3 The Journey: Building Connections, Keys to Securing the Internship and Choosing the Offer
In my multiple years of experience mentoring Sport Administration students through all phases of the internship process; from “cradle to grave,” there are some significant strategies to be leveraged in terms of building connections, which then build and strengthen your breadth of opportunity to secure an internship. Like any business, you will start at the entry-level and work your way up the ladder. The old idiomatic phrase of it is not what you know, it is who you know is incomplete. Taken a step further, it should be revised to say it is not what you know, it is who knows you? While getting your name out there can seem daunting, you need to make yourself known. While it may not be comfortable, it is an essential skill to learn, particularly in the sports industry.
Networking happens every day, often in unexpected places. Whether you are at the grocery store, having dinner with friends, or reconnecting with old acquaintances through social media, these interactions can lead to valuable connections. An easy way to extend that initial meeting is through the power of the LinkedIn professional networking platform.
Leverage Your Personal Network
Tap into your personal connections, including family, extended family, friends, friends of friends, and/or college classmates to facilitate getting you introduced to the right people. They may be able to introduce you to relevant industry professionals. When you do connect with people in the sports industry, particularly those in your area of interest, ask lots of questions. Be proactive and explore the utility of informational interviews. If you are lucky, this will be in person, but it might be virtually, on the phone, or even over a social media chat. Ask them about their opinion on an important trend or issue in their part of the sport industry. Eventually, you should seek out their advice but most importantly, in an informational interview, while it may be tempting, do not ask for a job!
When conducting informational interviews, ask about the person’s career journey; inquire as to how they got their start. Ask their opinions on industry trends, and prominent issues. As what they think are important qualities of people that work in their position. As them what makes people in their positions successful or stand out. Remember, these interviews are not about asking for a job; they are about learning from someone who works in the industry and building that relationship. If you have the luxury of seeing them more than once, you can delve deeper into an individual topic with each meeting rather than asking all the questions at in one session. For instance, in your first conversation you might ask about how they got into the industry, and in a subsequent meeting, about how the industry is changing and some of the challenges the industry is facing.
Passion vs. Approach
While passion is important, it is not the sole determinant of success. In fact, how you approach the job matters more. Every step of the way—during informational interviews, at your internship interviews, and throughout your internship you want to cultivate and demonstrate the following soft skills along with your technical skills.
- Work ethic: Be a relentless worker. Show up on time, be prepared, and give your best effort. Punctuality demonstrates commitment.
- Team player: Approach tasks with a positive attitude, regardless of their significance. Being a collaborator contributes to overall success.
- Patience and perseverance: The path to the sports industry is not always linear. Stay patient and resilient.
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ): EQ is how people manage their emotions and interact with colleagues, supervisors, and the public. These are your “people skills” within a dynamic work environment.
- Skill set alignment: Make a list of skills relevant to the sports organization. Provide specific examples of how you have used these skills in the past. Aligning your skills with the organization’s needs is crucial. It goes beyond merely expressing passion for sports.
Those who align work ethic with the organization’s mission, have emotional intelligence, foster collaboration are highly sought after in the workforce. Remember, you are your best advocate. Demonstrate your work ethic, skills, and EQ during your interview and throughout the internship to break into the sports industry successfully.
Going back to the networking and informational interviews, always follow up with a thank you note regardless of how informal the exchange was and stay in touch on a periodic basis. I regularly have conversations with students and alumni alike who seek out my advice about breaking into the sport industry. More often than not, during those conversations most explain that they are passionate about working in sports. While passion is important to possess, it is not necessarily a must have in my estimation. Overall, passion is just one ingredient or element of a person’s character. In my professional opinion, one’s work ethic, their arsenal of skill sets, and their emotional intelligence are ultimately more important than their passion.
Breaking this down a bit further; as it relates to one’s work ethic, you must be a relentless worker. That involves, but is not limited to the following factors that influence work ethics.
