The Work in Sports Podcast - Insider Advice for Sports Careers

Latest Episodes:

7 Things You Need to do in College to Prepare for your Sports Career Aug 27, 2018

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In this episode we dig into the deeper purpose of college. How to really leverage the college experience into a sports job.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…The purpose of this show, our mission statement you could say, is pretty simple – we’re trying to help people like you start or grow their career in the multi-billion dollar global sports industry.For all the similarities that the sports industry have to any other business, there are also many subtle and not so subtle specifics that can help you become the person sports employers want.Why sports? Why should you pursue a career in something like sports? I’ll break it down to you like this:From an economic standpoint – the sports industry is consistent, in good times and bad economically, sports still thrives. In fact during the last major US recession… The Economist said “the sports industry by and large is holding up to the recession better than most industries.”Why, because people still pay to see their heroes perform, to entertain, to escape the troubles of life or to add to them. Sports do well in various market conditions.But on a more emotional standpoint – why work in sports? Because it’s something you feel passionate about. It’s something you choose to do. When you pick up your phone in the morning, you check ESPN.com, when you flip through channels you go to FS1 – sports doesn’t feel like work, because it’s something you are genuinely interested in.But it is, it is work. It is a huge global industry – it does take specific skills and methods to achieve greatness – which is why we are here.If you aren’t familiar with our site – WorkinSports.com – let me learn you a little something. We work with over 8,000 sports employers to promote their job openings. We put all the active jobs in one spot, so you can easily find and apply for your next dream position. We’re a service, saving you time and money, by helping you find sports jobs you wouldn’t otherwise know about. We’ve been doing this for almost 20 years… we can really help you.As for this podcast – Mondays are question and answer day – you ask the questions, I answer them. Who am I? Well, I’m Brian, I’ve been in the sports industry for 20 years primarily in the sports media, at CNN/Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports. I’ve been in charge of staffing, budgets, producing content, managing workflows, interviewing and a whole lot more. Plus I’ve interviewed 200+ sports executives on what they look for in employees… so I’m a source of information for you.On Wednesdays I interview industry experts – for example this Wednesday – Leigh Steinberg, super agent. If you haven’t heard of him…you don’t know sports. (Jerry Maguire was based on him).So that’s the rundown – I don’t do this everytime, but we are getting tons and tons of new listeners each week and sometimes I like to set the table for everyone.Now let’s get into today’s question –“Hey Brian, this is Aaliyah from Alabama – I’m going into my freshman year of college and I really want to make my college career productive and efficient. You’ve talked a great deal about how someone should prepare for their job search while in college…but I’m curious, are there other things we should be doing while in college to make ourselves really attractive to employers and marketable?”This is a fun question Aaliyah and as always…I have a few ideas that can help:1: Frame your mind around this – your GPA doesn’t mean squat2: Avoid as much debt as you can3: Play a sport…on the real team, club team, intramural team – whatever4: Use your Career Center5: Become really good friends with LinkedIn6: Work on your listening and conversational skills7: Define your ideal companies early… study themListen to the whole episode for all the details on these points!

Evan Feinstein: Marketing College Athletics in the ACC – Work in Sports Podcast e112 Aug 22, 2018

