Entry-level positions for aspiring Project Managers at KINEXON Sports and Media
Patrick, a project manager in sports, suggests that entry-level roles are diverse, ranging from "event planning to junior project management," even including social coordination. To break into the competitive sports industry, Patrick recommends volunteering within a college athletics department to gain experience and make connections, noting that "people will be willing to give you free work to do."
Project Management, Event Planning, Sports Management, Volunteer Experience, Networking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Patrick Song
Project Manager
KINEXON Sports & Media Inc
University of Notre Dame, 2012
UCLA Anderson MBA
Economics
Sports & Fitness
Operations and Project Management
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level positions in project management can range from event planning to junior project management roles, even including social coordination for clubs.
2. Breaking into the sports industry can be challenging due to high competition and relatively low pay; however, volunteering with a school's athletic department is a great way to gain experience and make connections.
3. Networking and volunteering are extremely valuable; offering free work to gain experience is a strategy that can help secure a position, even if it's unpaid initially, because there is always more work to be done than paid positions available.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
Project management is a very general term. For instance, if you're planning an event for a club, you're essentially project managing. In that case, the event itself would be the project.
Entry-level roles can range from event planning to junior project management, or even being a social coordinator for a club.
Now, specifically in sports, it's quite tricky. I was once told that to get a job in sports, someone needs to die or retire. Once you're in, you usually don't want to leave.
On the flip side, people do leave because there's not a lot of money in sports. This is due to supply and demand; so many people are willing to do the job because it's an exciting field that people are passionate about.
To break into sports, especially as a college student, I'd recommend volunteering with your school's athletics department. Find something you're interested in, whether it's sports medicine, sports operations, or pretty much anything else.
If your school has an athletic department, there's a role for it and someone is doing it. There's always more work to be done, so ask if you can volunteer. More often than not, people will be willing to give you work to do.
This is because there's often something they don't really want to do. If they can have someone else do it for free, they'll be very willing.