Tips for Being a Relentless Worker
Be present and prepared – You learn and accomplish most when you show up on time and are prepared. You cannot learn if you are not present! Additionally, when you are late, it demonstrates a lack of punctuality, and, as a result, being present and prepared are often seen as one of the easiest aspects of work ethic to conduct. Arrive early and leave late and do the best job you can. It will be noticed.
Be a team player – Approach every task with a good attitude no matter how significant or trivial! That demonstrates you are a team player. This will go a long way in showing that you are not only dedicated to your own success, but also to the success of those around you and the sport organization. It also shows respect for your colleagues, which emphasizes your ability to conduct yourself in a professional manner and demonstrate cultural competencies like inclusion.
Be patient and persevere – Life is not linear and your entry into the sport industry will occur much differently than you likely expect. Stay patient and avoid getting frustrated and more than anything else…. persevere.
Relative to your arsenal of skill sets; make a list of the skills you possess that relate to the sport organization. For each skill set, produce specific examples of instances where you have demonstrated or used that skill in the past. Overall, the closer you are to matching and/or linking your skills to the sport organization’s needs, the more you will stand out in the interview over the person that says they have a passion to work in sports. Often, there are instances where you will end up with multiple internship opportunities. Choosing between multiple internships offers can be both exciting and overwhelming. Here are some factors to consider when considering the position.
- Career goals: Think about which internship aligns best with your long-term career aspirations. Consider which opportunity will provide the skills and experiences most relevant to your desired career path.
- Company reputation: Evaluate the reputation of the sport organizations offering internships. A well-known and respected sport organization might look impressive on your resume.
- Learning opportunities: Consider the scope of learning and development opportunities each internship offers. Which internship will provide you with valuable hands-on experience and mentorship?
- Work environment: Reflect on the work environment and company culture. Which sport organization aligns better with your personal values and working style? You want to feel comfortable and supported in your internship.
- Responsibilities and projects: Compare the responsibilities and projects you’ll be working on. Which internship will give you more substantial, meaningful tasks that you and learn from, can make a significant contribution, and talk about in interviews for full time employment after you graduate?
- Networking opportunities: Look at the networking opportunities each internship provides. Which one will give you better access to industry professionals and potential future employers?
- Location and logistics: Consider the location of the internship and any logistical factors. Is the commute manageable? Does the company offer remote work options, if that’s important to you?
- Compensation and benefits: Evaluate the compensation and any additional benefits each internship offers. While money shouldn’t be the sole factor, it’s practical to consider how each opportunity fits into your financial situation.
- Previous intern feedback: If possible, seek feedback from former interns at each sport organization. Their insights can provide a realistic view of what to expect and help you make an informed decision.
- Gut Feeling: Finally, trust your instincts. Sometimes your gut feeling about a company or position can be an important indicator of where you’ll thrive the most.
Remember, each of these factors might weigh differently depending on your personal priorities and career goals. Take your time to weigh the pros and cons, and don’t hesitate to reach out to mentors or advisors for their input.
Those who can align their work ethic with the mission of the organization and simultaneously can proactively foster a collaborative and cohesive work environment are in high demand. The sport industry is bursting with people who have a passion for sports. However, no one can sell yourself better than you can. Consequently, to break into the sport industry, demonstrate your work ethic, demonstrate your skill sets and demonstrate your emotional intelligence/people skills and that will eventually yield positive results.
Throughout your internship and after it is over, continue to reach out to the people you met and interacted with during your time in the organization. Perhaps there were some people you worked with that you were not connected with. Be sure to connect with them on LinkedIn, ideally about one week after your internship concludes. Equally significant are the connections you establish with your peers or what is generally called ‘lateral relationships’ during your internship. Fellow interns can become valuable contacts. Stay connected with them by providing mutual support, introducing each other to your networks, seeking advice, and discovering common interests. Remember that networking extends beyond hierarchy—it is about creating a diverse and robust network. While there is not a universally fixed percentage, it is widely acknowledged that networking plays a substantial role in securing sports internships. The strategies mentioned earlier will yield significant advantages.