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Sports marketing takes on many forms, in this episode we delve into the marketing efforts behind big time college athletics, from'dorm storms' to data mining, with Evan Feinstein Wake Forest Assistant Director of Marketing. Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the work in sports podcast!I have to deal with a pet peeve off the top of this episode, and I know I’m not alone in my hatred of this cliché…When people say ‘it’s not what you know, but who you know’ it makes me want to throw up.This to me is the classic old school thinking, that if you network and schmooze and have the brightest smile in the room you’re the one that’ll get the jobs.I think this is crap.Back in the 90’s when I first broke into the sports industry… yes, that long ago … this saying way kind of true. I worked with at least 10-15 people who were related to famous people in the industry. Former players kids, sports columnist kids, sports executive kids.You know what… they all stunk at their job. They didn’t last – they stunk and they flamed out. Their parents worked hard to get where they were, and earned their success, but not the kids. Just knowing someone back then, got them in the door… but they failed. All of us nobodies were the ones who worked hard, scrapped and clawed for everything we got, worked long hours and proved ourselves day in and day out.We survived, but more than that we thrived.Maybe I’m giving too much credit to employers, but I think they began to openly question at some point… why are we treating hiring as a favor? We need staff that can achieve, we need staff that will work, we need staff that has talent.I saw this change take place first hand. No longer were people being hired based on who they knew…they had to prove they could do the job or else.So again – this theory of who you know superseding what you know is complete bunk – shared endlessly by old school thinkers.The truth, as it is with most things lies in the middle. The saying should be “learn the right skills and meet the people – that’s the formula for success” but that doesn’t fit as nicely on someone’s seascape meme in airy cursive print.I didn’t know anyone coming out of college, and I was hired by CNN. Why? Because I had the skills they needed.Every employer I talk to says they are looking for people with “it” – and when they say that, what they mean is the intersection of skills and passion.That is the formula.I can’t deny that networking is important and getting to know people in the industry is invaluable… but unless you combine that with the right skill and experience, it just doesn’t matter anymore.Just networking isn’t enough.Just having a parent in the industry isn’t enoughJust knowing a guy in the sales department at team X…isn’t enough.You need all of it.So to say it’s not what you know it’s who you know just makes me angry. Because it is what you know. And it is who you know. And in most cases neither survives very long without the other.This weeks guest Evan Feinstein Assistant Director of Marketing at Wake Forest University knows this better than most – he was fearful he’d struggle to get a job in college athletics because he didn’t have the contacts… but you know what he did have? Internship experience, passion and a willingness to put in the work.I’ll let him tell you the rest of his story…But first!Registration is open for our Sports Career Accelerator 2-day event! For just $398 you will experience a 2-day immersive learning and networking event with the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons, United, College Football Hall of Fame and more.Get behind the scenes access to team operations and facilitiesLearn from and ask questions of top executives from the major sports teamsWe will submit a personal portfolio for you to all of the teamsThis is the type of event that will give you the network, to go with your skills! (Like what I was just talking about!)We are limiting this to the first 40 qualified people,

Improving your Likability Factor with Employers – Work in Sports Podcast episode 111 Aug 20, 2018

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Want to know the secret to improving your likability with potential employers? We have it on this episode of the Work in Sports podcast.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Before we get into this weeks question I want to give you all a really really good update.We opened up registration for our Sports Career Accelerator event last week… and the response was excitement, coupled with some anguish. Many of you said, I love this event, I want to come… but it’s a little expensive, I’m not sure I can afford it.Well, we heard you so we got to work over the last week trying to figure out how to reduce costs and pass savings on to all of you.I can’t get into all the details yet, but suffice it to say we got really creative, and we did it.We are dropping the price by $200!So now you can register for our Sports Career Accelerator event, spend two days with me in Atlanta…plus executives with the Braves, Falcons, United, Hawks, College Football Hall of Fame and more, learning and networking…for just $399.Many of you also asked for a payment plan… so guess what, we did that too! You can pay in two installments of $199 and spread out the costs.We want you to be at our event, it’s going to be special, so we’re doing all we can to make it work for all of you. So please visit workinsports.com / Tremont / atlanta and get this thing rolling!Now onto today’s question – from Tony in St.Louis – Tony before we get into your question.. a round trip flight from St. Louis to Atlanta… $200 on Expedia. Not too bad!“Hi Brian – I’m a big fan of your podcast, thanks so much for all the help you provide all of us listeners and aspiring sports workers! My question is related to soft skills, so many of your guests talk about the importance of things like attitude and charisma and work ethic… which makes sense. But I find some people light up a room naturally, and I envy that from them. I’m not that guy, I’m a little shy, a little reserved, a little less gregarious than others…but I am no less smart and no less talented than they are. So how do I get across my soft skills so that people can see how talented I am and deserving of a job?”Damn Tony – I love your open and honest vulnerability here. on the podcast episode we discuss:Two words - Be Curious. When to ask questionsHow to ask thoughtful questionsOpen ended questionsAvoiding the sports talk radio conundrumBeing a good listenerStart with whyListen in and you'll get some great advice from Brian on increasing your likability and soft skills with potential employers.You want to stand out from the crowd, be likable and emotionally intelligent? You want to master the soft skills? Practice these techniques and ask thoughtful questions – that’s how you will warm yourself up to people.

