What if there was a way to use science to figure out the best career path for you? A way to narrow down the many options into a much more manageable choice. Well, Brian got a big hit of inspiration while watching Oppenheimer. He donned his lab coat and pocket protector, got out his calculator, and started testing. I picture Brian as more of a Bill Nye than an Einstein in the lab. Either way, he's giving you a new approach to finding what you are good at and what you will love and thrive in.

Like any good science experiment, you'll have to break a few eggs to make the omelet; you won't always nail your first hypothesis. Still, Brian's idea revolves around eliminating false positives on your way to finding a satisfying line of work. But I'll let Brian explain his stroke of genius and prove that he is no mad scientist.

75% of resumes don't pass through ATS (applicant tracking systems). Recruiters spend an average of 7.6 seconds reading the ones that do. The sports industry is highly competitive because… well, sports.

You need to take every advantage offered, and AI is the quickest way to get your resume into the right hands.

Brian covers 21 ways —that's right, 21 ways—that you can ask Chat GPT, Gemini, Jasper, and all the other robots to not only make your job application materials shine but also do it faster than ever.

Don't want to analyze job descriptions for keywords to stuff into your resume? Copy and paste that thing into a chatbot and ask it to give you a tailored resume. Can't think of any good follow-up questions to ask at the end of an interview? Get the machines to analyze the job description and research the company. They'll even write the questions for you! Feeling stuck in your job search? Skynet can scan your resume and suggest career paths you may have never considered.

That's just a taste of the tips that Brian drops. He also covers how the need to use AI will continue after your job hunt; Brian's ideas will get you reps with the tools employers expect you to be comfortable with.

Now, don't go nuts and start firing off fully AI-generated resumes and cover letters; it isn't that good… yet. But these tools can take so much off your plate and get you very close to a finished product. AI might even be able to write a pretty good podcast description.

But not this one.

Travis Kelce has dominated the NFL on the field for nearly a decade, but he's exploded in the media over the past couple of years. Two big-time players in his growth are Aaron and Andre Eanes, the leaders of A&A Management Group. The Eanes twins aren't just financial guys; they are true day ones that have pushed their clients, like Travis, into life-changing opportunities.

While we've only mentioned Travis Kelce (and no T Swift mentions... at least 'til now), A&A represent other big-time athletes and provide top-tier management that makes clients feel like they are part of the Eanes family.

If you've dreamed of managing athletes, striking big money deals, or becoming an athlete, the Eanes are going to be so relatable. Aaron grew up playing Madden franchise mode with a career as a GM in mind. Andre carried his pro sports aspirations into college before discovering his passion for finance. As their vision evolved, they took well-informed and direct steps to achieve their goals. They are so down-to-earth as they share their stories, and you can glean actionable advice from listening to their experience.

For those of you who are new to the show, I’d like to introduce myself, I am Brian and I am what you’d call a Masshole.  

Loosely defined, this is a sports fan that originated from the top right corner of our country and is known to celebrate championships at a seemingly impossible rate across a multitude of high-level sports. 

We are incredibly loyal. I have lived and worked in 4 different major sports markets and yet I’ve never taken up a single team. Boston sports fans never abandon their team. 

I don’t like jerseys, but I have four – Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and a Seahawks one and the only reason it is allowed to exist is because former NFL MVP and all around great guy Shaun Alexander signed it for me when we worked on a TV show together.     

Why no Celtics jersey you ask? Because tank tops are a little too personal if you know what I mean. I can rock the tank, but do I really want to? 

Talk to any Boston fan and they will tell you they cried in 2002 at the start of the Super Bowl when the  Patriots ran onto the field as a team. Every one of us wiped away the tears and yelled something like “let’s go baby!” as our spouses looked at us with utter bewilderment. 

 We screamed with Kevin Garnett that anything is possible and we annoyed people across the country with our tendency to win it all so. damn. Often. 

I bring this all up, not just to relish in the glory of yesteryears... but to point out, I’ a little pissed the NBA finals games start at 9pm. 

Doesn’t anybody work? Game 2 on Sunday at 9pm? isn’t it proven that the NFL can generate massive ratings at 4pm? Can’t we do that rather than start my week off a little hungover? Sorry boss. 

Staying up really late to watch your team ultimately lose is a double whammy! Weeknights at 9pm just feel obscene. 

Sure you could make the argument that you affect the west coast fans by having it any earlier than 9, what with all their traffic and such. 

But one thing I forgot to mention – Boston sports fans also only care about ourselves. This is about me.  

All of this is a super long preamble to share a little of my NBA final excitement, since I love this game, and to introduce today’s guest Shawn Deloney Associate Director of Content for the Phoenix Suns. Shown and I conducted this interview in the fall, but it is so good we’re bringing it back. 

He’s one of the most creative and inspiring young leaders in our industry so take a listen, and cheer on my Celtics... and if you look at our Youtube channel and I have bags under my eyes... it’s on you Adam Silver! 

