Is it difficult to get a job with a sports management degree?

Hi Natalie,

First of all, I really want to encourage you to major in sport management. There need to be more women in the field! I graduated with a degree in sport management and a minor in health from Ithaca College. If you are really leaning towards this major, I would encourage you to look at schools who have this degree. You want to be in a program that encourages you to get experience and requires fieldwork and/or an internship. Sport management is a major that you really need to pair with real world experience. It is a competitive field, but I don't think it's hard to get a job if you put in the work.

Jobs in sports sound glamorous. Who doesn't want to work for the NBA or NFL? If you are looking to get into professional sports by any means necessary, you should be able to secure a job in ticket sales when you graduate. It isn't the most glamorous job, but that is where a lot of people start who get into sports. If you don't want to be a saleswoman, you can take the route that I am taking and work for a sports and recreation center. I am working at a sports nonprofit right now and it is such meaningful work. I would really encourage you to look at Up2Us which is a great nonprofit sports organization. You can also go into coaching. Getting a master's degree is super beneficial because you can increase your network.

One last point. Networking is huge in the sports field. You need to make sure that you form relationships with your professors and let them know what you are interested in. Do you want to go into marketing? Event planning? Operations? With all of that being said, you have time to figure out what you want to do. Tomorrow you may wake up and realize you are interested in a totally different field. Don't rule out sport management because you think it might be difficult to secure a job. If you are a determined person, you will find employment.

I have a degree in Sports Management and the one thing I had to learn was what did I want to do with it? Professional Sports? Local Recreation Departments? Facilities? As mentioned, there are many options a degree in Sports Management can take you. First, you need to recognize where your passions lie. Once you determine that, then you'll be able to figure out which way to lean with your degree.

My advice, start building contacts now. If you live in a major market area with major league sports teams and that's what you want to do, then find a way to get in and make contacts. Become a seasonal volunteer and work game days (if possible) while you're in college or during the summer. If you prefer the local recreation department, then see if you can get a summer job and begin to see what the experiences are like. The beautiful thing about Sports Management is it does cover multiple sub-genres of work. Many jobs of which can be rewarding.

When I first graduated college, I worked as the morning person at a local ice rink. And also had some PT jobs to help ends meet. Eventually I made my way to an NFL Ticket Office, and then moved over to Stadium Operations Manager for a minor league team before leaving sports to pursue personal goals.

I'll leave you with this. Working in sports is like being in a fraternity. Once you're in, you're in. Once you're out, it's very difficult to get back in.

I wish you will in your endeavors.

Hello Natalie,

The task of a sports manager depends on the subfield that they specialize in. Managing people in the college or professional sports arenas may be the first thing that comes to mind. Other management areas include in office systems, marketing, events and facilities. Opportunities also exist in sports economics, finance and information.

Sports management professionals can also be found in business or medicine. A degree in sports medicine might see you teaching college football players how to stay healthy and keep fit by eating the right kinds of foods, or helping a tennis player deal with the psychological ramifications of stress and competition that come with being a professional athlete.

If your school doesn’t offer a specialization in sports management, many typical degree programs will prove useful, including management, marketing, business administration, accounting and health.

Because competition for jobs in the sports industry is fierce, earning a master's degree will give you a significant advantage in embarking on your dream career.

Some students and professionals choose to continue their education by earning a doctorate degree, which allows an intensive focus on research, and job opportunities at the academic level.

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in sports management includes study of the psychological or sociological aspects of sports.

A Doctor of Education (EdD) in sports management generally offers two areas of emphasis: sports medicine or Olympism, which studies the structure originated by the Olympic Games and encourages the balanced development of the body and mind.

In addition to traditional front-office roles, the sports industry also offers managerial opportunities for professionals with specialized skills. Lawyers, for instance, frequently become sports agents and represent athletes in contract negotiations or advise sports labor unions.

Advertising and public relations agencies develop sports-related practices to promote teams and events, such as golf tournaments or auto races. Even health care plays a role in sports, through positions such as athletic trainer. Head trainers set standards of care and oversee assistants who make sure athletes are healthy and fit and receive prompt treatment for injuries or illness. The median salary of an athletic trainer was about $42,000 in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

http://www.allbusinessschools.com/business-careers/sports-management/job-description/
http://work.chron.com/sports-management-careers-salaries-7873.html

All the Best!!!!