Betsy Lauritzen: New Media in College Athletics – Work in Sports podcast e110 Aug 15, 2018

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We're exploring new media in college athletics with Betsy Lauritzen, Assistant Director of New Media for Fresno State Athletics!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast.One of my favorite stories to date happened on the podcast interview you are about to hear with Betsy Lauritzen, Assistant Director of New Media for Fresno State Athletics.But before I get into that first a little backstory on how the sausage is made.I reach out to people all the time about being on the podcast, some are just starting their career and have a great story to tell on breaking in, some are in management and more established, some are executives and can really share about the hiring and firing process… and then I go for the big swingers too.Most of the time… hello Theo Epstein… they don’t respond. But sometimes they do. Jack Mills, agent for Baker Mayfield, that was a pretty big one. And coming up in a few weeks Leigh Steinberg, agent for a record 8 1st overall picks.With guys like Leigh, I can come up with hundreds of questions because there is so much information out there about them and their career. I try to come up with unique angles, but again, the big swingers make for easy question development.But with some of the newer, younger, high rising people in the industry like todays guest… I have to go on gut instinct a lot. I write up questions in advance, and I have a framework for what I want to ask… but I have no idea what will work and what will lead us to an interesting conversation.So you can imagine my excitement when I asked Betsy a question from my rough outline and she responded “this is one of my absolute favorite stories that I have about the sports industry.”For me, excited guests who are anxious to share an impactful story from their career is like being handed a heaping dessert prepared by some fancy chef and then being told, magically, that this will not add any inches to my gut.It’s pure satisfaction.So betsy went on to explain how she got her first internship with the Dallas Mavericks – an internship and opportunity that she should have had to fight tooth and nail to get. But, as you’ll hear shortly, what she really had to do was care, have a moment of sacrifice and take advantage of an opportunity.That’s a big lesson in this interview – caring about your career, pushing towards your goals…all of it really matters.But before we talk to Betsy I want to remind everyone that registration is now open for our Sports Career Accelerator event September 13-14th in Atlanta.You know by now that by registering you will get to learn the business of sports hands on from executives and staff of the Hawks, Falcons, Braves, College Football Hall fo Fame, United and more.But here’s the big thing – everyone you talk to in the sports industry will tell you getting into this industry is about who you know. Well, this is your chance to get to know these high-level people within these huge organizations.We will have a special networking event on the first night, and all these team execs and more from other agencies, smaller teams, local businesses…will be there networking and sharing with all of you. This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for…and even if you don’t live in Atlanta, we picked that location because it is a very easy direct flight from many locations.And if you want to work in sports, as I’ve said about 100 times on this podcast, you need to be ready to relocate. I started my career in Atlanta, and I’m a Boston guy… it’s a great city and the teams and opportunities are awesome… so register already!Visit Work in Sports.com / Tremont / atlantaTremont Sports are our partner in this so again, to register visit WorkinSports.com / Tremont / AtlantaNow here’s Betsy!Questions for Betsy Lauritzen Assistant Director of New Media, Fresno State Athletics1: New Media is one of those broad job titles where it can mean so many things,

The Very Honest Networking Tips You Need to Hear – Work in Sports Podcast e109 Aug 13, 2018

