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You do not have to be the next Adam Gilchrist or Cathy Freeman to make the most out of your love for the sport. If you enjoy fitness and working with people, you can make a good career in the sports industry. This can be in positions from admin at a sports center to coaching a junior team. As with any career, you should choose a role that is best suited to your skills.
Depending on the role you choose, there are slightly different routes to take, to get your dream job. However, there are three things you will need to do, no matter which career path you decide to take.
Get the right training
Training is vital for any sports-related career. You need to have the skills and knowledge in place to be competitive in the jobs market. Getting the right training also helps you to be successful once you start on your career journey. One of the most popular qualifications in this area is the Certificate III in Sport and Recreation. It prepares you for life working in a sporting environment, whether it’s maintaining sports grounds or providing administration for a local sports team. Once you know which career you are interested in, do your research, and plan the training and qualifications that you need.
Learn about people
One thing you will definitely need in the sports industry is good people skills. If you want to work as a coach, you need to know how to get the best performances from the people you are coaching. If you are managing a sports center, you need to understand how to motivate your team of employees. These roles are very different in some ways, but they both require a good understanding of people if you are to be successful.
You may decide that studying psychology is the best option, so you can better put yourself in another person’s position, in order to fully understand them. You could also think about volunteering opportunities that are available. Volunteering is a great way to develop your people skills and you get to give something back to the local community at the same time.
Learn about business
Business skills are useful to have in most careers. It helps to know how business plans, branding and financing works, so you have a better understanding of the business you are working in. For instance, if you decide to embark on a career as a personal trainer, you will need to be able to market your brand, in order to get clients. On the other hand, if you are working in the administration of a sports business, you should be able to understand how you work fits into overall business place.
Having a qualification in business can be a big help in developing your career in the sports industry. You may also want to think about looking for an internship so that you can develop your skills in order to give yourself a better chance of finding your ideal full-time role.
The skills we have mentioned are good to have, no matter what part of the sports industry you are interested in. You need to have training specific to the sports industry, good people skills and a good head for business.