As our show title suggests, the WorkInSports Podcast’s mission is to teach you how to find a job in sports. Most of our sports career advice – such as tailoring your resume for each job you apply for, writing a compelling cover letter, and standing out during an interview – centers on getting your foot in the door. Once you get an offer, what do you do? That’s what Jennifer in Los Angeles wants to know:

“Hey Brian, I have been looking to change jobs to work in the sports industry, and I love the advice you provide on this show! WorkInSports has turned out to be a huge resource for me as I found many jobs, companies, and cool opportunities I wasn’t aware of. My question is this, I’m getting into the interview cycle, my resume looks good, and I feel things are going well, but how do you decide whether a job is worth accepting? I’m afraid of making the wrong choice and then having to start this process all over again.”

Listen to the full episode to hear all the factors you should consider before accepting a job offer.

Today’s guest on the WorkInSports Podcast is James Price, who serves as Director of Marketing and Digital for the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA’s G-League. After graduating from Marquette as an advertising major, he worked as a marketing and promotions lead for the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals and a public relations associate for Mueller Communications while pursuing his master’s degree from Northwestern.

Upon finishing his advanced degree, he continued honing his craft as a marketing and digital assistant with the York Revolution before landing his current position with the Herd in 2019. Price leads the storytelling, photography, and copywriting efforts for Herd. His efforts on the team’s social platforms have grown their following immensely. He even got an NBA Championship ring courtesy of the Milwaukee Bucks’ (the Herd’s NBA affiliate) 2021 title run. On this episode of the WorkInSports Podcast, Price and VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp discuss:

• How Price chose marketing for his career path in the sports industry
• Where Price prioritizes his efforts for the Herd’s brand
• What marketing efforts have moved the needle for the minor league teams Price has worked with
• How Price stays on top of the latest trends audiences gravitate towards

Catch the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast for more of James Price’s sports career advice, and subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts for more industry insight. Additional content is available on our YouTube channel.

Monday is Fan Question Day!

Rafael in Miami considers himself and early adopter of technology and thinks of his sports career journey in the same way. He wants to know which career paths in sports feature the most innovation, and WorkInSports podcast host Brian Clapp happily obliges with four career paths that stand out for their cutting edge nature.

Listen in NOW!

Businesses are ignoring the saying “curiosity killed the cat” when hiring employees. A 2021 study showed curiosity and a desire to learn were among the hottest new skills, with 72% of leaders surveyed believing it’s a valuable trait and 59% stating they believe it drives business impact. While it is a valued trait among hiring managers, how can job seekers convey it? That’s what Stefen asked the WorkInSports Podcast:

Listen to the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast to learn more about the importance of curiosity at work, and subscribe to the show for more sports career advice. You can also see additional content on our YouTube channel.

Over the past decade, social media’s growth has been great for sports franchises looking for more ways to connect to their fanbases. As a result, leagues like the NBA have leveraged social media to amass the most followers of any pro sports league on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Today’s guest on the WorkInSports Podcast is Nicole Williams, Snapchat Lead Sports Producer. Williams leaned into Snapchat during her time at ESPN when she helped transition content from SportsCenter there. Snapchat has content agreements with the NFL, NBA, and MLB, which allows them to post a variety of highly engaging short-form content.

Job interviews are all about making a good first impression on hiring managers, and that process usually starts with a phone interview. Camilla from New Jersey is looking for some phone interview tips from the WorkInSports Podcast:

Catch the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast for more tips on how to prepare for a phone interview. Also, subscribe to hear more sports career advice wherever you listen to podcasts and check out additional content on our YouTube channel!

College sports have a push-pull dynamic as the teams compete in intense, high-level athletics representing institutions of higher learning. The demands on student-athletes are rigorous as they maintain a difficult conditioning regimen for peak fitness, practice multiple times a week, and finally compete against teams doing the same thing while also working through a fullload of classes to earn their degree.

On today’s episode of the WorkInSports Podcast, VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp chats with Ashley Stone, Oakland University Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Experience. Stone joined OU in 2019 and serves as the Golden Grizzlies’ Senior Woman Administrator. She oversees student service and sports performance areas such as academics, strength and conditioning, and athletic training to foster the development, health, and safety of Oakland’s 350+ student-athletes. Stone and Clapp discuss:

• Why she chose student-athlete experience as her career path
• What she learned about student-athletes’ struggles during her time as Nebraska’s Director of Development Events & Hospitality, Director of Post-Eligibility Programs, and Life Skills Coordinator
• Why she moved on from her alma mater Nebraska to her current position at OU
• The advice she has for women breaking into the sports industry

Listen to the full episode to hear Stone’s sports career advice and her experience supporting student-athletes. Subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more tips on excelling in your sports career and catch additional content on our YouTube channel.

Regardless of your role with an organization, working in the sports industry is exhilarating because of the exciting events you get to put together. For example, the NBA Playoffs feature packed arenas with screaming fans, creating an electric atmosphere that carries over to the living rooms of those watching it on television.

