and we hope that you take a smart decision that brings you closer to your dream job in sports!

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

Dual career within sport management

Leadership through sport management – How to be innovative

What a current sport management student needs to know

How to create a sport federation

08/01/202511/03/2021 by Jakob Wikenstaal

The founder of USA Floorball Adam Troy with a camera

In this article we will share the story from Adam who built up a sport federation in the United States of America. You will learn what floorball is and how to get a job in sports. The full story is based on a podcast episode from Sports Views Podcast.

This is a shorter article based on an interview with Adam Troy from the Sport Views Podcast! The sport we are talking about is a well-known sport in Sweden so therefore we believe it is important to share this conversation with Adam. In this episode, you will learn a lot! Adam will share why he is unique in North America. You will learn about the sport Floorball and how he created USA Floorball, the floorball federation in the United States of America.

Furthermore, you will learn how Adam got into his job and floorball.

The worst and best experience with the American team.

Adam also shares some great advice on how to get a job in sports.

Listen to the full episode in the player below or at your podcast player.

USA Floorball: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Extra material When USA Floorball got smashed by Sweden

Join the Sports podcast, Sport Views Podcast

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

How to build a sustainable career in sports?

The modern leadership – how to be efficient

Leadership through sport management – How to be innovative

How to get a job in tennis

07/01/202508/03/2020 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Tennis arena that symbolize a journey from tennis player to sports management professional

If you are looking for a job within tennis, then we are happy to let you know that we will share an interview with one person who made this journey. From playing tennis to studying sport management and developing tennis in many ways. Let us find out how Emil achieved his dream, a job in sports.

MEET THE SPORTS INDUSTRY FROM THE INSIDE

Emil Holmgren – Club Office Manager at Växjö Tennissällskap (Växjö Tennis club)
Education background: Sport Management, Dalarna University

Emil Holmgren, Club Office Manager at Växjö Tennis Club

Why pursuing a career in sports?

You are working with a job in sports that many of us would call a dream job. How come you decided to pursue a career in sports? And mostly, why did you want to work in sports?

Sports has always played a big role in my life. As a kid I tried out many different sports, but at the age of eleven I fell in love with the sport Tennis. A few years later I had the opportunity to attend a School with an emphasis on sports. I then followed up with entering a High School specialized in tennis. During all this time I was competing in tennis on a national level.

With a lot of time spent at the tennis club in my city, Falun, I got highly involved with all things related to tennis, both playing and management. My next step into sport management at Dalarna University was quite smooth. The educational program already existed where I lived and I didn’t have to consider other options. The reasons why I decided to study sport management was actually more of a step towards working with tennis in the near future. My own tennis level wasn’t even close to going on the professional ATP Tour, but I wanted to stay in the field I love, tennis, and that is why I studied sport management.

How did you get involved with Tennis in Växjö?

I met my girlfriend in 2015 at the Swedish Open tournament, and she came from Växjö. Since a distance relationship is not optimal, I decided to move to her. I had the previous year already moved to Stockholm, working with the management running Kings of Tennis (ATP Champions Tour). I was sort of already on the move. During my time in Växjö it came quite natural for me to get in contact with tennis in the area. I reached out to Växjö Tennissällskap (Växjö Tennis club) and soon after that I was elected to the board. When the club decided it was vital to employ a club office manager, I got the opportunity.

The role of Sport Management education

Going back to your higher education in sport management. How was your student experience and how did it help you to get a career in the sport industry?

I look back at my student life as a positive experience. I never had to go through any major changes regarding my social life, I grew up in Falun and I knew my way around. The education itself was pretty good and it gave me a solid foundation for my future. One minor thing I missed was the opportunity to do internships, which wasn’t part of the program. But this was mostly a problem for all students coming from other cities and regions. Myself, I already had a great network and kind of “had my own internship” during the whole education, at my tennis club, Falu Tennis Club.

What steps did you take to close the gap from being a student to becoming a sport professional?

I did many hours on a volunteering basis at the tennis club in my hometown. Due to all the time spent there I managed to build up great working experience, and I think this was the key for my future career. I have had many different experiences throughout the years and that is actually my number one advice becoming a sport professional. There are so many graduates in sport management every year, how do you separate yourself from everyone else? You have to be unique in some way. My niche was to doing everything in tennis. At the age of 20, I had already been a board member at my club for two years, I had done an internship at Stockholm Open, been a referee in lots of ATP/WTA competitions. I had also been traveling on several tours together with Stefan Olson (one of the top players in a wheelchair) and helped him with sponsoring and social media. Lastly, I had also been part of the management group at Kings of Tennis for two years. Without all of these experiences, I would never have the job I have today.

