“Job descriptions are virtually the same. A Software Tester for Microsoft has the same duties and responsibilities as a Software Tester for Google, APPLE, Oracle, etc………..”

TSR Staff

Attention Sports-Industry Job seekers: 

There are virtually no available employment opportunities that have not been around for a while (Exception: Mobile Application Developer). This means that the position you are applying for and the one you currently have are not new to the labor market. We say this so that as a candidate you recognize the need for more on your Resume/CV to distinguish you from the competition.

For example as a hypothetical, TeamWorkOnline.com has a position listed for a Director of Sales position for the Washington Redskins. There are 4 candidates who intend to apply. Each candidate is also the Director of Sales for their current employer. In viewing their Resume/CV any Hiring Manager would expect to see the following job duties and responsibilities: Managed a team of ” ” Sales Representatives, Responsible for the ” ” territory, Provided training and coaching, etc…… The point we are making is that nothing listed above would distinguish them.

However, the fortunate candidate to get the position will be the one who provides more detail. This individual will include the specific dollar amount of sales his team generated, the % of increase in sales from a prior quarter, top performance/performer accolades, new business generated, amount of his/her responsible budget, etc….

These additional characteristics will distinguish the successful candidate from his competitors. 

Many people look at the Resume/CV as a document used for making a “normal” job description sound the more articulate. This is the wrong attitude to take when conducting a job search. The job description for any position listed on your Resume/CV should be no more than 2 sentences. The description will then be followed by as many bullet points to reflect “specific” Results and Accomplishments. This information is critical and may be the determining factor if you are one who has received no callbacks or inquiries from recruiters where your Resume/CV is located on an online Sports Employment site.

Make sure the information you recite is not too political or controversial. The individual may have been disciplined by the employer for such statements and would probably not want to revisit the situation, nor provide an explanation as to why such statements were made.

Social Networking websites may also be a good source of information (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc..). If you decide to use the Social Web for information, do not sound to invasive. Only document that which is “industry-related.”

Networking is important. However, we do not feel as though it should receive a great deal of attention. Networking has its limitations. 

TeamWorkOnline.com: TeamWork is arguably the best online recruitment site for job opportunities with Pro-Sports franchises and related entities. There are no membership or access fees for job seekers. However, all participating companies license TeamWork’s technology which resides on the organizations website. Thetechnology posts new jobs on TeamWork’s site immediately after the team (or related entity) releases the information.

Which begs the question, why would an organization “pay” to list employment opportunities if networking was the best method in recruitment. Remember, most sports organizations, including the individual teams are private institutions. There is no obligation to publish these job opportunities and make the information available to the public. This is the total opposite to those receiving government funding whom must post all employment openings.

This is why we question the importance of Networking. It seems obvious these organizations are looking outside of the “inner-circle” for the best candidates. Otherwise why pay to post available opportunities, executive and entry-level positions.

The best method to Network is in writing a very seductive Cover Letter. Remember, as a job seeker your goal is to express “how” you will benefit the potential employer while fulfilling the obligations listed in the job description. Also, if you do not know the Hiring Manager or the individual to whom the Cover Letter will be addressed, research and mention something about them (or the organization), an accomplishment or achievement, in the opening paragraph. This will definitely help your candidacy.

-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).