The Soccer Industry Insider

Subscribe to the newsletter for industry insights, career advice, updates on key movers, and the Top 10 New Soccer Jobs each week đź’Ś

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

🛠️ Top Skills You Need for a Career in the Sports Industry (and How to Get Them)

A mix of soft skills (how you work with people) and hard skills (technical abilities) are going to be crucial on your sports career journey.

Here’s a breakdown of the top skills that can help you land a job in sports—plus some easy ways to develop them:

1. Communication Skills

✅ Why It’s Important: Whether you're talking to athletes, writing social media posts, or selling tickets, clear and professional communication is key.
âś… How to Get Better:

  • Start a sports blog or post about sports on LinkedIn.
  • Practice public speaking or take a sports journalism course.
  • Learn to write concisely—many jobs involve emails, press releases, or social media captions.
  • Work on communication in your day-to-day life. Speak up, approach challenging topics direct and with a high level of emotional intelligence (that will be a topic for another blog!).

2. Teamwork & Collaboration

✅ Why It’s Important: Sports jobs involve working with coaches, players, fans, sponsors, and other staff. Being a team player helps you build strong relationships.
âś… How to Get Better:

  • Volunteer at a sports event to experience working with a team.
  • Join a sports organization or committee (even at school or in your community).
  • Work on group projects to improve your problem-solving and cooperation skills.

3. Adaptability & Problem-Solving

✅ Why It’s Important: The sports world moves fast—game schedules change, events get delayed, and unexpected challenges pop up. Employers love people who can think quickly and stay calm under pressure.
âś… How to Get Better:

  • Take a sports event internship and practice adjusting to last-minute changes.
  • Work in customer service (like at a stadium or sports retail store)—this helps you learn to handle unexpected situations.
  • Learn basic project management (Free courses online!).

4. Social Media & Digital Marketing

✅ Why It’s Important: Teams, leagues, and brands need people who understand social media, engage fans, and create content.
âś… How to Get Better:

  • Run a sports Instagram, X/Twitter, or TikTok account and track your engagement.
  • Take a free online course in sports marketing.
  • Offer to help a local club with their social media.

5. Data Analysis & Sports Analytics

✅ Why It’s Important: From player performance stats to ticket sales, data helps teams and businesses make smarter decisions.
âś… How to Get Better:

  • Learn Excel (a must-have skill for sports jobs!).
  • Watch YouTube tutorials on basic sports analytics.
  • Try free tools like Google Analytics or Power BI.

6. Sales & Customer Service

✅ Why It’s Important: Ticket sales, sponsorships, and merchandise are huge parts of the sports business. If you can sell, you can open many career doors!
âś… How to Get Better:

  • Work in retail or hospitality to practice customer service.
  • Take an entry-level job in ticket sales—many sports careers start here!
  • Learn persuasion and negotiation skills (check out free sales courses online).

7. Networking & Relationship Building

✅ Why It’s Important: Many sports jobs come from who you know—connecting with the right people can help you find hidden opportunities.
âś… How to Get Better:

  • Attend sports industry events (online or in person).
  • Connect with professionals on LinkedIn and ask for advice.
  • Join sports job boards and forums like The Sports Intern.

Focus on building these key skills, and you’ll be one step closer to landing your dream job.

🚀 Want to start your career in sports? Check out the latest job openings at Just Soccer Jobs.