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People are clumsy and awkward at networking, myself included. These honest, raw tips will help you form a networking game plan that will work.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…For those of you new to the podcast, every Monday I answer a fan question regarding their sports career… if you have a question you want answered on the show, email me at podcast@workinsports.com – or you can connect with me on Linkedin and ask there…or better yet, join our private facebook group by searching for the Work in Sports podcast on facebook.Now here’s the deal about that – real quick note – when you ask to join there are three questions you need to answer. This is how I know you are legit, and not a Kenyan overload who just needs my social security number to send me 5 million in Kenyan Schillings.It’s pretty simple – what is your favorite episode of the show, who would you like me to get as a guest, and have you given the show a review.Just say something to prove to me you are actually interested in being part of a group that is talking about sports careers. If you don’t answer the questions, I assume you don’t have a real interest in networking with like minded individuals pursuing their sports career. So answer the questions!Also, if you submit a good question and I answer it here on Mondays… you get a free month at Work in Sports.com the leading job board for the sports industry. Seriously, we’ve been doing this for 20 years, we are the number one job board for the sports industry, with over 7,000 available jobs right now, and last I checked you only need one…sounds like pretty good odds!So that covers Mondays… on Wednesday’s I interview sports industry experts about their career, how they got started, what they look for when hiring, challenges they face… all the good stuff.We’ve had on people from every major sports league in just about every possible role you can imagine. The good news is, all of the past episodes are just as relevant today as they were the day they published…so go back and listen, lots of great guests and information!Alright, let’s get to today’s question --Great question this week from Wes in Indiana,“Hi Brian, this is Wes in Indiana (thanks Wes but I think we already established that) I’ve been reading about your sports career accelerator event coming up in September and I’m strongly considering going. You mentioned there will be an big networking event the first night with executives from the major sports teams, local minor league teams, agencies, and other sports organizations. That in and of itself sounds like an incredible opportunity.But here’s my question. I’m never sure how to behave or engage with people at these kinds of events. Do you have any tips to maximize the experience?”Wes, great question.I am not a natural born networker. I admire the people who can just step out there and are so comfortable in their own skin. Listen in to the podcast episode for more details on how to network with sports executives1: Change your frame of mind. – they’ve been asked to attend, they are there, they knew when they agreed to coming what it would be like. Embrace that fact.2: Have a game plan – no life stories, quick intro, get into a specific question. Duringt he conversation try to slip in things you have done.Let’s role play shall we:You introduce yourself – eye contact and handshake. Hi I’m Brian, I’m a senior at the University of Delaware, studying sports management – how are you?Great/wonderful/excellentYou: "One thing I’m really trying to get a better understanding of is what employers are looking for when hiring, so for you what is the most important skill you look for when hiring new staff”Your target says “well, I want someone who has revenue generating experience, the ability to sell product and affect the bottom line is a skill every business needs”You: "That makes a lot of sense, during my internship last year with the Baltimore Orio...

James “JB” Bryant: Taking The Next Step to Management Aug 08, 2018

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The more you can prepare for an eventual role in management, the better off you will be. In this episode Colorado Rapids Manager of Inside Sales James Bryant talks about the management skills you need to develop starting now!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Of the 107 episodes so far on the Work in Sports podcast I’d say about 80% of the content is steered towards advice to achieve that first entry level job in the sports industry.Of course, we talk with experts in the field about their careers, but even then I tend to ask question like, what are you looking for when you hire new staff…or how did you get your first job in sports.I’m always leaning into the concept of “getting started”.Makes sense, so many of you are in school, recently graduated, or changing careers into sports.But this episode we’re taking a completely different approach. We’re talking about management skills.Now, before you turn this off, thinking management?! I need an entry level job before I can start thinking management!Well, you’re thinking too short term.Management skills like leadership, mentoring, training, setting strategy, building culture – these are all things that the earlier you become familiar with and start building your own personal approach to these subjects, the faster you will grow.Imagine this for a second – you’re an entry level employee, and you show yourself as a leader, you ask questions about strategy, you help out other team members with their training… these will show your bosses you are management material. That you aren’t just clocking in a clocking out, finishing your daily to do list and then hiding in the corner somewhere not to be noticed.When I was at CNN Sports Illustrated, there were probably about 20-30 production assistants hired all at once, we were all on a level playing field. But in a short time we started to differentiate ourselves for various reasons. Some of us took on bigger roles by being ambitious and always saying yes, some of us displayed natural leadership skills, some were better than others at time management.All of these people stood out.Then there were others…they would get their daily assignments, goof off for hours, and then hustle to get their lists done right before we went to air. Or they would do all of their assignments, then hide out away from seeking eyes, preferring to remain anonymous than take on a new challenge.These people didn’t grow.The point is, even if you are in a situation where your only focus is getting an internship or a first job… it is still the time to learn more about management, because that is where you are headed, and the more you can prepare for that eventual day, the faster that day will come.So let’s talk about today’s guest a little, James Bryant - who from this moment forward will be referred to as JB because that’s what he prefers – is the Manager of Inside Sales for the Colorado Rapids. He broke into the industry with Sporting KC as a Sales Associate and after two years moved to the New York Yankees for four years in premium sales and season ticket retention.And then the opportunity came… the Colorado Rapids came calling, recruiting JB to become a Manager of the Inside Sales staff. JB jumped at the chance and now two years later is sharing with all of us some of the incredible things he has learned in his management role.But before we get to JB -- a reminder! Registration is open for our Sports Career Accelerator event September 13-14th in Atlanta! Executive staff with the Hawks, Falcons, Braves, United, College football hall of fame and more will walk you through their jobs, answer questions, network and engage… plus if that isn’t enough… I’ll be there too!I’ll be hanging out with all of you, and conducting some live podcasts… interviewing some of our guest speakers, and many of the attendants too to give a first hand vibe on all that is happening.This is going to be a blast,

