Applicant Tracking System – a software application that enables the electronic handling of recruitment needs.

Sports Industry candidates are up against a large number of competitors when applying for employment positions. As mentioned on multiple occasions, it is not unusual for an employer to receive over 100 applicants per position, which includes entry-level ticket sales positions.

There is now a new competitor facing today’s job seekers, a competitor which is invisible to the eye and does not attend Sports Industry Career Fairs.

The invisible competitor is called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS): see definition above. Any candidate applying for a position with a large sports organization (Pro-Sports Franchises, ESPN, FoxSports, SKY, etc…NOTE: An ESPN recruiter personally told me they use ATS software for their department) will have their Résumé/CV and Cover Letter immediately forwarded to an electronic database [NOTE: Small Companies are taking advantage of ATS Software as well].

Once in the database, HR managers and hiring personnel use various methods (Depends on the features of their unique ATS system) to “screen” potential candidates. Features for tracking candidates include location, experience, level of education, academic achievements, and years of employment within an individual sector. The ATS systems main purpose is to provide an easier method of finding “qualified” employees. Long gone are the days of sorting through hundreds of Résumés and CV’s of unqualified candidates.

As a candidate, your job is to figure out the best method in having your application materials appear visible. Going forward, it is probably best to have your Résumé and CV designed for a specific position. Each employer will have certain criteria they look for when selecting candidates for an interview. Most of the criteria will be contained within the job description. Therefore, tailor your Résumé/CV for each individual position you apply for. If the ATS system allows the submission of one Résumé/CV, then design for a “specific department” (Ex. Sales, TV Production, New Media, etc….).

Be prepared for the new era in Human Resource Recruitment! -TSR Staff

Employment Position: Account Executive
Employer: National Football League (NFL)

-noun.  a word or phrase, often sounding authoritative or technical, that is a vogue term in a particular profession, field of study, popular culture, etc.

Random House Dictionary

Buzzwords are very important for today’s Sports Job seeker. With the proliferation of Sports employment websites, the shortage of opportunities, and the large number of applicants, having the appropriate Buzzwords on the resume will provide a needed advantage.

Online employment databases contain hundreds, if not thousands of resumes. With such large numbers, hiring managers use electronic scanning methods to locate the resume containing the most “relevant” terminology applicable for the particular job opening. The resumes containing the greatest number of relevant words and terms will receive the most attention. Relevant words and terms include but are not limited to the Undergraduate Major/Minor course of study. 

Your duty as a job candidate is to read and analyze the job description and tailor the resume accordingly. Anyone reading this blog story should know what a synonym is. If the job description contains terms not specifically listed on your resume but having similar meanings, then make the necessary adjustments on the resume. 

Look at a few BUZZWORDS one could use for this position:

INSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVE (Ticket Sales) - Cold Calling, Prospecting, Customer Sales/Service, Communication and Interpersonal skills, Attention to detail, Proactive, Negotiating, Presentation skills, Industry knowledge, Flexibility (work hours), New Business (ability to generate new business), Multi-task, Up-sell, Cross-sell, Sales goals (monthly, weekly).