That atmosphere is what draws so many to pursue sports careers and work countless hours, including nights and weekends, in order to get a front-row seat to these thrilling events. However, despite the fun and (literal) games, the work can take a toll if you are not careful. Robert in Chicago demonstrates this in his question to the WorkInSports Podcast:

Listen to the full episode as VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp explains more signs of burnout at work and how to combat them. Also, subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice and catch additional content on our YouTube channel.

While ‘Deflategate’ put the Patriots’ equipment staff under a microscope the profession tends to avoid, this overlooked aspect of football is of utmost importance to teams. An NFL team’s equipment staff has numerous responsibilities, such as inflating footballs (properly), repairing and ordering equipment for the full roster, storing and cleaning jerseys, and packing/setting up gear on road trips. Along with a roster of 53 players and the coaching and support staff, equipment managers also need a ‘customer service’ mentality to satisfy the needs of many people within their organization.

On today’s episode of the WorkInSports Podcast, VP of Content Brian Clapp chats with the Los Angeles Chargers’ Chad Jessop. Jessop is the Chargers’ Equipment Assistant and has spent 14 years handling football teams’ equipment and locker room needs. He and Clapp discuss:

• How to become an equipment manager
• Jessop’s rise from the high school ranks to a training camp gig with the Dallas Cowboys
• The biggest challenges of working in his field
• How important building relationships is in an NFL locker room environment

When looking for a job, especially your first one in the sports industry, salary negotiation can take a back seat to getting a foot in the door and starting your career. However, starting at a lower salary leads to lost earning potential that you have to make up later. A pair of WorkInSports Podcast listeners are dealing with the nuances of negotiating salary in the sports industry and are looking for guidance:

“Hey Brian, I’m a recent college grad who just got my first job offer! I’m stoked! The salary is a little lower than I had hoped. Should I negotiate or just accept and get cracking? I’m worried if I push too hard, they’ll move on to someone else and withdraw the offer.”

-Janice in Massachusetts

“Hey Brian, I’m a 33-year-old dude who has been working in the sports industry for the last 12 years. I had been at one team this entire time. Now, I’m making the jump to a sports marketing agency. I’m excited, the salary is good, not great, and I really want to negotiate...what is your take on negotiating? I’ve never done it before, but I want to push this time around as I feel I have more leverage than I did as a recent grad last time I was in the market.”

-Bill in Pennsylvania

Salary Negotiation in Sports

According to Fidelity Investments, 58% of Americans accepted their initial job offer without negotiating salary or benefits. However, 85% of candidates who countered an offer got at least some of what they asked for. Additionally, a 2021 XpertHR survey found that 89% of companies are open to negotiating salary for some or all positions once they make a job offer.

Here are a few keys to successfully negotiating salary in the sports industry:

• Mind your Tone: Don’t come off as entitled, demanding, or adversarial, or the employer may reject your counteroffer.

• Be Timely: Don’t ask for more than 48 hours to review an offer because hiring managers must move quickly to hire.

• Do Research: Make sure you know what you can expect to earn in your profession in the sports industry so you can make an informed counteroffer.

Catch the full episode for more salary negotiation tips, and subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice. You can also catch additional content on our YouTube channel!

WorkInsports Podcast host/VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp is a staunch advocate of the value of internship experience to give you a leg up when looking for a job in the sports industry. But, once you have an internship, what comes next? That's what Chanel in Mississippi wants to know:

Catch the full episode for more tips on how to turn an internship into a job. Also, subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice, and view additional content on our YouTube channel.

We check back on our October chat with PointsBet CEO Johnny Aitken as we discuss the growth of the sports betting industry.

Americans have wagered more than $65 billion on sports in the three years since the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Murphy vs. NCAA. The additional demand for sports betting websites brings us to our guest, PointsBet CEO Johnny Aitken. On this episode, Johnny and WorkInSports VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp covered a wide range of topics on sports betting, including:

• How Johnny’s career path led him to become PointBet’s CEO.
• What Johnny sees happening in the sports betting market in the next 5-10 years.
• How Australia-based PointsBet boasts a globally distributed workforce.
• Which traits Johnny looks for in new hires at PointsBet.

The Great Resignation created a favorable market for candidates, but that doesn't mean job searches aren't competitive. John from Georgia explains to the WorkInSports Podcast that getting a sports job today is as competitive as ever:

Catch the full episode for detailed tips on how to improve your resume and other application materials to get noticed by employers. Also, subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast to get more sports career advice. Additional content is available on our YouTube channel.

As the NFL Draft approaches, we look back at our chat with CBS Sports' NFL Insider Jason La Canfora covering topics such as:

• Why he decided to pursue a sports journalism career.
• How he landed a position with the Detroit Free Press right out of college.
• How important having a versatile skillset is in a multimedia environment.
• What role social media plays in sports reporting.
• How to secure a bevy of trusted sources for reporting the ins and outs of a sport.

