Tyler Keys: “I did all of the free work and other jobs that interns have to do that nobody else wanted. I did that for close to a year and a half before I got my master’s degree in sports management. For the last six months, I’ve been the corporate sponsorship coordinator for Crimson Tide Sports Marketing.”

This is the season where Sports Industry employers seek candidates for their Summer 2012 Internship opportunities. These companies will receive hundreds if not thousands of applicant submissions. Interviews are usually conducted during the Spring months and decisions made shortly thereafter.

Below is an interesting story provided by Tyler Keys, the Corporate Sponsorship Coordinator for Crimson Tide Sports Marketing (The licensing arm for the University of Alabama Athletic Department). Tyler’s story provides great insight and information for all students currently seeking Summer 2012 opportunities.

NOTE: Remember to get your FREE Résumé/Job Description analysis before applying to any Internship opportunity, courtesy of Résunate and The Sports Résumé: http://get.resunate.com/thesportsresume

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When Tyler Keys graduated from Crossville High School in 2005, he had no idea his future job would be to work with legends of University of Alabama sports.

About three years ago, Keys got an internship working with Crimson Tide Sports Marketing, the official multimedia rights holder for the University of Alabama.

“I did all of the free work and other jobs that interns have to do that nobody else wanted,” Keys said. “I did that for close to a year and a half before I got my master’s degree in sports management. For the last six months, I’ve been the corporate sponsorship coordinator for Crimson Tide Sports Marketing.”

One of Keys’ responsibilities is to locate and get Alabama sports merchandise to be auctioned off on RollTide.com. Keys said all of the memorabilia auctioned off is authentic Alabama merchandise.

“I develop relationships with all of the equipment managers at Alabama,” he said. “We get the leftover equipment, and I bring it back, take photos, inventory it and upload it to the RollTide.com auction.

“Fans can’t find these items in sporting goods stores. We have stuff dating back for multiple years. The public doesn’t have to worry about anything being fabricated. This is all authentic, licensed memorabilia.”

Keys is a big Bama fan, and sometimes he crosses paths with legends like Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler and Ozzie Newsome.

“I get some of the memorabilia autographed,” Keys said. “I go out to university events and get with athletes like Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler and Brody Croyle and get them to autograph the items. Legends come in for all kinds of events, and we get them to sign.”

Keys said meeting Alabama legends was something he never expected.

“It was something I could have never imagined,” Keys said. “Meeting Namath, Newsome and Stabler at events we work on is exciting.”

Keys said prices for memorabilia are set based on the current market value for similar items. He said competitive pricing makes it possible for fans to get sports memorabilia to which they might not ordinarily have access.

“We auction items for football and all university Olympic sports – like baseball, basketball and gymnastics,” he said. “Not a lot of people know about the auction on RollTide.com. We’re hoping to get the word out about it so more people have the chance to bid on memorabilia. You just can’t go anywhere and buy SEC merchandise. You can actually see helmet marks on some of the jerseys.

“We auction off more than merchandise though. We do the Ultimate Football Fan Experience where we auction off four sideline access passes, so the everyday fan can go places they normally couldn’t. They get to go down on the field for about an hour before the game. The fan experience also includes concession vouchers and goodie bags with game-day programs, bobble heads and other memorabilia. We auction off fan experiences for gymnastics, basketball, baseball and softball, too.”

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The sports industry is highly competitive. Your resume needs to be on target and stand out from the competition. How can you do that? Listed below are four tips designed to help get your a second look from your dream employer.

1. Make sure your resume includes relevant content. Employers in your desired industry receive many resumes a day that they only have time for a quick scan. It’s your job to provide relevant and focused information. If you are having a hard time editing, use Resunate to focus your resume for the specific job description.

2. Define what makes your resume unique. A lot of people want a job in the Sports Industry; Come up with a theme which makes your resume stand out. If possible, highlight any experiences and skills that show why you are the most qualified applicant. Comparing your resume against the job description also ensures that you show employers HOW you meet their specific criteria.

3. Display your passion for Sports Industry. While you might be super qualified for a position (and that’s great), other candidates may have similar experiences, making them just as qualified. If you showcase personal achievements and use words/terms that show your excitement for the job, your resume will make an impact.

4. Focus on the content and not format. Your resume will be run through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before it reaches the employer’s desk. If it doesn’t include the necessary keywords, experiences, and skills that the employer is looking for, your resume may never make it out of the system.

To combat the applicant tracking system, you should focus your resume to the job description. Also, pay close attention to the format — take control of how your resume will be processed by paying attention to detail. Stick to a simpler format, an employer’s ATS will be able to scan your resume accurately and completely.

How do you plan on setting yourself apart from the competition in this competitive industry?

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.