“I thought you liked your job!”
Many sports job seekers hear this response when their passive job search efforts are revealed. Even though you may be perfect — or at least mostly — content in your current position, it doesn’t hurt to keep your options open, right?
You’re not alone in this sentiment. According to the 2016 Job Seeker Nation Study from Jobvite, 74 percent of employees are open to a new job.
This overwhelmingly large amount of employees looking for a new job doesn’t mean everyone is restless in their careers. Instead, it means many job seekers are open to exploring other opportunities.
However, the passive job search can easily lead to wasted hours if not managed effectively.
Here’s how you can efficiently make the most out of your passive search for sports jobs:
1. Hold yourself accountable.
Sitting at your computer waiting for LinkedIn notifications to pop up doesn’t count as networking. By not actively searching and bringing people into your network, you’re missing out on crucial opportunities.
In fact, a 2015 survey conducted by the University of Phoenix School of Business found that 53 percent of adults avoid or are hesitant to network, and 27 percent also think they have lost job opportunities as a result.
Appoint a networking wing person to attend events with you. Choose someone who is a good communicator and makes you feel comfortable. This helps take the pressure off so you can approach conversations with ease.
To really step up your game, host an event of your own. Set up a charity event for a cause you’re passionate about, like sports education for youth, to attract colleagues in your field. While proactively drawing networking potentials in, you can collaborate and bond over similar passions, your sports jobs aspirations, or even planning future events.
2. Research companies.
If you’re searching for a sports job and know nothing about potential employers, you’re setting yourself up for failure. You first need to understand if the company would be a good fit for you before spending time filling out resumes and applications.
It’s also important to know as many details as possible about the company and your potential employer prior to adding details to resumes and cover letters.
Since you’re already busy in your current role, using organizational apps will help you stay on top of things.
For example, using RSS reader apps, like Feedly, to curate newsfeeds keeps you updated on target employers’ social media. Make yourself reminders as you see companies you’d like to research by adding a simple notes app on your phone.
As you gain more employers or companies you’d like to follow, schedule weekly reminders to continue checking in on any updates.
3. Enhance your social networking.
While passively looking for sports jobs, it’s important to keep your appearance up. There’s no better place to do this than social media.
Opening the door for your network, recruiters, and employers to see you as a thought leader and passionate employee on multiple social sites will enhance your visibility and desirability as a potential candidate. Make the most of your social media profiles, like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, by networking and sharing your opinions on industry news or updates.
Add even more visibility to your job search by using a professional social networking tool like Opportunity. This app uses matching algorithms to connect you with companies that are a good fit — much like popular dating apps. However, unlike other networking sites, Opportunity uncovers matches for you and sends them directly to your phone.
4. Keep your personal brand up-to-date.
Sports jobs are highly competitive, which means you need to constantly work on improving your personal brand and making sure it’s clear to potential employers. Beyond hitting the minimum qualifications, keeping your brand up-to-date could be what sets you above other job seekers with similar qualifications.
Make your personal brand the center of your website, but don’t make it just about you. Personal branding is about showing your contributions to the field, not bragging about yourself. Research what’s trending in sports jobs to keep your content relevant.
Then create your own brand strategy by making a list of content you’d like to post and writing pieces ahead of time. This will help you keep ideas and content flowing. Remember, the more quality content you put out, the better the chances you have of recruiters and employers noticing you.
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How are you performing a more efficient hunt for sports jobs?
