Fulfill your responsibilities

There are countless volunteer opportunities for us as students of the sports industry. We are constantly being offered opportunities to play a role in sporting events, whether it be within our own college athletic departments, for outside local sports organizations or even for professional teams and leagues. We should, by all means, take advantage of these opportunities, as not only is it a resume builder but it is also a chance for us to see how sports operate and for us to continuously build our network with professionals in the field.

Therefore, we need to be sure we are representing ourselves in a positive manner, as volunteer opportunities can often lead to something bigger and better for us. Also important to note is the fact that we are most often also representing someone or something bigger than ourselves, such as our program and university or the person who invited us to participate.

As a volunteer you are fulfilling a very important role, as events would not be as successful without the help from volunteers. A few pieces of advice in regards to expectations when serving in the role as a volunteer:

• Arrive on time, wearing appropriate attire (ask before arriving if your contact does not tell you before hand)
• Make sure you know the answers to frequently asked questions (customer service is key)
• Be sure to serve in the specific role you were asked to serve (if you were asked to be an usher, watching the crowd and not the game - do just that)
• Be sure to eat before you arrive as often times a break for food is not scheduled into your working session
• Do not complain
• Be sure to thank your supervisor for the opportunity
• Do not expect to receive anything for free

Have fun!

Building Your Resume

For those who have never written a resume before, I suggest you start creating one now! It is so much better to start from scratch early on so that you can continually update and edit it as you progress in the sport industry. You will receive continuous feedback from peers, faculty, advisors, and other professionals on how to make it the best it can be. After all, this is the document that allows you to market yourself. This is the document which will distinguish you from your peers/competitors and is a snapshot of who you are for potential employers.

Everyone has their own ideas and preferences as far as resume writing goes, so you will receive conflicting feedback it all the time. Things like font size, structure, page number, references, what to include and what not to include, etc. Start out by including everything you think is necessary:

• Objective Statement (what you want to do)
  
• Education Information (university, major, GPA, expected graduation)
  
• Relevant Coursework (classes you have and/or are taking)
  
• Relevant Experience (work experience within sports)
• Employment (additional employment)
• Volunteer Work
• Honors and Awards
• List of References

By including all of this information, your resume may get pretty lengthy. But it's a great starting point. It will be easier to cut things down than it would be to try and add information. Start by loading your resume up with as much information as you think necessary and you can work [with someone] to cut it down to a more manageable and readable resume. Good luck!

Make a Good Impression

This past week I was in New York City assisting the New York Road Runners with the 2008 ING New York City Marathon. I have been lucky to have built a strong rapport with the Road Runners since working full time there and coming back to graduate school. I have been asked back the past 2 years and hope to continue this relationship. This year an undergraduate student from OU was invited to come along as well. As I mentioned in my previous posting, when I was a senior in undergrad I was invited to assist the Road Runners at the marathon - an opportunity that I am so glad I did not pass up!

I think this OU student had quite a similar experience as I had had a few years ago. Not only was he exposed to The World's Largest Marathon, but he was also exposed to some of the top running professionals in the industry and some of the most elite runners from around the world. He was quite brave to take on the opportunity - meeting new people, working in a city he had only been to once before, and doing it basically all on his own. The best part - everyone was so impressed by him! He did not complain once, did what was asked (and more), and took it all in as an invaluable learning experience.

The New York Road Runners will not forget him and will more than likely be asking for him back year after year (if of course they do not offer him a full time position before then - which would not surprise me!). I am proud of him and know that he learned the importance of making a good first impression.