College is an ideal time to gain real-world work experience in your chosen profession, and the sports industry is no different. Micki just started her college journey and is looking for advice from the WorkInSports Podcast to get her foot in the door:

“Hi Brian! My name is Micki, and I am a freshman in college who intends to work in sports. Currently, I am working with my school’s football team in recruiting and also with the athletic association promotions/fan engagement department. I really want to find an internship for this summer to continue to gain experience and get ahead of the game, but I feel as if I’ve hit a wall since there are such limited options for freshman internships since everywhere will only take a junior or senior. Are there any tricks/tips that you have for freshmen/younger students that are also looking for experience? Or should I wait it out until I am a junior and have more options? By the way, your content is great and has been very helpful to me!”

Getting Work Experience in College

WorkInSports VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp is a big fan of securing multiple internships throughout your time in higher education. It gives you an opportunity to look at organizations of different sizes and immerse yourself in various roles to get the full range of possible experiences. Beyond internships, here are a few more ways to build your experience up:

• Starting a blog/podcast/vlog and interviewing people in the sports industry

• Join industry-specific associations

• Volunteer for teams and companies, particularly your college athletic department

• Job shadow a professional in an area you want to work

• Seek leadership opportunities in campus organizations

Listen to the full episode to learn more about how to gain experience in the sports industry. Also, catch more sports career advice by subscribing to the WorkInSports Podcast. You can also view additional content on our YouTube channel!