Working experiences with Tennis

At your current position, what are your key responsibilities?

Operations, marketing and recruiting new tennis players are my key responsibilities. As the Club Office Manager, I am expected to know more or less everything concerning the club and its surroundings. Everything from facilities, the economy, our data systems, marketing and yeah probably a lot more. However, I like learning new things and if there are matters I don’t know about, I will make sure to get the right knowledge and solve the task.

Two things I really like doing, which is not in my job description, are taking photographs and doing graphical design. The good thing here is that we can use my personal interest outside tennis, to our benefit and have these skills in house. I am also working as a coach 8-10 hours weekly so we can keep the costs low in the club. I strongly believe sports clubs should recruit people with multi-functional skills.

What have been your focus since you started at Växjö TS?

Starting with our club’s position before I got here, the whole organization was in a good balance. However, there was a focus on the core operations at the facility ‘Strandbjörkshallen’. I noticed when I got here that we were lacking in our external communications, showing to our community what we actually were doing. That is why I started to create added value outside of our daily operations. For example, we have started the project ‘Tennis on the street’. This is a project by the Swedish Tennis Federation where children in less developed areas in Växjö can play tennis at no cost, two hours per week.

To date, we have improved our marketing skills and are making sure that we are telling how proud we are with our different developments. One of our most exciting projects coming up is ‘The tennis bus’. We are going to pick up children at their school and transport them to the tennis facility in our tennis van. We will provide them with snacks, a tennis practice between 2-3 pm and then we will have a daycare until their parents pick them up after work. This arrangement is a benefit for both the club and the parents. We get to fill up our courts earlier in the day and the parents do not have to worry about solving the logistics of life.

Last year (2019) I started to do some volunteer work with Hampus Linder-Olofsson, now ranked 2nd best wheelchair tennis player in Sweden. In this short period of time he has managed to win the Swedish Championship and the Nordic Championship, moved up from 350 in the world to around top 100. My purpose with this project is to improve and develop tennis by finding more para-athletes.

Getting a career in the sport industry

What tips do you have for students trying to get a career in the sport industry?

I mentioned it a bit earlier. Volunteer! Not only for one week at a competition. Provide your services to a local sports club. What can you bring to the table? Maybe you can run their social media? Or why not help them with their member’s registration. Can you help out at their café? All experiences you can get are worth something, just keep in mind that it might take a while before you land your dream job. Try to find a person to follow, talk to and exchange some ideas with. In my case, I did this with Mattias Pennonen at Falu Tennis Club, Per Hjertquist who managed Kings of Tennis and right now I have Tuomas Heinonen in Växjö.

Finding a new candidate in sports

Lastly, you have just completed a process of recruiting a new colleague. Could you explain how you knew that this person was the one?

Yes, we just recently hired Calle, as our sport director who will be working with me. He has been a coach at this club before and he is one of the best in the country according to the tennis community. We are happy to get him back to our club, which is really a result of all the hard work we have done, proofing that we are doing something great. Calle has a unique way to motivate both players and coaches to take the next step, to excel and grow. We both believe that the first two years interacting with tennis are incredibly important. If you manage to make a great impact, the chances are quite good that they will turn into a tennis ambassador for the rest of their lives.

And, what is your top 3 advice to other sports organizations when it comes to recruiting a new colleague?

I can only share my experience regarding tennis, and it is a rather small community, at least in Sweden. Everyone knows everyone. Just ask around and do not explicitly look for those with the best awards or achievements. Strive to get to know those who really love their work and are proud to work as, for example, a tennis coach.

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

How to build a sustainable career in sports?

2 tips to find a job in sports

3 ways to express passion for sports jobs

What a current sport management student needs to know

07/01/202523/02/2020 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Sport management Student try to Discover essential tips and strategies for the sports management career to enhance the education and secure a career in the sports industry.

Tons of people start every year a sport management education in order to later work in sports, to get that dream job. There are also lots of unanswered questions or hidden tips of how you actually getting through your education and getting closer to that dream job in sports. Therefore, you will get some advice about what to know as a sport management student.

Networking breakfasts are both tasty and inspiring

In early February, our founder, Jakob Wikenstaal, had the honor to talk to current sport management students at his former sport management university, Malmo University. During the past decade, sport management program have built up a great tradition at the program where a few networking sessions are taken place throughout each year. This is usually a setup like a breakfast event (of course free breakfast, need to think about the students) where about three people from the sports industry come and talk about their work experiences and sometimes also ask for interns or other help.

