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Marketing: Careers in Sports Marketing
Aug. 6, 2008 Over here at the Athletic Department, we are often contacted by students looking to work and get experience working in sports marketing. But when told that there are no paid positions available, just un-paid internships, most students lose interest. As a recent college graduate, I understand how tight a college student's budget can be, and the need for paid part-time employment. But I have also experienced first-hand the competitive job market. It is nearly impossible to get a job today without extensive experience on your resume, and even harder in the sports industry. This is why students should consider taking an unpaid internship, even if it is only for a few hours a week. I completed my undergraduate degree in Marketing at the Ohio State University, where I worked as an intern for three years at the Ohio State Athletic Department. I was not paid while I was there. But the experience gained was priceless. It enabled me to get a full-time internship position here last year at CSU, which eventually led to my hiring as the Marketing Coordinator. Students have to realize that it is very difficult to find paid internships in sports and that they should jump at any chance to get a foot in the door. Sometimes you have to have experience on your resume just to land an internship! I picked sports marketing so that I could come into work everyday and love what I'm doing. It may not be the highest paying job and it is a lot of hard work, but my job is so much more than the typical 9-5 desk job. Where else can you see NCAA Division I action for free? I encourage any student who is interested in sports marketing to contact me in order to discuss internship possibilities. In such a smaller department like Cleveland State, students can be involved in all aspects of our marketing plan and really learn the business of collegiate athletics marketing. Katie Schneider |