Social media has become an important part of the job search process as employers use it to weed out potential candidates in the hiring process. LinkedIn is particularly relevant for job seekers because it exists specifically for building your networking and marketing? yourself for prospective career opportunities. Janelle is looking for LinkedIn tips with her question for the WorkInSports Podcast:

Check out the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast to learn how to use LinkedIn effectively. To catch more sports career advice, subscribe to the podcast to listen to each episode as it premiers. You can also view additional content on our YouTube channel.

Molly Wurdack-Folt, Ilitch Sports and Entertainment VP of Partnership Activation (ownership group of the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings), works with corporate sponsors looking to further their brands. When working in partnership activation, you need to have a sense of each potential sponsor’s goals and develop a plan to showcase them to fans in a way that resonates with them within a sporting event.

Catch the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast as Wurdack-Folt chats with VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp about:

• Her journey through the sports industry, beginning with her stint with the Miami Dolphins right out of college
• Her sports career advice for advancing within an organization the way she has with Olympia Entertainment/Ilitch Sports and Entertainment
• How to work between separate parties and ensure everyone is satisfied with their partnership

Finding a job is a laborious and lengthy process that some career coaches say can take 6-7 months to complete. Unfortunately, you are likely to be rejected several times during that period. However, some companies that decided you were not a fit for one position may have another job opening that suits you better. That's where today's question for the WorkInSports Podcast comes in:

The sports industry is smaller than you think, and you will likely see the same organization that said "thanks, but no thanks" provide you with another opportunity for employment. Regardless of industry, applying for a job with a company that rejected you for an earlier position is perfectly acceptable.

Listen to the full episode for job application tips for your second try at working for a company. Subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast to catch every nugget of sports career advice provided by VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp. You can check out additional content by subscribing to our YouTube Channel.

The sports betting market is providing a similar impact in the way fans consume sports as fantasy leagues. Over half of the country has legalized the practice since 2019. Before the 2021 NFL season, Americans had wagered more than $65 billion on sports since the Supreme Court’s Murphy vs. NCAA ruling opened the floodgates for sports betting. With that much money moving around, teams and leagues want a piece of that action.

The WorkInSports Podcast spoke at length about sports betting careers with PointsBet CEO Johnny Aitken, and today we see its impact in one segment of the industry. Our guest is Scott Warfield, PGA Tour VP of Gaming. In 2019, golf accounted for 1% of all sports betting. Warfield and his team are looking to change that. Catch the full episode as he and VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp discuss:

• How Warfield journey brought him to the sports industry
• Why Warfield shifted his focus toward gaming
• What golf’s growth potential is in the sports betting industry
• What opportunities are available for sports betting careers

We center much of our sports career advice around polishing your application materials and acing job interviews on the WorkInSports Podcast, and for good reason. Your resume and cover letter show what you bring to the table, and an interview is your chance to make a lasting impression with the hiring manager. However, another aspect? of the job search that can give your candidacy a boost is an effective follow-up. That’s where Ben from Arizona’s question comes in.

Listen to the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast as VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp goes into detail about the most effective ways of building contacts during your job search. Also, subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast wherever you listen and catch additional content on our YouTube channel.

70% of employers screen a candidate’s social media before deciding to hire them, and 54% of employers have chosen not to hire someone based on what they found. Some of the top reasons hiring managers eliminated candidates due to what they saw on social media were: inappropriate photos or information (39%), discriminatory comments (32%), and content that bad-mouthed employers (30%). While the effectiveness of this hiring approach is debatable, companies utilize it.

Today's episode of the WorkInSports Podcast shares how to use social media to your benefit and clean up your digital footprint on the job hunt.

Subscribe to the show to get our sports career advice the second a new episode comes out, and be sure to check out additional content on our YouTube channel.

Fundraising is the lifeblood of competitive college athletics. While TV contracts, ticket sales, and sponsorships make up a sizable portion of an athletic department’s revenue stream, securing donations is the main catalyst for the capital projects, scholarship funding, and endowments that drive programs forward.

Getting these projects off the ground takes dedicated workers in development offices who can appeal to donors’ fandom and pride for their favorite programs. Today’s guest on the WorkInSports Podcast, Nebraska Assistant AD of Annual Giving Mattie Fowler Burkhardt, does this work for the Huskers Athletic Fund. A former softball player at Nebraska, Burkhardt now tries to pay it forward to build an even better environment for current and future student-athletes in Lincoln. She joins VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp to talk about:

• How her experience as a student-athlete set her up for success in her current role
• What drew her to a job with the Huskers Athletic Fund
• The importance of development/fundraising to becoming an athletic director
• What skills are required to succeed in development

Enjoy the full episode and subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice. You can also view additional content on our YouTube channel!

Today’s guest on the WorkInSports Podcast, the Atlanta Braves’ Laura Estefenn, is at the center of this effort to reach the team’s Hispanic fanbase. Estefenn joined the Braves in 2018 as Content Coordinator for their newly launched Los Bravos platform. She helped grow Los Bravos’ brand exponentially over the next two seasons and is now a Diversity Marketer for the franchise.

