As the summer has somehow begun to peak its' head over the horizon, students in the sports/PR world have begun to look for the best and most promising internship in the sports industry. As someone who has been through the hustle and fuss ot trying to land the greatest internship in the world, I have a few thoughts on the topic.
Last summer I got the internship of my dreams working with the Atlanta Falcons. My experience there is something I will NEVER forget, but it also served as a pretty good wake-up call.
Below I have compiled my TOP 5 most surprising things about having an internship with a professional sports team:
5) The People: I got an opportunity to work with some of the most amazing people, including Falcon personnel, players, coaches and members of the media. I met so many different people from all walks of life and had to adjust to communicating with such different people.
4)The Unpredictability: Going into an internship with a sports team, I expected some degree of unpredictability, but I wasn't quite prepared for what awaited me. I never knew what was going happen on any given day, or what my bosses would ask of me.
3)The Rush: Here I am referring to both the adrenaline rush and the time table you are sometimes put on. In the world of professional sports, when someone wants/needs something, they want/need it immediately. You are expected to have it ready on time and done correctly. Secondly, I am referring to the adrenaline rush you experience walking onto the field at the GA Dome, or working and eating side-by-side with the greatest athletes in the world. It is a larger than life experience that almost knocked me to my knees.
2)The Scope: By this I mean the scope of the game. I never realized just how big the game of professional football really is. It is a monster that is much, much bigger than the game played on Sunday. There are so many legs on the machine that must work in unison in order for the organization to be successful.
1) The Time: The time commitment made by individuals in the world of professional sports is amazing. As an intern I worked long, long hours, but the guys and girls working full time put in an insane number of hours and sacrifice and lot to help the organization. It is no doubt a year round job that never really lets up...
Best of luck in any and all internship/job searches
All the best,
ben
