Is it possible to get a job with a major sports team without knowing somebody on the inside? I just applied for a position with an NBA team that i'm very qualified for and I fear that I wont even get a call back simply because you get the feeling its one of those jobs that you have to know somebody in order to get. Mind you, this is pretty much my dream job. Can anybody put a positive spin on this before I start getting depressed?
Reality: It's not what you know, it is who you know. Especially with high profile/high applicant rate jobs - just think how many people have the same dream to work for a sports team and applied.
Yup, I realize that. At the same time I hope the fact that I don't know anybody or come recommended by anybody that it doesn't automatically disqualify me. I hope they take the time to actually review my application and my credentials. Oh well....we'll see.
True True. I work for a state university so when ever there is a job opening, we have to post it nationally. However, if there's a person at the university applying for the job, they usually get it because the people giving the interviews all know that person. Alot of people are related at where I work. Either network or start from the basement.
Sorry to depress you, but don't get your hopes up. As someone posted above, it's who you know. Either you know or you start at the bottom and get to know. People don't apply for jobs at least in college athletics. I've learned that a job posting is just a formality. There's always a chance so it doesn't hurt to apply.
I would imagine there is always a chance. Even in my corporation, there is a lot of networking, however, there are always some openings that they are really looking for a good external candidate that meets their needs.
Even if you don't know anyone at the company you applied to, if you know someone from a competing company that will go to bat for you, it might help. For example, if you know somebody at the Hornets, and you can get them to call their counterpart at the Rockets org and recommend you, that would help. If you don't know anybody at all... well....
I have a job with a major Houston sports team and I didn't know a single person on the inside. It isn't that high of a position but there are people who get hired within the organization that don't have any connections, but obviously it couldn't hurt.
Truthfully, it's hard to break into sports without knowing someone. I got my internship(s) with the Cowboys back in college through connections and connections only. Once I got a little experience, though, I was able to parlay that into a full-time job in sports (well, uh, sports-ish). Fair warning: As much as I love sports, I just got out of the industry because the pay was unacceptable. (Technology pays SO much better. )
How about a technology job within the sports industry? oh hold on.. that's what i am currently doing too : p
Heh, that was my secondary job, as I did some LAN administration on the side for no extra pay. (I told you sports pay sucks.) Personally, the best of both worlds would be to work a sports job in a tech company, NOT work tech in a sports company. At least then, there would be SOME advancement possibilities. Is your team chaotic and horribly managed from an organizational standpoint? That was my impression of the Cowboys, and I'm wondering if all sports teams are similar. Might just be the nature of the beast.
Absolutely agreed. I don't think all sport organizations are like that, the team I'm with is actually really organized and managed pretty well for the most part.
