So, You Went to Connect to Your Future Day… Now What? 

Written by Corinne Townley, Career Advising Fellow

Congratulations! You made it through Connect to Your Future Day. Take a moment to thank yourself for all the hard work you put into making this day beneficial for your career. Now that the day is over what will you do with all the information you gathered and all the connections you made? If you’re not sure or want some guidance this article is for you. Here are 3 questions you may be asking yourself after 2/22/22…

Photo by Tara Winstead on Pexels.com

I want to stay in contact with someone I met, but how?

Send a thank you note! Thank you notes go a long way in the professional world. Few people take the time to write them so when you do you stand out. Thank you notes will display appreciation to those you have networked with or have taken the time to talk with you about their careers. It is acceptable to send thank you notes via email or you can stop by the SPDC and ask for a paper card. 

Connecting on LinkedIn is another great way to stay in contact with someone you met at Network@Night. You can send them a personalized connection request reminding them where you met and what you talked about. Once they accept your request you will be able to interact with their posts and they can check and see what you are up to as well. 

I want to apply for an internship/job I found at Network@Night, where do I start?

Now that you’ve found an opportunity it’s time to look at your application materials! Here are some resources you can look through to get you started…

Resume 

Cover Letter 

Interviewing 

The career advisors at the SPDC are always happy to help you through every step of the internship/job application process. If you want someone to look over your resume, review your cover letter, or help you prepare for an interview, we have your back! Just log onto the Elon Job Network, click career advising appointment on the left side taskbar, and select your preferred date, time and if you want to meet in-person or virtually. We cannot wait to meet you! 

I want to keep making connections, how do I continue networking?

LinkedIn is a great way to start meeting more employers and professionals in your industry. If you need some guidance setting up your profile, check out the LinkedIn Quick Guide. 

Conducting informational interviews is another great way to make connections with professionals. Informational interviewing is a method of gathering information about your industry and exploring career paths while making meaningful connections. Reach out to someone you met at Network@Night or an alum you met on LinkedIn and set up your informational interview today. 

Have any questions about what you just read or just want someone to talk to about Connect to Your Future Day? Come chat with us! You can make an appointment through EJN or stop in during drop-in hours. See below for details.

SPDC Office: 10am-12pm Monday – Thursday 

Porter Center: 12pm-2pm Monday – Thursday

Comm Office: 2pm-4pm Monday – Thursday

Preparing for Network@ Night: Tips and Tricks 

Written by Mackenzie Hahn, Graduate Apprentice for the SPDC

Network@Night is one of the many events apart of Connect to your Future Day! These events take place on Feb 22, 2022 and all build up to the grand finale of Network@Night. Network@ Night is a revamped career fair focused on creating space for all students to connect with employers. The employers in attendance will have internships or jobs available for all majors, so this is an important networking event for all students.  

Step One: Resumes

            The first step is to get your resume ready to share with employers. Some employers may ask you for them in person or they may ask for you to send it virtually the next day. Check out some sample Arts and Sciences Resumes here, Business Resumes here, and Communications resumes here. These samples provide a guide for formatting and content, but you can always make an appointment through EJN to get your resume reviewed by a career expert or visit us during drop in hours for any quick questions. The career advisors at the SPDC are always happy to meet with you 1-on-1 to be your personal editor, advisor, or cheerleader! 

Step Two: Attend the PrepSession

            There will be multiple events leading up to Network@Night. One of them is a rep session for Connect To Your Future Day 4:15pm-5:15pm in McKinnon D. This preparation session is open to all students to help you get ready for meeting in-person with employers on Connect To Your Future Day on 2/22/22!  The session will be co-led by recent alumna, Sofia Montalbo and SPDC staff and will cover everything and anything you need to know about attending Network@Night. 

RSVP is open for this event on EJN but it is not required. There will also be a virtual option to attend this prep session. If you were not able to attend the prep session but are still interested in reviewing the information, you can find the recording here.

Step Three: Research 

            Knowing who will be at Network@Night guarantees you have a better chance to meet an employer that aligns with your career goals. One of the special things about Network@Night is that every employer is open to hiring every major, so check out all the companies and see what looks interesting! You can find a list of employers on EJN with short descriptions. Check out each employer’s individual website for additional information. 

Step Four: Practicing Conversations 

            Worried you won’t know what to say? We got you covered! Check out this resource page here and this mock conversation here starring our very own Assistant Director of Career Services, Rachel Rysz. Using these resources, practice in a mirror or with a friend. Will you feel silly? Probably. But better to feel silly in the comfort of your own home than feel unprepared talking to employers.  

