It’s your final year of college. As you’re completing your BA in sports management, you’re looking forward and figuring out what steps you need to take to land a job in your field. Fortunately, you earned an internship in digital media production with a minor-league baseball team.
This sports internship is perfect for you because they offer room for growth. In fact,73 percent of college graduates consider opportunities for long-term career advancement crucial when searching for internships, according to Looksharp’s 2015 State of College Hiring report.
Now that you face the perfect opportunity to jumpstart your career, it’s time to take action. Here’s how you can turn your sports internship into a full-time job:
Learn the Culture
For job seekers who are either looking for sports internships or already participating in them, it’s crucial to know what the company stands for. Research what they value most, their vision for the future of the company, and what their overarching mission is. This information will help you determine if you fit in their culture.
If you do not fit naturally with the culture, you shouldn’t pursue employment. You should never feel like you’re forcing a connection with others and being someone you’re not just to feel accepted.
If you do, then you will find it natural to engage with the team. Your behavior will align with the team’s, and socializing will feel simple. Leadership and your colleagues alike will notice how quickly you become part of the team.
Build Your Network
Develop relationships with fellow interns and colleagues. When you shy away from water cooler talk or break room discussions, you’re isolating yourself. If leadership asks for feedback from employees, your name will not be mentioned because you were in the corner, avoiding socializing with your office mates.
When you see a company event announced, make it a point to attend it. The more present you are, the more likely your colleagues are to speak favorably of you.
Be proactive and invite colleagues to events outside the office that allow you to get to know them more. For example, try to schedule an activity like attending a professional sporting event or participating in trivia night at a local happy hour. Demonstrate how you can bring the team together and become an active member of the workplace community.
Speak Up
Employers are looking for a lot of crucial soft skills from college graduates. An April 2016 report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) asked companies to identify the top competencies they consider to be an “essential need” in college graduates they are looking to hire — critical thinking and problem solving top the list.
Demonstrate these skills in the workplace. Let’s say you are participating in a production meeting, and you have an idea for making the live game experience more interactive with social media. Don’t just sit quietly and wait to be spoken to. Politely raise your hand and offer creative solutions.
Not only does this show your creativity, but it also shows your initiative and passion for the work. You have the ability to solve problems and think critically. You just have to show that.
Approach Leadership
You’re nearing the end of your internship. You made a lot of friends in the office, learned new skills, gained work experience in a fast-paced production environment, and expanded your knowledge of college baseball. At this point, you want to show your interest in staying and growing with the company as a full-time employee.
Be proactive and schedule a meeting with leaders to discuss your career goals and share how you want to help advance the company to achieve its goals. If you can’t get time for one-on-one discussions, send leadership a direct email, so they know you’re passionate about staying and growing. It may feel uncomfortable for some, but if they recognize your value, they will want to keep you around.
How are you turning your sports internship into a full-time job?