What’s the Deal When Entry Level Jobs Say They Want Experience? Aug 06, 2018

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Why do some entry level jobs want 2 years experience? What do they mean by experience and should I bother applying? Good Question! Let's get into it:Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…Let’s talk about the Sports Career Accelerator event September 13-14th in Atlanta -- we are super excited about this event, and I have to admit so much of our excitement is based on your enthusiasm. It’s infectious! As so many of you have asked for more information, or told us you are really excited, that has helped push us forward, and motivated us to make this the best event you have ever been a part of.For fans of this podcast we are opening registration tomorrow! Tuesday August 7th. I will be sharing a registration link on our Private Facebook Group page – and I will be emailing personally all the people who have entered their name on our early interest list.You will get the first crack at registration for this one of a kind event.Then we will open registration to the public on Wednesday…my hope is all of you fill it up first, so we don’t even have to bother with the non-listeners. How cool would it be for this event to be filled up with all for you ambitious fans?!I will be at the event personally, so this will be a meetup of sorts too. And I’m telling you, the guests speakers and networking opportunities wil blow your socks off.Now, many of you are probably wondering… Hey Brian, didn’t you say last week that registration would open for us on Monday?Yes I did. But we had some tech glitches this weekend, so we are spending today testing everything to make sure it works correctly before we open to up registration to you. We want registration to be smooth and seamless, and I’d rather wait a day, than have tech mistakes we can avoid.That’s life…sometimes you need to adjust!Anyway look for the registration info tomorrow and let’s get this done!On to today’s QA session question, this one comes from Ethan in Minnesota –Ethan writes in –“Hi Brian, love the podcast thank you so much for the content you share. I’m graduating from college in the spring and as you suggest I’m reading job descriptions now so that I can figure out the gaps I should fill in during my senior year. (SO SMART!).One thing I am noticing is that many jobs that claim to be entry level are asking for two years experience – which seems to contradict the words entry level! Are these jobs I should ignore? Or apply to anyway…what’s the deal here?!” Ethan what a great question – frustrating isn’t it? Entry level jobs want so much experience… how does that work?Let’s separate the fact from fiction and dig into the reality of the job market.1: What do job requirements really mean?2: What does experience really mean?3: Customize your resume and cover letter 4: Shot gun vs. targeted5: Gap AnalysisListen to the episode to find out more details on this entry level jobs discussion!

Megan Ebeck: Getting Inside the Event Marketing Game – Work in Sports Podcast e106 Aug 01, 2018