In the past few years, these networking breakfasts have been developed into always inviting alumni to do one talk, in order to inspire what other graduates have been up to after the studies. Jakob have been invited a few times and he always felt proud being asked to do a talk and to have the opportunity to talk about his journey so far. It is always great to show that the future sport managers have a lot of opportunities ahead.

This is what sport management students should be aware of

What Jakob did talk about during this breakfast was about what sport management students should be aware planning ahead. Jakob always focusing on how far you can go by trying out new tasks and being curious to meet new people.

How to get a job in sports?

Many students in sport management enter their first days at the university and have a hard time understanding how and what they can do to get a job in sports. But that is nothing to be scared of. Jakob had the same challenges. It is hard to know what skills you have and what value you could add to your surroundings.

How Jakob made this trip? Well, he created his own path. Jakob has been (and always is) curious and asking questions to experienced people in the sports industry. He is also reading a lot of different books, news, and trends on the web. All of these sources gives him a lot of inspiration and knowledge. Make sure to have different perspectives with different sources, which gives you a critical and more creative and open mindset and this has also been a good benefit in his career.

Jakob Wikenstaal´s personal advice to find a job in sports:

When looking at jobs, one working title doesn’t say everything about what that job means and require and if you would like it
Ask people that already know
Go out and volunteer
Keep asking yourself if you do and have tried tasks that you enjoy

Be unique and have your own USP

When it comes down to your name and another candidate to get the job, you need to make sure the recruiter chooses you. How? Well, you need to be different. Be unique and make sure you show it. This will be your unique selling point, USP. Find out at least one thing that is your unique selling point, why YOU? In order to get there, here are four ways to become a bit better than your competitors:

Do more than your future colleagues/job seekers
Read a little bit more
Get to know one person more
Say yes to that extra task

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

How to build a sustainable career in sports?

3 ways to express passion for sports jobs

For employers and job seekers in the sports industry

Why breadth is important for your career in sports

07/01/202512/12/2019 by Jakob Wikenstaal

Illustration showing the value of diverse skills in sports careers.

Do you think specialization in sports at an early age is better for success? Do you believe that the same perspective is applied to university education too? If you ask the NBA star Steve Nash, six‐time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, and 20‐time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, they would tell you no. No matter if you are a parent, a child or an adult, you will after reading or watching this understand why breadth is important for a career in sports.

Range

The Author David Epstein has written a book called, Range – Why generalists triumph in a specialized world. Thanks to this and the Productivity Game, there are two easily digestible ways to understand this book and its core message. First, a short summary will be presented and after that, you can watch the short video explaining the book a bit further.

Late specialization to find your dream job

What is the common reason why the three sports athletes would say no? As the Productivity Game says it: Other than being among the greatest to ever play their sport, they were all ‘late specializers.’

Nash grew up playing soccer and did not start playing basketball until he was 13.
Tom Brady spent much of his childhood playing baseball; he was drafted into professional baseball before football.
Roger Federer sampled a wide array of sports before focusing on tennis in his early teens.

The concept of Range is to build up a toolbox with a range of several skills

Epstein says, “One study showed that early-career specializers jumped out to an earnings lead after college, but that later specializers made up for the head start by finding work that better fit their skills and personalities.”

Sportidealisten’s founder, Jakob, has talked a lot about his own sport management education and its program’s breadth. A lot of sport management higher education programs are delivered in breadth and as a student, you may question this after graduating. Was this really a step closer to my dream job in sports? You might perceive that you only have a base layer of skills. However, with the concept of Range and plenty of opportunities for volunteering at different sporting events, there are great ways to finding your dream job in sports.

I have no sports education, how can I work in sports?

If you haven’t studied any sport management related to education, don’t worry! There are still many volunteering opportunities in sports. If you haven’t volunteered before, don’t stress. Take your first steps into the world of sports and your dream job in sports by asking your friends about any sports clubs they know or browse on the web for sports clubs and ask them to volunteer.

Patience is key to finding your dream job in sports

Take your time and accumulate a range of experiences and skills, but when you feel like you’ve experienced enough and you know yourself well enough, go deep on an interest and get really good.

At the end of the summary, a Career Change checklist is attached, in order for you to control your status of range. Make sure to ask yourself:

Has my current job become too procedural?
Do I interact with a diverse group of people?
Am I still learning (exposed to new experiences)?
Have I tried many different roles before specializing?

If you didn’t say yes to two or more of these four questions, you might want to think about changing your career.

If you are interested to know more about this book, please have it a go with the Productivity Game’s great Core Message video (9 minutes).

If you liked this article, may want to read these:

How to build a sustainable career in sports?

For employers and job seekers in the sports industry

3 ways to express passion for sports jobs