The Work in Sports Podcast - Insider Advice for Sports Careers

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Adam Fraser: Laureus Sport for Good, Chief Executive – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 30, 2019

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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 yesterday, and it gave me a whole different feeling.What does it mean for someone in your position, as Chief Executive of this organization,

Step One for your Job Search – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 28, 2019

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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.I began to see productivity change in my staff, as individuals, based on things like environment, pressure, social engagement,

Dr. Lea Thomann: US Soccer Federation Senior Manager of Sports Medicine Oct 23, 2019

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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 supporting women in STEM careers.I bring guests on this show to act as a blueprint for all of you -- a map of sorts, presenting you options, introducing you to potential paths, guiding you through the journey and showing you what is possible.Today’s guest is the perfect role model for all of our listeners attracted to the potential of STEM careers in sports - Dr.

Researching a Company To See If You Fit – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 21, 2019

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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, regarding the Best Damn Sports Show Period… and ended up in Seattle. Long story for another day.BUT, I chose my next venture. I chose to work at WorkInSports.com for many reasons.

Chris Grosse: Penn State Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 16, 2019

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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, listen and learn from those friends I have created in college athletics to better understand their world. A new friend in the mix, this weeks guest Chris Grosse -- Penn State Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing.Here’s Chris…Questions for Chris Grosse, Penn State Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing 1: Before we get into sports marketing in athletics, and life at a major university like Penn State – I want to go back to...

Does a Competency Based Resume Technique Work for the Sports Industry? Oct 14, 2019

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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, the question-- I’ll get to it.Kae wrote a pretty long question, so I’m going to paraphrase a bit -- Does anyone have experience writing a competency-based resume? OK, that’s paraphrasing a lot - she had about three more paragraphs of details, but suffice it to say it all led back to the core question on competency based resumes as they relate to the sports industry.

Katie Gillen: Atlanta United FC Manager of Social Media and Analytics Oct 09, 2019

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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, should I even bother learning the business of social media? Understanding their ad platforms? How to track impressions and data? How to understand the impact and reach? Should I bother?And I was screaming yes, yes, yes! And that proof has born out. Right now, at this very moment, there are 1,767 jobs active on our site related to social media.Again to give context -- in ALL of 2012, 1,

The Best Way to Show Off Your Soft Skills – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 08, 2019

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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, cover letter and in the interview process. I find it hard to show how great of a team player I am, but I know it is incredible important."Great question Justin!There are two major parts to the hiring process -- competency and cultural fit. Or you could call them hard skills and soft skills… but i kind of like competency and cultural fit...sounds better to me.

Mike Judge: Cleveland Browns Manager of Ticket Sales – Work In Sports Podcast Oct 02, 2019

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Mike Judge, Cleveland Browns Manager of Ticket Sales Joins the Work in Sports Podcast.This episode is a rebroadcast from March 28, 2018 - one of our fan-favorite episodes. 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 youFor more information go to the University of San Francisco’s Sport Management Master’s program WEBSITE at usfca.edu/smAnd the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by the Work In Sports Academy -- four different online courses designed to make you the best possible candidate for sports jobs. Just going to class and getting good grades is not enough to work in the sports industry! We’re going to teach you all the extra strategies and tactics you need to start implementing now if you want to really work in the sports industry.Check it out -- workinsports.com/academyHi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp VP of content and engaged learning at WorkInSports.com and this is the Work In Sports podcast…For 20 years the Cleveland Browns have been a miserable franchise. Sorry, that is harsh, but I think you’ll find it difficult to argue with me. Throughout the last 19 seasons, the Cleveland Browns have amassed 88 wins. Total. That is an average of 4.6 per season. 29 quarterbacks have come and gone. Last winning season... 2007. What is remarkable is how stalwart the fans are, through it all. Hue Jackson won one game over two years as head coach of the Browns but the fans still came. They still cheered. They still believed and hoped.Sure some of that goes to the overall power of the NFL and rules of scarcity -- there are only so many games on the calendar, it’s not like baseball or other sports with a plethora of opportunity to attend. But most of it goes to a really really good fan base. But now, even despite a rocky start to the 2019 season -- the Browns are the team everyone wants to talk about. Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham, Myles Garrett -- they have stars to market, potential to reap and hope to sell.But that doesn’t mean the job of today’s guest, Mike Judge Manager of Ticket Sales for the Cleveland Browns any easier. There is still much work to do to sell the experience of game day to a fan base that may still have some doubts.Here’s Mike Judge…Listen in to the episode to hear from Mike Judge, Cleveland Browns Manager of Ticket Sales!