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Arena Marketing Manager Megan Ebeck is the queen of multi-tasking, marketing over 150 events each year including San Jose Sharks home games, US Figure Skating Championships, Nitro Circus and a bevy of concerts. How does she do it? Listen in and learn. Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast…I have this incredible fear of details. Sound weird right, so many people fear sharks and heights and I fear details.But let me explain – I have this recurring nightmare that I tell people to show up somewhere important, somewhere I need them to be…but I give them the wrong date and time to be there. This also happens to me in the day, I have panic moments of getting and sharing information wrong.Sick right?Someone in our audience will probably interpret that dream and tell me I’m crazy, or I have daddy issues…we’ll see.But I think a lot of that comes from my journalism background where you are always so concerned with inadvertently providing false information and losing credibility.So that is one of my many issues – fear of details. One thing I’ve realized lately is that it isn’t just media roles who are obsessed with the details, it’s marketing. There is no room for error!Imagine for a second you are promoting an event and give a wrong date…or spell the name wrong of someone you are helping brand, or mischaracterize a products use and function.Sports marketing jobs take extreme attention to detail. Just think of the daily challenges this weeks guest Megan Ebeck, Arena Marketing Manager for the SAP Center, Home of the San Jose Sharks takes on…Megan conducts marketing efforts for 41 Sharks home games, 34 San jose barracuda games (their minor league affiliate) and then US figure skating championships, Nitro Circus and other sports events like the Harlem Globetrotters …and then the entertainment focus of her job… Nicki Minaj? Fleetwood Mac? Panic! At the disco – yep she’’s marketing that too.Details matter for Megan every single day. Keeping straight multiple clients needs, event details and marketing tone and voice through a blur of events… it’s a crazy pile of details she needs to keep straight.Enough me talking… let’s hear more about Megan’s job as Arena Marketing Manager for the SAP center, Home of the San Jose Sharks… from herBut first… the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by WorkinSports.com not only are we the #1 job board for the sports industry, we are also hosting our first Sports Career Accelerator 2-day event September 13th-14th in Atlanta. We’re constantly looking for ways to serve our fan base better, and after much research and focus groups we determined what you wanted was more hands-on career focused events. But we didn’t want some basic career fair, we wanted to turn the volume up.This two day event will put you behind the scenes and networking with executives and staff form the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons, United, College Football Hall of Fame, Mercedes Benz Stadium Phillips arena and more.Learn, network and engage with experts in the sports industry!We are limiting this event to the first 40 people because we want to keep this intimate and give you one on one exclusive time with our incredible guests.For more information and to be added to our interest list – visit workinsports.com/atlantaThis event will crush any career event you’ve ever participated in before. Trust me.And now… it’s time for Megan Ebeck, Arena Marketing Manager for the SAP Center, Home of the San Jose Sharks!Questions for Megan Ebeck, Arena Marketing Manager SAP Center, Home of the San Jose Sharks1: You manage the marketing for the SAP center, which is home of the San Jose Sharks, technically you work for Sharks Sports and Entertainment, but the Sharks are just the main tenant – you have over 150 events each year you are in charge of marketing for – take us through the scope and overall breadth of your role--2: How does the approach to marketing change from something ...

Mastering the Art of the Job Interview – Work in Sports podcast e105 Jul 30, 2018

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Three great questions came in this week on job interviewing, so why not handle all three?!Hi everybody, I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports podcast –Before we get into this week’s qa session I want to remind you all about our upcoming Sports Career Accelerator event coming up September 13-14th in Atlanta.Before you say – darn! I don’t live it Atlanta – I’d like to point out that right around 2,600 direct flights come into Atlanta per day. So this event is in reach.But why should you care? I’ll tell you why –This 2-day event will feature learning and networking opportunities with leaders inside the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons, the darlings of the MLS the United, the College Football Hall of fame and more.You will get exclusive facility tours and see behind the scenes of the operations of all these major franchisesYou will have one on one personal time with all the executive hosts, where you can ask questions and networkWe will submit a professional portfolio on your behalf to all of the teams.We are limiting the event to 40 people so that we can keep this small, intimate and impactful!We will be opening registration early for podcast fans and people who submit their email via our early interest page …which is at workinsports.com/atlanta.Questions – you can ask me via our private facebook group – search the work in sports podcast on facebook, join the group, or via LinkedIn, or via our podcast@workinsports.com email account.So go ahead, ask me anything.Now onto today’s question:I’m actually combining 3 similar questions into one theme – This week I received three good questions about job interviewing, so let’s handle them all.1: This question comes in from Alanna in Wheaton, Illinois –Hi Brian, love the podcast thank you so much for your time and effort, Can’t wait til the Career Accelerator event, a flight from Chicago to Atlanta is only 1 hour 32 minutes and $110 round trip. Ok I added that part. Alanna didn’t say that, but it does give me a chance to show how cheap it is to fly to atlanta!OK Ok her question – How much research into the company should I do before hand…I mean they want to know more about me, so isn’t it more important to really nail my story, rather than theirs?Alanna – it’s a good question but you are coming at it the complete wrong way.I like to start at the end goal and work my way back in every situation.In an interview the goal is to get hired, right? To win them over, impress them with your talents and make them feel like you are the right fit for the job.Ok so that’s the end goal. How do we get there?Think of a venn diagram, where you are one circle and the company is another circle. You are thinking of this as if the two circles don’t overlap. This is about you, and they are them.But in reality, the overlap between you and the company is the sweet spot, it is about you together as one, and the only way to show how you two meld is by doing research into the company – tons of it.You need to be able to tell your story through the lens of the hiring company, -- how your skills align, how their projects line up with your ambitions, how their areas of growth are the direction you want to head.And the only way you know these things is through research.You want to know their culture – their brand tone and voice – their clients – their projects – what staff says about working there – the background of the person who would be your boss.I could keep going but those were just off the top of my head… you can see how each of these things relates to how you may handle a question during the interview.If their brand voice is dry and technical, maybe that’s the vibe you need to throw in your interview. If they are fun and mercurial, that is your vibe.If they are working with a minor league baseball team on a branding initiative and you have experience one summer working at a minor league team – you can say something really smart like “ I noticed you are working wi...

