Career Advice for Women in Sports was originally published on Elevate Sports Talent.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we asked our female career coaches what advice they would give to women in sports (or those seeking to work here).
This is what they said ⤵️
Keri Willis – View Profile
For young women pursuing a career in sports, I’d highly recommend the following:
- Network. Get your name out there. Meet new people, especially other women. Show genuine curiosity in what they do, and keep those relationships as you progress throughout your career. Stay in touch.
- Ask questions. Good ones. Open-ended questions that will get someone, likely someone with more experience, talking. Help yourself by learning more about others and their work so your path is well-educated.
- Observe the business. Shadow. Learn about different facets of the industry you’re in, or the one you want to get into. Go to the control room and watch the behind-the-scenes to understand it all. Ask to sit in on a meeting you aren’t typically invited to.
- Support other women. However you can. Recommend them for projects, new opportunities, stretch assignments, you name it.
- Set Boundaries. Know your limits. Don’t consistently overextend yourself. If you have a family – kids, fur babies, elder parents, etc. – make sure you have your priorities in order. Communicate regularly with your managers and teammates.
- Lastly, stop apologizing. Use “thank you for your patience” instead of “sorry for the delay.” Need to send a revision to something? Write “update attached” instead of “sorry for another email”
Want to work with Keri? She offers career coaching sessions for those interested in getting into sports media. Start with a free coffee chat!
Naomi Savas – View Profile
To all the women, men, and non-binary folks reading this, please take a moment to appreciate the women you have in your life who have supported you to this day (personally and professionally).
To those who are looking to read tips on how to advance your career in sports, please read my points below on how to do so, coming from the lens of a white, queer, spiritual, zilennial woman.
- Understand that people will always underestimate you, no matter the credentials you hold. Remember that inner confidence is the biggest threat, because that cannot be taken away from you. Cultivate your support system who will remind you of how much of a bad a** you are when your own glasses get foggy.
- Objectively, our society was built by men for men, so every system that we participate in will be biased against us. You will have to work harder and smarter than the man next to you, and remember to keep your moral compass with you. Do not do something that will compromise your integrity. Stay true to who you are, and shine bright!
- Ensure the workplace works for you, not just the other way around. Finding a job in sports can be hard, and you might want to say yes at the first chance you get. I encourage you to do so, but remember that this does not have to be your forever workplace. Take the lessons that you learn and apply them in a work environment that values you and your knowledge, and invests in your growth as a human
Want to work with Naomi? She offers job search assistance & career coaching sessions for students looking to break into sports. Start with a free coffee chat!
Parul Khosla – Founder & CEO – View Profile
As a woman of color with no connections or experience in sports, I had to learn it all myself. Mentorship wasn’t readily available and the competition was fierce.
I learned very quickly that if I wanted to be somebody in this industry, I had to do it myself.
Here’s how I did that and the advice I would give to all the women out there who aspire to make a name for themselves in this male-dominated space:
- If you can’t find it, create it. When I couldn’t land any internships at the beginning of my college career, I started a blog to help get any experience on my resume. When my employer didn’t invest in DEI initiatives, I created my own framework and taught my peers how to work within it. When my employers limited my career growth, I started my own business so I could fulfill all of the potential that I know I have.
- If you think you don’t deserve it, you do. I used to think that I didn’t deserve the praise or the recognition or the new jobs or the promotions. I thought I wasn’t ready or other people have worked harder or I’m too young. That was the imposter syndrome talking. The truth is, if you really aren’t ready for it, they wouldn’t offer it to you. So if they’re offering it, you take it every single time.
- When they tell you no, find someone who will tell you yes. If you get passed over for a raise, promotion, or career opportunity, cut your losses. Don’t give them another chance. They had their opportunity and they wasted it. Show them that you are fine without them but they are not fine without you.
Want to work with me? I offer sessions for students and professionals at all stages of their career – whether job searching or growing within their field. Let’s start with a free coffee chat!
Wherever you are in your career, let this Women’s History Month and our advice to rising female leaders be the catalyst you needed to accelerate your career growth. 🚀