Fresh off witnessing the team’s exciting run to a 2021 World Series title, the Atlanta Braves’ Laura Estefenn joins VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp to discuss:

• What immigrating to Atlanta from Colombia to play collegiate golf at Kennesaw State was like
• Why she leaned into continuing a career in sports following her playing career
• What challenges she faced when transitioning to baseball after playing golf
• How she approached building the Los Bravos brand through diversity marketing

Nathan from Chicago is looking for some job interview tips from the WorkInSports Podcast to get further along the interview process:

Listen to the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast as VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp lays out the roadmap to moving on in the interview process.

Today's guest on the WorkInSports Podcast is the Tennessee Titans' Sam Fischer, who joined the team as Stadium Experience Manager in 2021. Fischer spent her entire sports career working in baseball, even rising to Assistant General Manager of the Asheville Tourists before joining the Titans. Between her internships and full-time positions, she’s seen what goes into putting on a successful event in areas such as game operations, creative marketing, game day presentation, and sales.

Listen to the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast as the Tennessee Titans' Sam Fischer shares:

• Her "street to seat" approach to managing the stadium experience
• How her experience in minor league baseball built her diverse skill set
• How important it was for her to be flexible in her career when she started out
• What her experience as Ashville Tourists’ Assistant GM was like

Be sure to subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice from VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp. You can also see additional content on our YouTube channel and TikTok.

Some of the top reasons why employees would consider leaving a company include poor management/relationship with the supervisor, unhealthy work/life balance, and lack of employee recognition/appreciation. All of these issues point to problems with company culture. That's the concern that Jessie in Chicago brings to the WorkInSports Podcast:

Catch the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast as VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp walks you through how to research company culture, and be sure to subscribe for more sports career advice.

Sports social media is a popular area of interest for people looking to work in the sports industry. Some of the most viewed content on any platform are sports highlights and digestible sound bites from star athletes. Major professional and college leagues and teams, along with the media outlets that cover them, have massive followings, which creates a feedback loop of content flooding newsfeeds.

Standing out is difficult with so much content available to consume on social media. Today’s guest on the WorkInSports Podcast is WSLAM Director Camille Buxeda. Her work creating and growing the women’s hoops vertical within the already established bi-monthly SLAM magazine earned her recognition as a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient.

In today’s episode, Buxeda discusses the following with VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp:

• How she pitched starting the WSLAM vertical within SLAM’s brand
• How she found her voice to excel in sports social media and digital content
• What the landscape looks like for growing women’s sports
• What advice she has for people looking to grow in the sports industry

As our name suggests, we offer sports career advice to help people find jobs in the sports industry. However, the sports industry is broad and has opportunities for a variety of specialized roles within it, so finding your niche is important. That’s the spot Layne from Cleveland finds himself in with his question for the WorkInSports Podcast:

“Hi Brian, you came and spoke in my college classroom a few weeks back and was so into the info you were sharing, I started listening to the podcast right away. You have hooked a new listener and fan!

"I have a question for you; I love sports, I’m majoring in sports, but I have no idea what I should do in sports. I’m not asking you what I should do. I’m asking you what can I do to figure out what I love and want to pursue?”

Here are 6 things you can do and host Brian Clapp can explain them in detail:

1. Search for entry-level roles using key terms associated with these positions.

2. Focus on jobs that match what you are passionate about.

3. Do a lot of internships.

4. Research salary information (check out our salary research tool).

5. Decide your priorities in life and how the job you choose factors into those priorities.

6. Upload your resume and see what matches come up.

Becoming a sports reporter combines two of the most competitive career paths: the sports business and broadcast journalism. It mashes them together for an incredibly narrow job that takes dogged determination, skill, and luck to break into. The field requires a compelling on-camera presence, behind-the-scenes technical skills, an ability to form a connection with various public-facing figures, and a willingness to ask them difficult questions.

Today’s guest on the WorkInSports Podcast is a team reporter and producer for the New England Patriots, Tamara Brown. She joined one of the NFL’s premier franchises in the summer of 2021, and her career path is a roadmap for how to become a sports reporter today.

Brown joins VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp to discuss this impressive journey in greater detail, covering topics such as:

• How to stand out from your peers in a competitive industry
• The value of aggressively seeking out internships of all kinds
• How to establish trust with athletes and coaches to tell a story

Networking is a critical component to success in your sports career, and one of the best ways to make connections in the early stages of your search is through sports internships. Of course, that's internships plural as jobs in the sports industry are competitive and having multiple sports internships to put on your resume is a great way to stand out when you are applying for jobs.

Kyle Davidson was recently named the Chicago Blackhawks' General Manager, the 10th GM in franchise history. Davidson graduated from Laurentian University in 2009 and got his foot in the door with the Blackhawks' organization as a video assistant intern. Twelve years later, he runs the show and makes decisions about the team's coaching staff, roster, trades, free-agent signings, and drafts.

