This is a question that is asked by many employers on a daily basis. It is important to remember that companies usually have a budget for a given position in the form of a salary. One should research positions in which they are applying for and come to an educated guess of what that position is “worth.” Be sure to evaluate based on regional location, type of business and personal job experience.

Schedule interviews or meetings with a few successful leaders in your department, company, industry or profession. Be prepared with some questions that will provide you with more than yes or no answers. Prepare to let them know you noticed their success and ask them some key steps or hurdles, which they have encountered. There is a great wealth of knowledge to be learned from successful people.

It is not who you know, it is what can you do for the company. Sports businesses today are looking for qualified individuals who will bring top skills to the job. Remember that companies are expecting results out of employees, and if you have skills that are vital for a job you are equally matched with all other candidates. Of course, it never hurts to utilize all networking possibilities you have access to.

New ventures require a large time commitment, especially when just starting out a new sports job. Plan to work long hours your first couple weeks and schedule these hours accordingly. It is much easier to plan long hours and quit early if possible, than to schedule short days and having to work longer hours. One must be realistic about the time commitment, or else you may end up disliking your job.

Sport is a highly competitive industry. Not just on the field, but in the job market as well. Sometimes hundreds of applicants apply for just one opening and the largest media organizations receive thousands of resumes a year. How do you make yourself stand out? It’s a difficult question with many factors. Experience is an important one, and we’ll take a look at that now.

The Catch-22 of sports employment is that to get a job you need experience. But how do you get experience if you can’t get a job? One way is through a graduate degree.

Graduate programs help bridge the gap between what you already know and what you need to know to succeed in sports, and in the past few years have sprung up at more than 100 universities nationally. With such a large number to choose from, the prospective applicant needs to consider a few factors before enrolling:

• Reputation – How long has the program been in existence? What kind of track record do graduates have? How do people in the industry view the school?

• Curriculum – What areas of study does the school focus on? Is it geared toward Business? Law? Exercise Sciences?

• Access to Experience - What kind of practicum or internship programs does the school offer? Can you get hands on experience, or is all learning done in the classroom?

• Program Length - Can you graduate in one year? Two? How much time can you spend out of the workplace? Can you attend classes and work a full-time job?

Granted, there are other concerns, but these should help in making a decision to return to school.

Even if a graduate program isn’t for you, there are other options to gaining experience. Volunteering, for example. Many events and organizations rely on volunteers to help meet their staffing demands. You’ll learn the business and perhaps catch someone’s eye. Internships are another. Because the supply of applicants is high and the job-openings few, organizations use interns to save money. Find the right one and you may turn it into a full-time position.

Whatever your choice, remember that experience is the key to getting a first look in sports. Get it wherever you can and use it to your advantage.

“To be or not to be” yourself in an interview? That is the question.

One of the most terrifying experiences of the job search can be the interview process. It can get even worse if you are confused as to who should show up, your true personality or your professional personality. Well, the experts have spoken and contrary to the popular opinion of “just be yourself,” many people believe that as important as it is to be yourself, “it’s important that you let the professional take the lead.” This bit of advice is according to Dale Winston, CEO of Amrop Battalia Winston International in New York. If the interviewer’s style is “sharp, crisp and to the point, don’t start wandering off with irrelevant details. When the interviewer is interested in those details, they will ask.”

Many times an interview touches on qualities that will help the prospect in the workplace. A quality that is always good to elaborate on is flexibility. Flexibility is very important in the day-to-day operations of most jobs, regardless of the industry.

There are five main aspects to a flexible person:

• Adaptability

• Eager to try new ideas and new approaches

• Manageable

• Creative

• Ability to avoid a daily rut

If you are going to spend your time selling yourself in an interview, you should make it a learning experience. Identify and record parallels from your interviews that apply to your goals. Create a short list that integrates your learning into a mission statement, goals, objectives and critical success factors.

Your self-statement will serve as a valuable commercial that you can use during networking contacts and interviews. You usually only have a few minutes to capture the attention of your audience and you will need to supply information that focuses on your strongest points.

A person creates their first image of you based upon what you say. Start your self-statement with current information, then highlight your background and finish with an ending appropriate to your listener. Keep the content of your self-statement simple so that your listener can process the information quickly.

Here is an example of a sports marketing executive’s two-minute self-statement, or commercial:

Information Related to the Present

“I am a senior level marketing executive with significant experience in sports manufacturing.”

Personal Qualities

“I have built strong teams by supporting the ideas of the team members and have been able to motivate my staff to achieve high levels of performance.”

Accomplishments

“One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is my management of the introduction of a top-selling line of athletic clothing with sales that topped $250 million the first year.”

Skills

“My strongest skills are my creativity and the innovative methods that I use to introduce new products. My division earned recognition at an international conference for its cutting edge approach to marketing the company’s products.”

Education and Knowledge

“I completed a Master’s Degree in marketing from a top Ivy League university.”

Lifestyle Needs

“I have gained international recognition as a top-notch marketing expert and I have written articles for several publications on the topic. I am active in professional associations which provide me with the opportunity for personal growth. Because of family considerations, I prefer to remain within the state.”

