The Top 10 Sports Career Advice Articles & Podcasts of 2024

2024 was a year to remember for sports – from Caitlin Clark’s star power and the Paris Summer Olympics (and its viral moments), to back-to-back Chiefs Super Bowl wins and the Celtics record 18^th NBA title. Amid all the excitement, jobs in the sports industry remained ultra-competitive and in high demand, as millions of candidates sought to make their passion their career.

As we head into 2025, let’s take a look back at some of the most impactful job search and career advice from WorkInSports in 2024. Without further ado, here are the 10 most popular articles and podcasts from the past year:

1. How to Build Your Network in the Sports Industry

Wondering how to get a job in sports? Start with networking. To begin building your network, WorkInSports recommends attending industry events and conferences, joining relevant organizations and clubs, and using social media to connect with other sports professionals and stay on top of the latest news. Most importantly, ensure you are authentic and sincere when networking – keep in touch with your contacts, offer support, and find ways to collaborate to build trust and rapport.

2. What Is NIL and How Can I Make a Career Out of It?

Name, image, and likeness (NIL) refers to the right for student-athletes to profit from their personal brand and make money from sponsorships, autographs, personal appearances, podcasting, blogging, and much more. And, NIL is creating new markets, career paths, and jobs in the sports industry. Discover the different types of NIL employers, NIL career titles, skills needed for NIL jobs, and where to find NIL jobs with WorkInSports’ second-most popular article of the year.

3. Do You NEED a College Degree for Sports Jobs?

...Not necessarily. Skills-based hiring is trending across the employment landscape, and the sports industry is no exception. Hear from WorkInSports Podcast Host and VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp as he offers job seekers advice for pursuing a career in sports sans degree. Clapp’s tips include evaluating market demand for specific skills, preparing for assessment tests, and leveraging certifications and online courses to build your portfolio.

4. The 3 Traits You NEED to Thrive in the Sports Industry

Curiosity, coachability, and competitiveness are three indispensable traits for sports industry job seekers, advises Clapp. Demonstrating these qualities by asking insightful questions, accepting feedback constructively, and maintaining a strong drive for success can make you stand out to employers. These traits, inspired by the NBA legend Tim Duncan’s basketball career, highlight the importance of humility and determination over raw talent, ensuring long-term professional value in your career.

5. DO THIS to Get Promoted in Your Sports Career

Looking to earn a promotion? In this podcast episode, Clapp lets you in on a few secrets to advancing your career in sports, starting with knocking your first job out of the park and showing your value to your employer. After you prove yourself, talk to your boss frankly about your desire to move up, and ask for their opinion on how you can grow. This can open the door for new opportunities.

6. How to Get a Job in the NFL & Make a Career Out of Your Passion for Football

The NFL is the world’s largest and most popular sports league, and there is no shortage of career opportunities within the organization. Find out how you can score NFL jobs, where to find NFL internships, which skills to include on your resume, and how to use networking to work your way into your dream job.

7. How to Get WNBA Jobs: A Quick Guide

Women’s basketball boomed in 2024, creating new and exciting jobs in the WNBA. Get actionable tips – such as networking, focusing on specialization, volunteering, and gaining relevant experience – for getting one of these coveted WNBA jobs, and find out which skills you’ll need to stand out in the hiring process with this helpful guide.

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8. Using AI Will Get You a Sports Job

AI has impacted just about every industry, including sports, as well as changed the way we search and apply for jobs. However, many job seekers have no idea how to get started using AI in their hunt. Clapp provides 21 ways to use popular AI tools (like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Jasper) to make your sports industry job search more efficient – and successful.

9. Using Science to Discover Your Dream Sports Job

Yes, you can use science to determine the right career path! In this podcast episode, Clapp shares how to create a hypothesis: What career do you think will be a good fit based on the knowledge and passions you have? One of the best ways to test your hypothesis is by networking and speaking with people who hold roles that interest you (before you dive into accepting an internship or job you end up disliking). Like a scientist, you should abandon a hypothesis as soon as you start to prove it wrong – so be prepared to pivot.

10. How Do You Actually Do... NETWORKING?

Networking in the sports industry – or any sector – requires more than clicking the “Connect” button on LinkedIn. In this podcast episode that rounds out our top 10 list, Clapp walks you through a simple approach to networking that won’t make you feel awkward and leads to long-term, meaningful professional relationships.

Whether you’re looking for a new sports job or aiming to take your career to the next level, these 10 articles and podcast episodes will give you a burst of inspiration to make 2025 a successful year. For even more sports career advice and job search tips, check out WorkInSports’ Job Seeker Resource Center.