LA Clippers Joe Legaz: Straight Talk About Jobs in Sports Marketing Jul 25, 2018

Show notes

Do you want to work in sports marketing? Joe Legaz Director of marketing for the LA Clippers joins the show to discuss openly and honestly what you need to make it in sports marketing.Hi everybody I’m Brian Clapp Director of Content for WorkinSports.com and this is the Work in Sports Podcast…In pro sports we’ve entered a world of exacting specialization.Take the NBA for example – three and D players. I want you to hit open threes and play tough defense. That’s it, that is your exact role. Don’t worry about the other stuff, just focus on being the best at this piece in the game. a guy like Trevor Ariza, you won’t see his name on any top 20 lists, or even top 75, but he’s carved out a specific role that is in high demand…and he’s turned it into about 84 million in lifetime earnings.Not too shabby.Same thing in baseball – guys who can get on base are still all the rage. Or how often have you heard about guys with the right launch angle?Football --- guys who can set the edge in the run, or clog up the middle, or receiving backs. Coaches and general managers have figured out they need to lower their expectations and focus intently on the things they do well. Putting players in a position to thrive, now that is the art of leadership.BUT, the true superstars… the Kawhi Leonards, the Kevin Durants, the Mike Trouts, the JJ Watt’s – they do it all. Put them in any role and they will destroy the competition.Harder to find, but pure gold when you do.The same holds true for the sports industry.Say someone wants to work in marketing, well there are a whole list of skills they could lean in to --Digital. Branding. Social Media. Promotions. Sponsorship. Design. SEO.Most people nowadays are specializing – and there is nothing wrong with that – but someone who works in promotions may have no idea what it means to work in branding. And someone who wants to work in content strategy may not know anything about design or working with media buyers.But, the true superstars are dangerous everywhere. Versatility rules. Being the person your boss knows can do just about anything has power and puts you in line for growth and promotion.So while there is nothing wrong with being specialized, oftentimes the quality you want to aim for is resourceful.Today’s guest knows this better than most – Joe Legaz is the Director of Marketing for the LA Clippers, and has also worked in sports marketing for the San Francisco Giants, adidas, the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Mariners. He knows what it takes to make it in this business, and how to stand out from the crowd – listen in and learn from this leader of the sports industry…But first… the Work in Sports podcast is brought to you by.. well, workinsports.com – I’m promoting our own event! We have a Sports Career Accelerator 2-day event coming up September 13th-14th in Atlanta. This two day event will put you behind the scenes and networking with executives and staff form the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons, United, College Football Hall of Fame, Mercedes Benz Stadium Phillips arena and more.We are limiting this event to the first 40 people because we want to keep this intimate and give you one on one exclusive time with the leaders of the sports industry.For more information and to be added to our interest list – visit workinsports.com/atlantaThis event will crush any career event you’ve ever participated in before. Trust me.Now here’s LA Clippers Director of Marketing Joe Legaz…Questions for LA Clippers Director of Marketing, Joe Legaz1: Sports Marketing is one of the more popular fields in the industry – over 25% of the available sports jobs we have on our website are related to marketing -- but it’s an extremely broad term, marketing covers a lot – we’ll get into your high-level experience soon, but to start I want to understand what someone graduating college and trying to break into the industry should expect – if you were hiring marketing staff with the Clippers what are the entry level jobs and what...

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