CANDIDATES,
Our current focus is in preparing you [And your application materials] for effective application within the Applicant Tracking Systems now used by Sports Industry employers to screen candidate submissions. These systems scan and look for matching KEYWORDS within your Résumé/CV and the job description.

It is critical that you tailor and design your application materials for “each” position (Including the Cover Letter) you intend to apply for. Never create or forward a “standard” Résumé/CV or Cover Letter. Applicant Tracking Systems are designed to help hiring managers analyze a candidates credentials with the criteria listed within the job description. Unqualified applicant submissions are usually discarded.

TSR has partnered with Resunate, a software platform that uses Semantic Intelligence to match the contents of a candidates Résumé/CV to a job description. This helps increase the likelihood that a candidate will receive an interview.

TSR members conducted a study during the week of September 26 – September 30, 2011. The focus of our study was to analyze whether technological innovations could possibly eliminate some employment positions within the sports industry, specifically the Ticket Sales position (Ex. Pacolian and StubHub).

We noticed a significant increase in Technology-Specific positions provided by Sports Industry employers. We usually post many of these positions during the Daily Job Blitzes on the Facebook page. This trend in tech-specific positions appeared to increase daily. This trend is what moved the TSR staff to conduct this research. As a company, we want to make sure all clients and inquirers are adequately prepared for the next generation of employment opportunities.

Here are the results, names of participating employers and employment websites:

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Adidas, NCAA, Madison Square Garden, StubHub, ESPN, TeamWorkOnline.com, Sports Recruitment International and Global Sports Jobs [IMPORTANT: Over 90% of the positions listed by StubHub were technology focused,no surprise].

September 26: Tech Jobs (4) Other (45)
September 27: Tech Jobs (8) Other (63)
September 28: Tech Jobs (10) Other (56)
September 29: Tech Jobs (15) Other (74)
September 30: Tech Jobs (10) Other (69)

This research shows a slight increase in the number of Technology-Focused employment positions posted daily. As a candidate, especially students, consider seeking a Minor is some Science/Technical discipline. This may strengthen your candidacy when applying for Sports Industry employment opportunities and definitely within other employment sectors.

TSR’s next research project will produce more detailed results, highlighting the frequency of “specific” employment positions.

Google Alerts is a feature which searches the web for any News, Videos, Blog Stories, etc… on a user-submitted topic. The captured results are forwarded to a designated email address. The user can select the frequency for receiving the results (Daily, Weekly, As-it-Happens).

TSR recommends this feature to all Sports Industry employment candidates. Google Alerts will allow you to stay current and informed with all Sports Industry employer news and information, selecting the employer(s) of choice as the submission topic.

During the Interview:

Transform the interview from a question/answer session into a “business conversation.” Let the Hiring Manager(s) know how knowledgeable you are of the current financial state of the company, marketing initiatives, plans for mobile penetration, etc…. This newly acquired knowledge will be provided by the Google Alerts system.

When selecting a company for the search criteria, make sure you place quotation marks outside of the company’s name. This helps to eliminate irrelevant search results. It would also be wise to create an outline, summarizing company news and information related to the specific department where you are seeking employment (If the search results are this specific).

Approach the interview with confidence and not arrogance. Your goal is to show HOW you will be able to assist the company in reaching its goals and not yours. Know what the goals are or develop an intelligent hypothesis as to their future vision and what they are trying to accomplish.

IMPORTANT: You can enter multiple company names within this feature.

GOOGLE ALERTS: http://www.google.com/alerts

There has been a pattern among Sports Industry candidates noticed over the past months in the development of the Cover Letter (Research comes from the analysis of FREE review services).

Most candidates are using their Cover Letter to repeat information located on the Résumé. This is the wrong approach. Remember what the purpose the Cover Letter serves: to introduce your candidacy to Hiring Managers, forwarding their attention to your Résumé/CV (The 30-second time table). Noticeable repetitive information can be a hindrance to securing the Hiring Manager’s attention, which heavily depends on your content (This is especially true if the information is not related to the employer’s needs).

Always remember that employers are flooded with Résumé/CV submissions (Which is why most are using electronic Applicant Tracking Systems [ATS]).

The Correct Approach in writing a Cover Letter: Address HOW you meet the minimum requirements listed within the job description. Why? This removes your candidacy from the “Unqualified Applicant” submissions.