While this blog has mentioned time and again the importance of earning for a sports communication role, it has yet to detail how to apply for a role. At times, the biggest obstacle facing an applicant is where to apply for the job. You may see the same job posted on several job boards with antiquated information or out-of-date postings. It can be a mystery.

I would equate the process of applying for a sports communication role to being a contestant on the classic game show, Let’s Make a Deal. The show is quite famous for allowing its guests to pick between certain prizes with unknowns behind a curtain or inside a box. However, a contestant may choose a “Zonk” where they would eventually walk away with no prize or money. However, behind those lucky curtains may be an exotic trip abroad or a brand-new car. The uncertainty and the choices made by unknowns are one of the show’s hallmarks. Why discuss Let’s Make a Deal you ask?

Applying for a sports communication job can be the same process. Depending on the job board you apply through, you may either receive that new car or a “zonk.” It can raise or diminish your chances of having to submit another application or be in the process of starting your next job.

The first piece of information I would recommend any future applicate to do is to research whether the job you are applying for uses multiple application intake systems. Some organizations may take applications from multiple services and compile them. Find out where you can apply for the roles and what websites are needed.

Always, always, always apply directly for a job through the company instead of a third-party outlet. If you have or ever plan on applying for a role in sports communication, you will find many jobs posted on TeamworkOnline.com, the leading service for sports jobs in the United States.

TeamworkOnline is a website that can be used as a third-party or a primary applicant funneling system for employers, but the system has a reputation for being difficult to navigate. At times, employers will navigate between 500-1,000+ applicants per job posting to find qualified candidates, possibly diminishing your chances of standing out to a possible employer. With that said, TeamworkOnline offers a paid subscription that can promote applications to the top of the list with no guarantees of success.

My recommendation is to avoid the chance of zonking with TeamworkOnline or a similar platform and apply directly through the organization’s site. There you will know HR and hiring managers will be checking that platform. Those sites are less prone to receiving underqualified applicants who will be flooding a job posting.

TeamworkOnline is not the only platform in sports with a similar setup, but they are the biggest player in the space. You will find more information and more up-to-date job posting through the internal organizations’ pages themselves. I recommend doing the extra diligence, it will pay off in the long run.