Texas A&M Sport Management Program Elevates Career Readiness With WorkInSports’ Sports Career Game Plan (SCGP)

The full story:

Background

Founded in 1876, Texas A&M University is the state’s first public institution of higher learning. Its Sport Management program is one of the top programs of its kind in the United States and combines foundational education with real-world experience. The program’s goal is to train the next generation of sport management professionals and equip them with the knowledge to succeed in a competitive industry.

Opportunities

Kayla Jones, Instructional Assistant Professor at Texas A&M, teaches several courses within the university’s Kinesiology and Sport Management Department, including Introduction to Culminating Experience (SPMT 295). The course prepares students to pursue one of Texas A&M’s Culminating Experience options required for a degree, such as holding an internship or conducting a research project. Part of that preparation involves exploring career paths and learning professional development best practices so students can apply for the right Culminating Experience that supports their career goals.

While attending the annual North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) conference, Jones came across WorkInSports, one of industry-specific employment platform iHire’s talent communities. Jones spoke to WorkInSports’ representatives about its comprehensive, engaged learning platform, Sports Career Game Plan (SCGP). Jones thought SCGP could benefit her students by reinforcing key points about career preparation while complementing their coursework.

Solution

Jones decided to bring SCGP into the SPMT 295 curriculum. Comprising 175+ career advice articles, checklists, worksheets, quizzes, videos, audio content, and interviews, SCGP is broken into five modules: Gaining the RIGHT Experience for Your Sports Career; Building and Maintaining Your Sports Industry Network; Mastering Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Personal Brand; Interviewing for Jobs and Internships in the Sports Industry; and Soft Skills to Move Your Sports Career Forward.

Using the platform as a supplementary resource, SPMT 295 students must complete the SCGP assignments and score 100% on the quizzes to earn full credit.

Texas A&M’s Sport Management students also receive a five-year Premium job seeker membership on the WorkInSports platform where they can access thousands of sports industry jobs and AI-powered tools and resources to help them stand out and get hired.

Meanwhile, WorkInSports’ Customer Success team provides ongoing platform support, resolving issues and addressing student questions promptly.

Results

Since the fall of 2022, more than 645 Texas A&M students have completed the SCGP program.

“SCGP gives students a way to absorb content quickly,” Jones said. “I only get 50 minutes a week with this class, so if I can’t cover everything, SCGP is there to fill in any gaps.”

Jones believes one of SCGP’s biggest benefits is its ability to reiterate critical professional development and job search strategies that support students’ career goals.

“Our students talk about resumes and cover letters in various courses, but SCGP takes it to another level,” said Jones. “It helps them put together what they’re learning in other classes.“

For example, SCGP offers tips and tricks for making it past applicant tracking systems (ATSs) and advice for listing quantifiable achievements on their resumes.

“The more students hear something, the more they will think about it,” Jones continued. “So, they’re hearing career advice from different professors, in different ways, and on different platforms, like Sports Career Game Plan.”

Plus, Jones appreciates how SCGP encourages students to gain a variety of experiences as they determine their ideal career path. For instance, they may pursue opportunities beyond college athletics, such as roles within sports agencies or in data analytics, memorabilia, or ticketing.

“It’s my goal to make students realize that in this industry, it’s important to try different things to know what you like,” she noted. “And then understand exactly what you need to do to get the job or internship you want. SCGP empowers them to explore those other opportunities and figure out where they want to take their careers.“

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