The Work in Sports Podcast - Insider Advice for Sports Careers · Brian Clapp - Work in Sports

Finding a Job IS YOUR JOB After Graduating, Here’s How to Do It

·23 min·1 clip

He warns that applying everywhere can backfire because applicant tracking systems record repeated applications.

1. The Workin' Sports Podcast episode "Finding a Job IS YOUR JOB After Graduating, Here’s How to Do It" focuses on job-search habits for new graduates entering sports careers. 2. Brian Clapp, identified as VP of Content and Engage Learning at WorkinSports.com, frames the discussion from his own graduation experience and his current calendar-driven work style. 3. The core question is how a new graduate can turn a job search into a structured daily process instead of a series of random applications. 4. Clapp says the first mindset shift is treating the search as a job, because students move from an "acquisition phase" into active execution. 5. He recommends building a Monday-through-Friday routine around job boards, resume updates, applications, networking outreach, interview practice, and reading industry sites. 6. He tells listeners to set numeric goals for applications, such as five highly targeted jobs per week, instead of applying just to hit a quota. 7. He urges new grads to build a 30-second elevator pitch that explains who they are, what value they bring, and why an employer should hire them. 8. He says social media cleanup matters because employers check Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn before interviews. 9. He advises reconnecting with former interns, professors, and coworkers, and says networking is horizontal as well as vertical. 10. He points listeners to local sports-team events, job fairs, and school alumni networks as places to meet contacts and start conversations. 11. One of the most detailed examples is his suggestion to build a top-10 list of dream employers such as ESPN, New England Sports Network, NBC Sports Boston, and the Boston Celtics. 12. He says that list should also shape salary research, because candidates need to know rent, utilities, and other expenses before accepting a number. 13. He tells a story about being a finalist for a vice president role in Seattle and realizing the pay would leave only about "$100 a month" after expenses. 14. He says relocation decisions should be thought through in advance, using Tennessee Titans and Atlanta as examples of places a graduate might or might not be willing to move. 15. The application section warns against blasting resumes everywhere, because applicant tracking systems can show repeated applications across an organization. 16. He says a candidate who applies for many jobs at one team in a short period can look like someone who wants any role, not this role. 17. He stresses customizing every resume and cover letter so the most relevant skills move higher on the page and the tone fits the posting. 18. He says proofreading matters because 10% to 15% of the resumes he has seen contained grammar or spelling mistakes that sent them straight to the no pile. 19. The interview section narrows to three steps: research the company, follow up if you do not hear back, and send a thank-you email plus a mailed note. 20. The episode keeps a direct, practical lecture style, and people who want sports-job tactics or early-career structure should find it useful, while listeners seeking storytelling or entertainment may skip it.

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