NFL Agent Leigh Steinberg on the Work in Sports Podcast Sep 25, 2019

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Hey everybody, I’m Brian Clapp, VP of Content and Engaged Learning for WorkInSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.Two years into this podcast and over a quarter-million downloads, I still get nervous before every single interview. The process of interviewing is daunting, I love it, it gives me great joy, but there is this overwhelming concern for sounding like an idiot or asking a dumb question.Often, due to technology, there is a bit of a lag before you hear the other person responding. Those few seconds can feel like a lifetime! I ask a question...and then it’s silent for a moment, and in that brief window you can convince yourself, “Oh my gosh, did I just not make any sense and they are thinking right now, how do I answer this garble?”Your heart races, and then they start to answer. Phew. Crisis averted. I spend so much time crafting my questions and researching, primarily because I am so afraid of sounding ridiculous and losing the respect of my guest. And then I get into the actual interview and don’t want to sound rehearsed so I start adlibbing… and I babble on and on.Does any of this sound familiar? Hit a little close to home?While this is all very true for me, I pretty much guarantee it is true for you as well during your interview process. You are smart, so you research and prepare. You are savvy, so you don’t want to sound rehearsed.But you are also afraid to miss out on this opportunity, so nerves can take over. You want this to work out - it matters to you - so you put pressure on yourself to do well. Pressure is a tricky thing, it affects everyone differently - Tom Brady handles pressure better than Matt Ryan. Reggie Miller is better under pressure than Nick Anderson. Is that too old of a reference?1995 Nick Anderson of the Orlando Magic missed 4 free throws in the final seconds of Game 1 of the NBA finals against the Rockets which opened the door for the Rockets to win and then sweep the young Shaq led Magic -- that was so painful to watch. Does anybody remember Rick Ankiel? Top pitching prospect of the St. Louis Cardinals… electric stuff. I had him on my fantasy team back in the day. The kid had all the talent in the world, comes in second in the 1999 rookie of the year voting, lighting it up in 2000… then game 1 of the playoffs comes around, cruising through 2 innings against the Braves and Greg Maddux...and all of a sudden he can’t find the plate. He’s throwing it behind guys, 10 feet off the plate, wild pitches walks...he was a mess. Never the same as a pitcher. Pressure affected him. So how do you deal with this? How do you get yourself ready for an interview so that you can be your best and not succumb to these thoughts of “what if?”For me, I’ve learned that having perspective makes all the difference. I think back to high school and college, how many tests I took or papers I wrote that stressed me out, I thought they were the lynchpin to my success. But today, I couldn’t tell you about a single one of them. Those moments I thought were life-changing… weren’t. All the stress, anxiety and nervousness ended up being wasted emotions in the grand scheme of things. Then I remember, this moment is what defines me. Michael Jordan didn’t make the varsity team in high school. At the time, he may have doubted he was good enough or thought this was a life-defining moment. It wasn’t. JK Rowling was rejected by 30 publishers who thought Harry Potter wasn’t marketable. Oprah was fired as a Baltimore news anchor. You will have multiple chances at everything in your life -- jobs, relationships, interviews -- don’t build pressure into the equation on each one. Breathe. Be the best version of you.Now, with all that said, I interviewed Leigh Steinberg for this here podcast and was nervous as could be. Nobody is perfect...but as you’ll hear in this podcast interview, I don’t think my nerves affected my performance. Even Leigh said to me afterward...that was really good.

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