Do you know what it takes to get a career in sport? One of the most important qualities sport management students need is zeal. It can set you apart from the fierce competition and help you break into this exclusive field.  Keep reading to learn more about what it means to have zeal, why you need it, and what it looks like in action.

What is Zeal?

According to the online dictionary, zeal means to have “great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.”

In other words, you want something so badly that you are willing to do what it takes to get it. The end result energizes and motivates you to pursue it.

Zeal is what keeps you going when the going gets tough.  It gives you an extra push to keep fighting for what you want, even when things aren’t going well. In the face of great challenges or opposition, you don’t give up.  

Although zeal is often associated with religious causes, you can have a zeal for anything that stirs up a passion inside of you.  This can apply to teams, causes, interests….

Why sport management students need zeal

But how does the word apply to you, a sport management student?

I’m glad you asked.  As it turns out, having zeal for your desired career can help you achieve your dreams, even when it takes hard work.

Intense competition in the sport industry 

Many young people like yourself love sport and dream of getting a job in the industry. With such a high level of interest, there are many students enrolling in sport management programs.

But are there enough job opportunities available for such a large amount of students? 

Unfortunately, there might not be.  The truth is, there isn’t a particularly high demand for managers in the sport industry.

That means the competition to secure a job in the sport industry is fierce. You will have to work extra hard to stand out in the vast sea of other hopeful sport management students. 

Zeal will motivate you to put in the extra effort when you don’t feel like it, and give you the willingness to make any necessary sacrifices.

If you are aiming for a sport management position, you have not chosen an easy route.  There will be days when you feel like giving up.  Sometimes the obstacles will seem impossible to overcome. 

You need zeal to keep going during those hard times.  Otherwise, you will give up and get lost in the large pool of competitors. 

What Zeal Looks Like

So what does zeal look like for sport management students?  Here are some examples.

Develop the right mindset

Get into the right frame of mind by surrounding yourself with the right influences.

• Gravitate towards the people who make a positive impact on you.  It helps to have mentors guiding and cheering you on.
• Set goals, plan how to achieve those goals, and track your progress.
• Respond to disappointments with the right attitude.  No grumbling or complaining allowed!  Use your disappointments as a learning experience that will get you a step closer to success.
• Get inspired by stories of other successful people.  Not only will their stories spur you on, but you can also learn from their examples.

Volunteer

One of the best reasons for volunteering is that it gives you the chance to gain sport-related experiences and skills that you can put on your resume.

There is no shortage of volunteer opportunities for those who are willing to give their time.  Such opportunities include:

• Your school’s athletic department
• Local sport events
• Major sport events
• Youth sport organizations

Join a Sport Club

If you have one, get involved in your school’s sport club.  Make the most of this opportunity by taking on a leadership position, which will teach you valuable management skills for your future career.

 Even if there are no current sport clubs on campus, why not start one yourself?  Now that is a sign of a zealous sport management student!

Get an internship

Look for local sport teams and find out if they offer internships.  Whether the work is paid or not doesn’t really matter.  The important thing is you will get a great experience and learn new skills that can be put on your resume.  And you can get new contacts who might be able to help you get a job.

Remember, knowing someone in the industry puts the odds more in your favor.  In fact, this might be the difference between those who get a job and those who don’t.

Write a Blog

If you are good at writing, blog about interesting sport topics and grow your readership by promoting your website on social media.  Or you can send us an e-mail and begin contributing to us if you are accepted!

You can also develop relationships by commenting on other blogs, but be careful not to promote your own blog.  Try to add value to the conversation, rather than leave spammy comments.   

Gradually you will become respected for your knowledge about sport, which is something you can highlight when interviewing for a job.  Employers will have to take you seriously when they realize how many of your readers do.

Don’t just talk about it, take action!

It does no good to just talk about all of these things.  You have to do them!

It takes a special person to move beyond dreaming and actually take the steps required to turn those dreams into reality.  It takes zeal. 

Those are the type of people who will be successful in the sport industry.  The question is, do you want to be one of those people?

If you aren’t willing to work hard and persevere, you might want to rethink your career choice.  But if you have the zeal it takes to reach success, start taking action today!

With your new understanding of zeal and how it applies to sport, you are ready to start working hard so that you can get the job you want. 

But wait!  Are there any other words you want to be defined and applied to sport?  Don’t be shy, let us know!