There’s an old saying in sportscasting…it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Networking and self promotion can be crucial in landing higher level jobs and those opportunities are often presented without public postings if there is a candidate in waiting that’s known to someone in a hiring position. Think about it…why sift through hundreds of resumes if Dave has all the experience, credentials and personal history you need? That’s why it’s so important to be able to sell yourself to potential employers.
However the challenge to sell yourself effectively is that you don’t want to turn into a self-promoter…someone who screams “look at me, look at me” all the time. It’s a fine line, but here are three ways where you can effectively sell yourself to potential employers without becoming needy and annoying:
- Network with Employers Online
Places like LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter provide great opportunities to casually interact with people in hiring positions. You can do so in a non-obtrusive way and it’s an effective way to sell yourself in a passive manner. Following, occasional posts or comments seem inconspicuous at the time, but over time you can build up a solid rapport with various people. Combine this rapport with occasional face to face meetings at games, industry events and more and you can build a solid professional friendship with someone who could become your boss. - Make sure your Social Media profiles are TOP NOTCH
Presenting yourself in the right light on social media is crucial in being able to sell yourself. When you send out resumes, the first thing employers do is Google your name to see what comes up. Are they going to see photos of you broadcasting? Or do they see last weekend’s keg stand you did at the frat house? Are your tweets and Facebook posts something you’d be ok with your mother seeing? Or are you ranking how hot celebrities are? Comb over your social media profiles, weed out the stuff that paints you in a poor light and maintain them. Make sure information is up to date, ensure your profile pictures are current and reflective of where you want to be in the industry. If you must do keg stands on weekends, make sure you’re not tagged in any posts. - Present material periodically
There is nothing wrong with cold calling or cold emailing prospective employers. How else would they know about you unless you tell them? The trick with this is the timing and ensure that you don’t become a nuisance. Sending an email once or twice a year is a perfectly acceptable amount to keep in touch with employers and update them on your career and professional progress. Don’t make it too detailed or lengthy, perhaps a paragraph or two updating the person on your career. Make sure you do your research and comment on that teams respective season or recent history….MAKE IT UNIQUE. Then include either a link to your demo or attach a short (3-4 minute) mp3.
Networking in this manner can be incredibly awkward and comes with a natural fear of rejection. However, overcoming a fear of rejection can be vital to a successful career in sportscasting and if you can master networking, and the ability to sell yourself effectively, you’ll have a distinct advantage over everyone else competing for jobs.
