There are certain times of the year that looking for a game operations job in professional sports is easier than others.  Right now is THE time for spring and summer sports.  But where do you go to look?

Well, first thing you want to do is identify where you want to work and what you want to do?  You can also identify where new teams may be located.  The Carolina League is adding two new teams this season in Kinston and Fayetteville in North Carolina.  Both will need people to work for them and the team in Kinston (the Down East Wood Ducks) has posted jobs already.  You can also find the Buies Creek Astros online.

You can go to the team’s website, or one of the following websites and you’ll be able to find a listing of open jobs.

• SportsAnnouncing.com – we post jobs as we find them.  We have notifications set for many keywords to help find the right jobs to post in all aspects of professional sports.  Some teams also tell us directly and we’ll post their job openings for free.  Our goal is to make sure the right people find the right position and we don’t accept any money from job seekers or job posters for just this reason.  Follow on Twitter for updates @SportsAnnouncin
• TeamWorkOnline – is a great site to find jobs in all sports including professional and college. They list jobs that teams/schools submit to them and you can apply through them, saving your resume online.  Set up a profile today and you can customize notifications you receive.  This is a wonderful reference.  Find them on Twitter at @TeamWorkOnline
• Professional Baseball Employment Office (PBEO) – this is the website for you if you’re looking for any front office job in Minor League Baseball.   From interns to General Managers, this is a site you need to know about if you’re looking for more than just a game day job.  However, they will also post job notices in regards to some game day positions.  Follow their updates on Twitter at @PBEOJobFair.

These are the top general sites and most professional and college sports teams use one or more of these sites.  If you’re looking to work in Minor League Baseball, Arena Football League, WNBA, or any other league that plays this summer, now is when they’re hiring for their game operations positions, along with internships and other openings.  Other options include collegiate summer baseball leagues like the Cape Cod League, Cal Ripken League and others.  Independent professional baseball leagues are also starting to look for staff for the upcoming season.

Don’t Only Look for Your Dream Job

Just being there can give you a leg up over someone else.  There have been many times in pro sports that other, more-qualified personnel were passed over because someone else was already there working game operations.  Instead of having to call in someone who may not “know the show”, the teams may rely on people who are already on staff to fill in here and there because they understand everything that’s going on.

Teams are always looking for scoreboard operators, official scorers, ushers, promotional staff, video board operators, cameramen, etc.  If you can handle one or some of these jobs, you become more valuable.  You never know if running the scoreboard might lead to your dream job one day because of the knowledge you gain.

Try Everything

Do you have a pressbox staff that handles different duties every night?  Is there someone on staff that might want to try your job and vice versa?  Well, there are plenty of early-season games that would be a great chance for you to learn other jobs and others to learn your job.  The more you know, the more valuable you become.  And if you get that chance to fill in somewhere, it could really benefit you in the long run.

If the team you would like to work for has a full staff, become an usher or serve in another position that gives you a chance to at least see some of the game and get an idea of the show.  Find out who hires the pressbox positions and find a non-stressful time to talk to them, letting them know you’d be interested in helping out when needed.  You might hear something right away, you might not hear anything.  Don’t pressure it, but understand that a lot of staffs may be understaffed which could lead to the person you need to talk to not getting to you right away.

Love the Sport

If you don’t love the sport you’re working in, it won’t be fun for you nor the people that are around you.  Sports are supposed to be fun and while working in professional sports can consist of long, hard hours filled with sweat, tears, frustration and lost sleep, it’s also a feeling that you just don’t understand until you have the experience.  It’s even more fun when it’s a sport you enjoy.  Yes, people get paid to watch sports, imagine how much better it is to get paid to watch a sport you love and would pay to watch yourself!

Good luck in your search, and have a great summer!