Kellen in Minnesota is taking the first steps in establishing his sports career, and he comes to the WorkInSports Podcast wondering how to get an internship:

Listen to the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast for more internship strategies that will help you establish yourself early in your sports career. Also, be sure to subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice.

Sports broadcasts are available in abundance. Whether using traditional cable or online streaming services, fans can access hundreds of broadcasts across several leagues worldwide. If you've ever considered a career working behind the scenes of live sports production or wondered how to get into sports broadcasting, this episode of the WorkInSports Podcast is for you.

Felisa Israel has brought live NBA basketball games to our screens for over 20 years, spending time with a few franchises before becoming NBA Entertainment’s Director of Live Programming and Entertainment. Israel eventually struck out on her own and started her live production company, 10 Fold Entertainment.

Israel’s company provides comprehensive live sports production services for the NBA and its members, but that is not the full extent of their reach. Under Israel, 10 Fold Entertainment has built partnerships with companies and brands like Bleacher Report, Major League Lacrosse, the Big East Conference, Nike, UCLA Anderson School of Management, and the University of Texas. In addition, they provide live services such as A/V technical production, social media management, fan experience, game operations, and staffing.

You should tailor your resume to each job you apply for, but how do you use job descriptions to get the information you need? The WorkInSports Podcast explains.

Every job posting is unique, so every application you submit should be as well. Of course, looking through the job description is the best way to determine what information is the most important to highlight on your resume, but how do you utilize that info? That question is on Jake’s mind as he seeks sports career advice from the WorkInSports Podcast:

Catch the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast to learn the best way to analyze job descriptions during your search, and be sure to subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice. You can also check out additional content by subscribing to our YouTube Channel and following us on TikTok!

Making it to the national stage in sports broadcasting is a tall order. WorkInSports Podcast host Brian Clapp made it far in his career behind the scenes with CNN/Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports Northwest. However, doing so on camera is even more competitive, with fewer available jobs. To climb the ladder on air takes a lot of repetition to create an opportunity in the spotlight, potentially a bit of luck for said opportunity to materialize, and nerves of steel to take advantage of what could be your only chance to move up.

Today’s guest on the WorkInSports Podcast, Fox Sports Reporter/Host Jenny Taft, capitalized on her shot, and that translated into a meteoric rise from sideline reporter for the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx to a fixture on national College Football (and BattleBots) broadcasts. On this episode, Clapp and Taft discuss:

• How her background as a standout athlete helps her connect with her interview guests

• Her first gig as one of the FSN Girls with Fox Sports North

• What working as a social media contributor for? the Minnesota Timberwolves, Twins, and Wild did to establish herself in the sports industry

• How she maintains work-life balance in the sports industry

• What advice she would give to a young woman looking to fill her shoes in sports broadcasting

Enjoy the full episode for Taft’s perspective and experience of telling sports stories to a national audience. Also, subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice and check out our YouTube channel for additional content!

Nearly 20 years since Moneyball hit bookshelves, almost every team in professional sports has a sports analytics department. For example, the Tampa Bay Rays used principles from Moneyball to hold great success, making three-straight playoff appearances from 2019-21 (including a 2020 World Series berth), despite payrolls in MLB’s bottom five.

Today's guest on the WorkInSports Podcast is Troy Brazell, CEO of Optima Sports Group. His company provides professional and college teams with their Human Performance Modeling system. Teams use Optima Sports Group's analytics to glean insights that improve their player performance and valuation, team culture, injury propensity, and player acclimation. As a result, their clients have won three Super Bowls and one NBA Championship. They are also branching into the fantasy sports realm, providing analytics to avid fantasy players looking for an edge in their leagues.

Catch the full episode as Brazell and WorkInSports VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp discuss:

• Why Brazell went into a sports analytics career
• How Optima Sports Group's analytics can improve team culture
• What the future holds for sports analytics

Fundraisers are a reality of life for parents of active kids. Whether it is a sports team selling magazines, scouts selling cookies (Tagalongs FTW), or schools selling candy bars, the chances are good that you have encountered (and contributed to) a fundraiser or two.

As a father of three, VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp is familiar with these fundraisers, along with the reality that most of the money raised might not end up where you expect. For example, if his daughter’s high school field hockey team sells magazine subscriptions to raise money for equipment, the team might get $8 for each $30 transaction, with the publication getting the rest. This model has been around for decades, but is it the best one?

How to Start a Fundraiser that Works

Today’s guest on the WorkInSports Podcast, CEO and Founder of Snap! Raise Cole Morgan, sought to improve sports fundraising. Morgan grew up around sports fundraising to support his programs as a former college quarterback, but the model seemed broken. Ever the entrepreneur, he took action to fix the problems he experienced and started Snap! Raise.

