The writers at TSR recommend all College Freshman and Sophomores start early if you intend to work in the Sports Industry. When conducting your search keep in mind that you will “probably” have more internship than permanent placement opportunities. This is due to the nature of your status (College Student) and economics (Free labor for the employer).

First, contact any local sports organizations (Major/Minor League franchises, Sports Radio stations, etc…). If there are no immediate openings on their websites or posted in the newspaper, send an inquiry letter to the staff member in charge of ticket sales and sponsorships. The letter should inform this person of your interest in “volunteering.” If  you do volunteer, contact your school counselor/advisor and see if you can receive academic credit while working. You should seek permission to receive academic credit the semester prior to working for the organization.

Second, contact the Athletic Director (AD) at your university. Express your interest in selling season tickets and sponsorships for the athletic programs (Football, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, both revenue generating sports). If you are enrolled at one of the smaller (student body population) schools, the athletic department will probably not have a sales staff. Your help would be appreciated and necessary. The benefit in working for the university is that you gain experience during the school semesters and have the ability to seek an internship from a separate organization during the summer months.

Important:Keep a record of all transactions ($ amount of ticket sales/sponsorships, % gain in sales/revenue attributable to your work, number of new accounts). This information will then be transferred to your Resume/CV. Imagine how your candidacy would look to a Sports-Industry employer with this experience upon graduation. You will be in a far superior position than your competition.