This news really surprised me. I have always heard and been told that there are far more people interested in breaking into the sports business industry than positions available. This article by the Star-Telegram flips the script and says that there are not enough applicants for the numerous new sports-related positions available. Let me clarify that statement. There are not enough qualified applicants to fill newly created positions.
With the expansion of major league soccer in the U.S. and the addition of more minor league baseball teams, the demand for sports front-office positions has grown, Game Face founder Robert Cornilles said.
“The fact of the matter is we have more jobs that we have to fill for teams than we have qualified candidates for,” Cornilles said. “The industry is definitely growing because there are more teams than ever before.”
So you might be thinking, how do I become a qualified candidate? For one, a degree from a University is a good start. Make it a business or marketing degree, and it may be worth more to an organization. Think about getting a post-graduate degree. Make yourself stick out from the base competition.
Disclaimer: just because there are a bunch of new sports business jobs being created does not mean that it is getting any easier to break through the barriers in becoming a sports agent. Anybody will tell you that you are doing yourself a disservice by restricting yourself to only learning the agent side of the business. It is always smart to diversify yourself, whether it be with your stock portfolio or choice of occupation. There is more to sports business than being an agent. Since there are plenty of new opportunities available for qualified applicants, doesn’t it make sense to learn as much about sports business in general in order to have a healthy resume in case your dream of being a successful sports agent does not pan out?
4 replies on “Job Availability In The Sports World”
Mr. Cornilles’ statement borders on disengenuousness. Sure, there are lots of ‘sports jobs’ out there, but how many people want to work as an unpaid intern for a women’s soccer team?
Visit sportsjobs.com and read it regularly for a month, and this is what you’ll find: copious commission sales jobs, a handful of sponsorship jobs at mid-level colleges, and bundles and bundles of unpaid internships with teams of every stripe.
The jobs that are out there either don’t pay or are really just sales positions not a lot different from selling shoes or boat motors or securities. They aren’t sexy. On the other hand, the reason the agent business continues to attract new certificates is because it IS sexy — very, very sexy — on the surface, at least. Of course, if you don’t negotiate a contract for a player in three years (and those years pass very quickly, while you’re paying four figures a year just for the right to recruit players), you’re back to Square One, having to re-certify and wondering where all your money went.
If you’re looking to find a solid job in sports — especially the football world — either be related to someone in the industry (check out the last names of members of teams’ coaching staffs and front offices), or get a degree and be willing to work for free or just above the poverty level for 5-10 years with no guarantee it will ever take you anywhere.
It’s still all about paying dues. I think it’s important that people not expect that there is a shortcut, and a little irresponsible for people to think there’s a glut of fat jobs waiting out there for the taking.
agreed with the above reply. the full-time jobs that cornilles offers to his “students” start at $14,000 base and maybe go up to $24,000 plus commission. he can’t find qualified applicants because most qualified applicants can work in ANY other industry in the world and make more money. he basically needs “die hards” that are willing to start working below the poverty line for the love of the game.
working in minor league baseball or doing sales and marketing in any sports capacity is very rewarding. i did it for five seasons. don’t get me wrong, i respect the hell out of people that stick with it. at the end of the day, you work 100 hour weeks getting paid pennies on the dollar. sad state of affairs. i think the sports front office staffers should unionize for better wages.
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