Looking for a job is difficult, even in today’s candidate-driven market created by the Great Resignation has created. Neil from Chicago shares his frustration with the WorkInSports Podcast:

"Brian, super straight-forward question this week – my job search has been really, really frustrating. I keep hearing about the opportunities that have come up due to the Great Resignation, but I'm not feeling that. I'm frustrated. Are others feeling this way? Help me feel normal and regain some confidence."

A great line from Star Trek also applies to a job search: "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not weakness. That is life." With that said, it’s still easy to doubt yourself during a long process because you might:

• Not get the job without knowing why
• Be ghosted by an employer and feel unimportant
• Put immense pressure on yourself before an interview as bills pile up and your confidence falls

Get more job search tips by listening to the full episode of the WorkInSports Podcast, and be sure to utilize our tools for resume writing tips. Subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast to catch each episode and head to our YouTube channel and our new TikTok account for additional content.

As we celebrate Black History Month and the struggles that Black citizens experienced to get a seat at the table in American society, it is important to remember that this struggle continues today. In 2019, the median white household accumulated 7.8 times as much wealth as the median Black ones, and that trend hasn’t changed since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the globe. The pandemic has also taken twice as many years off Black and Hispanic life expectancies as their white counterparts.

One of the fastest-growing areas for college athletics jobs is in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. As a result, athletic departments throughout the country have begun devoting resources to creating an environment that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion of underrepresented voices. On this episode of the WorkInSports Podcast, VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp chats with someone building a space at his alma mater, the University of Delaware. Dr. Chris Brown is UD's Senior Associate Athletic Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

We’re a month into the 2022 calendar year, and we are seeing a trend with our listener questions on the WorkInSports Podcast. For the third time in the past four weeks, we’re dispensing job interview tips. That’s a good sign of where our audience is at in their job search -- they have applied the show’s sports career advice and are consistently getting deep into the process. This question comes from Colby in Phoenix:

Listen to the full episode for detailed virtual interview advice, and be sure to subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice. Also, be sure to check out additional content on our YouTube channel, including a playlist of all our job interview tips. Finally, give our brand new TikTok account a follow!

Every industry has to make money. It sounds obvious, but because of the prestige of working in sports, it is easy to forget that real time, effort, and strategy are essential to generating revenue. While selling tickets, signing television deals, and obtaining sponsors remain a key component of bringing in money, especially at the professional and collegiate levels, the methods of creating revenue streams have diversified dramatically over the last few years.

Our guest for this episode of the WorkInSports Podcast is SSB’s Steve Hank, who serves as the company’s Executive VP/Chief Commercial Officer.

Hank spent over 14 years in college athletics, with 12 years as Arizona State University’s Associate Athletic Director and two as the University of Texas’ Chief Revenue Officer/Sr. Associate AD. He helped strategize new ways for those athletic departments to maximize revenue. He joins VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp to discuss:

• SSB’s business model and priorities
• What drove him towards data analytics to improve revenue
• The impact of technology on SSB’s data collection

Before we get to our topic, we have a quick plug of our newest social channel: TikTok! We are utilizing TikTok as a space to offer short-form sports career advice, so please give us a follow as we help you get where you want to be in the sports industry.

We spend a lot of time dispensing job interview tips on the WorkInSports Podcast because interviews are a fact of life when searching for a new job. A lot of preparation goes into landing an interview, including tailoring your resume to fit the position (which we can help with!) and crafting the perfect cover letter (we can help there too!). Once you’re invited to interview, the effort shifts to researching the company and preparing to make the right impression. Michael from Tukwila, Washington, has a question about doing so:

One strategy that can help focus your responses while still sounding genuine is the STAR Interview Method.

Catch the full episode for examples of applying this interview technique, and be sure to subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice. Also, subscribe to our YouTube Channel for additional content. We’d also be remiss if we didn’t mention again that we are now on TikTok and we would love you to follow us there!

One of the main purposes of the WorkInSports Podcast is to illustrate the many different career paths you can take within the sports industry. VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp has interviewed experts throughout the field in areas such as sports ownership, sports business strategy, and sports marketing.

Our guest for this episode is the Golden State Warriors’ Drew Friedman, who serves as the franchise’s Partnership Development Manager. Brand association is one of the many perks of working in major professional sports, which is why getting a job with any of the big four (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) North American professional sports leagues is so competitive.

Be sure to subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice. Also, be sure to check out more content on our YouTube channel.

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Over the past year, millions of workers voluntarily left their positions in search of greener pastures amidst the “Great Resignation.” The top reason employees cited for leaving (or considering leaving) in iHire’s 2021 Talent Retention Report was unsatisfactory pay. With compensation playing such an important role in this worker movement, learning how to negotiate a salary offer is critical. The WorkInSports Podcast tackles this issue thanks to a question from Laurie in Wisconsin:

Catch the full episode as VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp offers specific salary negotiation tips and what factors to consider when preparing for salary negotiations.

The WorkInSports Podcast highlights the multitude of roles that organizations of all sizes need to fill , such as marketing, sports science, and sponsorships. Another area that we have regularly explored is content creation, and that is the area we dive into today.

