How Important is LinkedIn in the Sports Industry?

Since its launch in 2003, LinkedIn has become the go-to social media platform for professionals.

With over 1 billion members and 69 million companies listed, the site has the ability to connect employers with job seekers, as well as to help professionals form relationships with colleagues they would otherwise never meet.

Particularly true in the sports industry, the old adage of ‘it’s not what you know, but who you know’ remains accurate. The industry is one shaped by relationships and contacts, who can give advice or recommend job opportunities.

Research has shown that this networking is one of the most effective ways of securing a job interview, and is something that many professionals wish they had begun earlier in their careers.

This article will explore the role LinkedIn can play in this, emphasising just how important the platform can be.

Why LinkedIn Matters More in the Sports Industry

The sports industry is a competitive one, meaning those working in it need to stand out.

LinkedIn can be the tool that enables this, as sharing accomplishments and job updates, whilst also offering the chance to display personality in an industry driven by a love of sport, provides a way to show your passion and proactivity.

With this high competition for places, a LinkedIn profile can make you more accessible to employers, offering them a publicly available CV as well as your personal portfolio, making it easy for them to notice you.

A rapidly-evolving industry, LinkedIn can further provide professionals with a way of discussing and keeping an eye on industry trends, with questions on these trends being a very common one in job interviews.

Tips for a Polished LinkedIn Profile

A LinkedIn profile is often the first impression a recruiter or employer will have of a candidate, and this is why a clear, professional profile can make a difference.

As for the basics, a high-quality headshot is a great starting point to make your account look the part, with LinkedIn guidance saying your face should take up around 60% of the frame.

Customising your LinkedIn URL is also important, as you’ll want to make it as easy as possible for people to find you when they want to see your profile. 

As for the profile itself, it should be thought of as a portfolio rather than a CV, use the ‘Feature’ option to highlight the experiences you’re most proud of. This will show that as well as the academic qualifications you may have, you’re active in the industry and have the practical skills required by the roles you’re interested in.

When it comes to posting, consistency is key. This doesn’t have to mean constant, but sticking to a schedule, whether it be weekly or monthly, will show that you’re committed and proactive when it comes to your career. 

These posts can be about an event you attended, a challenge you’ve overcome at work, or your thoughts on an industry trend. Whichever it may be, posting with an image is helpful, with data showing that posts with an image receive twice as much engagement.

How to Use LinkedIn to its Full Potential

Now your profile is ready to go. Great! But simply scrolling through your feed isn’t the best way of using the platform to its full potential.

Tom Rowell, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for World Snooker Tour, spoke to GIS students last year about how important LinkedIn has been for him throughout his career, and what the best way to use the platform is.

“It was so important to me to keep a good network on LinkedIn,” Tom said.

“Keep an eye on what’s happening, look at trends, look where people are moving, see where jobs are coming from, because it’s not like there’s an Indeed.com where you can go and see football jobs. It doesn’t really work like that in football, it’s very much LinkedIn based.”

Opportunities, whether it be internships, graduate schemes or full-time jobs, can often be discovered on LinkedIn easier than traditional routes, meaning it’s important to keep an eye on your feed as both employers and friendly connections frequently repost jobs.

Aside from searching for a new opportunity, LinkedIn is also important for professionals in their current job. No matter what role in the sports industry you have, from finance student to media professional, the platform offers a way to make new connections and build relationships. 

For students, this can mean searching for those in a job they’d like to have and asking for advice, and for those in the media, it can be a way of contacting an interviewee.

If you want to succeed in the increasingly-digital sports industry, LinkedIn isn’t just a social media platform, but part of your professional development.

Students who use it can increase their employability in what is a fast-evolving and competitive industry. Alongside LinkedIn, studying with GIS can also help expand your contacts book, where connected lecturers and networking events give students exposure to the global sports industry.

To find the perfect programme for you, discover our course offerings.

Article by Zakaria Anani