Goals and Objectives

“My career goals are focused on continuing both as an individual contributor and as a manager in a sports marketing environment. It is important to me to work with an organization that encourages growth and recognizes contributions through performance bonus plans.”

Once you have completed your career self-assessment, you can create your own two-minute commercial. You may also wish to develop a shorter 30-second version to use for telephone contacts. A well-prepared self-statement will help you put your best foot forward in all of your job search activities.

Taking the next step

Many people remember the uneasy moment of silence that filled the room when they first met someone and were faced with the universal line, “So, tell me about yourself.” We’ve discussed how to develop a self-statement about yourself so that you are prepared to answer this question. Now, we will expand upon that idea.

To avoid stammering out an unrehearsed answer when you are asked about yourself, you need to prepare yourself in advance for the question. The ability to effectively communicate with someone is crucial whether someone is looking for a job or they are settled in their career. Each new contact is a networking opportunity and everyone needs to make the most of it.

Prepare at least two self-statements, or commercials, to use during networking activities and interviews. These commercials should contain a brief description of someone, their accomplishments and what they want from the networking contact.

Create both 30-second and two-minute versions. Telephone contacts usually allow only enough time for the 30-second commercial, while the two-minute self-statement is perfect for the “tell me about yourself” question. The self-statement should answer several questions:

* What I am? Two or three words that best describe what you are, your profession or strongest quality.

Examples: Motivational Leader; Sports Marketing Executive.

* What have I done? Your strongest areas of accomplishment.

Examples: Launched successful promotional campaign for ABC team; Created logos for DEF and GHI professional teams.

* What I know. Your most desirable areas of education or knowledge.

Examples: Honors Graduate of JKL University; Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Broadcasting.

* What I have to offer. Why they should be interested in you.

Examples: Creative cost saver; Known for on-time performance in product distribution.

* Other important life experience. Your community involvement.

Examples: Board Member of local YMCA; 10-year Coach of various Little League teams

* What I’m doing now?

Examples: Director of Marketing for XYZ Sports Corp.; New Graduate of ABC University.

* What I want to do in the future.

Examples: Work in the non-profit sector; Land a position in the legal department of a sports-related organization.

Now, put together all of the answers to these questions in brief sentences and phrases to form the 30-second commercial:

Example: “I am a sports marketing executive who launched the well-known promotional campaign for ABC team in Phoenix, an honors graduate of JKL University and a creative cost saver. I have served on the board of the YMCA here. Currently, I’m the Director of Marketing for XYZ Sports Corporation. However, I’d like to use my expertise in the non-profit sector.”

For the two-minute, person-to-person self-statement, expand on each part of the 30-second statement. Information can be added about previous positions, community involvement and personal information. Include goals which reflect knowledge of and interest in the industry.

As former Indiana University head basketball coach Bobby Knight said, “The will to succeed is important, but what’s even more important is the will to prepare.”

On-air broadcasters comprise only a small fraction of the staff necessary to telecast sporting events. Many people don’t realize that positions are available in TV that incorporate a variety of talents. From the worker with electronic skills to the individual with creative abilities, there will be a demand for producers and sophisticated technical personnel at both the local and network levels.

Producers & Directors

As the overseers of televised sports, producers coordinate the coverage, including preparing announcers, the production crew and technical staff.

While the producer pulls the entire production together, the director executes the telecasts finer elements. Directors call the shots regarding the picture and angles you see at home, the replays and, like the producer, does a good amount of troubleshooting. The skills needed to perform both of these roles proficiently include organizational and administrative skills, split-second accuracy, decision-making under pressure, extensive sports knowledge and the ability to anticipate.

In preparing for a television production career, it is important to acquire thorough knowledge of communications and mass media in addition to developing the specific technical acumen. It’s never too early to gain exposure to sporting contests and develop the necessary skills. This can be attained while attending school by volunteering or obtaining an internship or part-time job at a local station or cable company that provides sports coverage.

Camera Operators

The men and women behind the camera are often described as “those in the trenches.” Under any conditions, hot, cold or snow, they are required to perform as if they were in a climate-controlled studio. Like producers, camera technicians have a feel for the sport and anticipate control booth commands. Even with pre-planned camera coverage, situations arise in which only the alert technician can provide in-depth coverage to the audience. It is often in these instances that award-winning film clips and videos are made, becoming trademarks of the industry.

Training is available at area technical schools and usually can be completed in a relatively short time. Some programs offer internships in which students can be hired upon completion of their education. Camera operators usually begin their careers at a local station or cable company.

Sports Photographers

Most sports photographers, many of whom are freelancers, trace their beginnings to their high school yearbook days or college newspaper experiences. It’s never too early to start providing action shots to local newspapers or other publications.

A degree in photography is a plus and it is necessary to put together a portfolio to demonstrate your abilities. Like the television technician, there is no substitute for experience or knowledge of the sport.

Being at the right place at the right time can be all you need. A fine example of this is the famed Dwight Clark catch in the end zone of the 1982 NFL playoffs to allow the San Francisco 49ers to beat the Dallas Cowboys in the waning moments. It is an example of how one shot can become iconic.

The outlook for sports photographers remains good—and the path to success requires being knowledgeable, aggressive and opportunistic.