Sports has been called the great equalizer for its ability to build bridges, transcend borders and cultures, and render even the fiercest conflicts temporarily irrelevant. While this appears true when considering the diversity of athletes and a common site of non-white athletes competing (83% in the NBA, 73% in the NFL, 62% in MLS, and 39% in MLB according to the University of Central Florida's Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sports), the reality is different behind the scenes.

Special thanks to Hashtag Sports for allowing us to give a space for their Creators of Color cohorts to share their stories of how they got where they are today. Catch the full episode for perspectives from all our guests:

• Shahbaz Khan, Director of Digital Content (Minnesota Timberwolves)
• Devin Dismang, Director of Athlete Partnerships (STN Digital)
• Chanelle Smith-Walker, Team Photographer (Carolina Panthers)
• J'Ron Erby, Senior Social Media Marketing Specialist (ESPN)
• Roman King, Creative Director (WNBA)
• Ty Carter, Social Media Coordinator (Overtime)
• CJ Dear, Senior Producer (Fox Sports)

With employers facing a shortage of skilled candidates, learning in-demand skills is one way to stand out in a competitive job market. That is what our guest, Director of Partnership Sales for the Pittsburgh Penguins Luke Mohamed, did.

Mohamed cut his teeth working for the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon for five years. He began as an intern, which required him to wear many hats on their small staff, and he learned to love the creative side of sales. That experience showed him a career path that interested him, and he decided his next step was grad school.

After earning his MBA at South Florida, Mohamed spent five years working in corporate partnerships with MLS’ DC United. He eventually became their Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships before landing his current position with the Penguins. Catch the full interview for some of Mohamed’s sports career advice on topics like:

• Why he decided to get a master’s degree.

• What working in sales entails.

• What the most important skills are for partnership sales.

Be sure to subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice. Also, subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!

Every week, the WorkInSports Podcast brings on a guest in the sports industry to share their story, experience, and sports career advice. WorkInSports Podcast host and VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp prides himself on representing many potential career paths in the field. Clapp has interviewed experts in 22 distinct industries under the sports umbrella on the podcast alone, including marketing, content creation, data analytics, and sponsorships.

Another area available to aspiring sports professionals is finance. Money makes our world go, which is why financial experts are in demand across all industries. That’s where our guest, Bob Malandro, comes in.

Bob Malandro is the Founder and Managing Partner of Whitecap Sports Group, a sports mergers, acquisitions, and advisory firm based in Tampa, Florida. Whitecap Sports Group is primarily involved in sports team ownership transactions. For those wealthy owners with a lot of zeros at the end of their bank statements, Bob’s company vets investor opportunities to get either ownership stakes or outright ownership of sports franchises. With 25 years of experience, he understands how valuable financial knowledge is in sports and has advised investors regarding ownership of MLB, NHL, and NBA franchises along with esports teams, minor league professional teams, and start-up sports leagues.

Catch the full episode as Brian and Bob discuss:

• How he advises investors interested in sports ownership
• His target market
• Where he sees the popularity of esports leading
• The value of getting a finance background
• How candidates stand out when applying to work for him

Job interviews are nerve-wracking and stressful, and we cover them extensively on the WorkInSports Podcast. VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp has plenty of job interview advice ranging from overcoming nerves to asking great questions at the end, but this question from Eliza in Chicago brings up another angle of the interview process:

Group interviews are a new wrinkle in the hiring process. While they seem like something HR teams came up with specifically to make candidates uncomfortable, there are some legitimate reasons to conduct them. For example, group interviews can help with:

• Determining how quickly candidates think on their feet
• Showing how confident and assertive a candidate is
• Identifying which candidates fit into the company culture and work collaboratively

With all of that in mind, we have job interview tips to help you stand out among your competitors:

• Don’t be a wallflower: The company is looking for someone with ideas, not a person who will follow along with what the group is doing.
• Introduce yourself to the other interviewees: Being willing to put yourself out there among people that are gunning for the same job is a boss move and shows you are engaged.
• Involve the group: You are being put in a collaborative environment to show how well you work with others. Trying to dominate the room will work against you.

With a new year upon us, people are early in their quests to make good on their resolutions. The gyms are more crowded, books collecting dust are being flipped through, ingredients we never buy are being purchased to make meals we never heard of, and we are working hard to build new habits. That last part is where the WorkInSports Podcast comes in, but as VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp says, hard work alone isn't enough. Whether your resolutions are personal or professional, building a habit takes time and consistent effort.

Many New Year's resolutions fail because they are not specific enough or focus too much on the end goal without considering how to achieve it. On the professional front, getting a new job or earning a promotion are common resolutions, but they don't focus on doing it. Learning in-demand skills is one way to stand out in a competitive job market, and that is what our guest, Pittsburgh Penguins' Director of Partnership Sales Luke Mohamed, did to rise to his current position. He shared his story with the WorkInSports Podcast!