            You will also have the chance to put a self-identifier on your name tag. That way, the employers will be able to ask you a targeted question on something that you are passionate about. Then, let the conversation roll!

Step Five: Picking Out Your Outfit 

            The dress code for Network@Night is casual! What does that mean? Jeans without any holes or embellishments are a perfect choice. Break out that Maroon and Gold by wearing an Elon sweatshirt or shirt, or a plain t-shirt or sweater is perfect.  Pick some comfortable shoes and simple accessories and you will be good to go.  Make sure to remember your mask! Choose a mask that fits your face well and does not need to be regularly adjusted. Some employers might find it distracting if you have to continually pull up your mask! 

Step Six: What To Bring 

  1. A professional looking folder 
  2. Copies of your resume (optional)
  3. A few sheets of paper to take notes
  4. A pen 

            Some employers may ask for a copy of your resume, so having a paper copy ready to hand out is convenient and a folder to keep them neat and tidy. Resumes are not required or expected for this event! If you have a resume you are proud of that’s great – if not, don’t sweat it! On February 21st, you can visit the SPDC office and print up to 10 resumes on high-quality resume paper for free; get a free Elon folder and free thank you cards! The folder is also great for collecting business cards from employers. This business cards are important because it gives you contact information to send thank you cards to. I also recommend having a list of companies you want to visit to keep you on track, and a pen to take some notes between each conversation. These notes will be very helpful when you go to write your thank you notes! 

Feeling stressed or have any questions? Come chat with us! You can make an appointment through EJN or stop in during drop-in hours. See below for details.

SPDC Office: 10am-12pm Monday – Thursday 

Porter Center (business school): 12pm-2pm Monday – Thursday

Communications Office: 2pm-4pm Monday – Thursday

Play Personalities and the Job Hunt

Written by Mackenzie Hahn – Graduate Apprentice for the Student Professional Development Center

“Play increases our brain activity, reduces stress and opens our minds to see alternative options.”
– Greg McKeown, the author the of book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

“ I don’t know what I want to do with my career”. This is the most common thing students tell me. Finding a job is not the hard part for many college students right now. The difficulty comes in finding a job they will love doing, one that not only has the right location, salary, and benefits but provides fulfillment in one way or another.  With so many careers out there, the possibilities can seem daunting and impossible to narrow down, and when you don’t know what you want to do, a great place to start is figuring out what you like to do in every other category in your life. Play Personalities are a great way to help narrow down the job function you want to work in. ‘Play’ is often seen as the opposite of ‘work’ and is looked on as trivial, childish, and unimportant. However, research has shown that play enriches our work by decreasing burn-out, building team connections, and unlocking creativity. Learning how we play helps us unlock careers we are more likely to enjoy long term, since our jobs will incorporate the elements that we use to play. These increases our capacity and leads to success down the road. When our work energizes us and we reduce the need to recover or rest, our overall quality of life rises.

There are 8 main play personalities, and most people identify as 2 or more. Understanding your play personality can be one way you identify what types of job functions you would find most fulfilling. Once you identify the function, you can apply that to almost any industry.

Types of Play Personalities and Career Ideas

The Joker: Jokers love making other people laugh and telling jokes. They are often considered the class clown and enjoy bringing humor into whatever they are working on.

Possible careers to consider: Advertising, Photographer, Human Resources, Writer, Sales

The Kinesthetic: Kinesthetic play by moving their body. It could be in the form of dancing, running, yoga, sports, swimming, walking, or hiking.

Possible careers to consider: Performing arts, Education, Event Planning, Architect, Sports, Nursing, Coach, Chief

The Storyteller: Storytellers love going on adventures through imagination. They may enjoy performing, writing, and telling stories.

Possible careers to consider: Writer, Lawyer, Sales, Fundraising, Business Development, Public Relations, Marketing

The Director: Directors love to plan, organize and execute events. They take the lead in hosting events and provide an experience to the group.

Possible careers to consider: Event Planner, Human Resources, Real Estate Agent, Accountant, Project Manager, Logistics/Distribution Manager, Program Coordinator, Travel Agent

The Collector:  Collectors love to collect and have the most interesting collection of things or experiences that fascinates them. Collectors often have a large network of people or information they like to share with others.

Possible careers to consider:  Travel agent, Geographers, Physician Assistant, Museum curator, Engineer

The Explorer: Explorers love to expand their horizons to discover new things. Could be physical (visiting new places), mental (expanding knowledge), or emotional (through music, art, or movement).

Possible careers to consider: Researcher, Consultant, Reporter, Political Campaign worker, Lawyer, Public Relations, Film Maker, Software Developer, Sociologist 

The Competitor: Competitors love to play by winning or beating records. This could be beating their own goals or competing against others individually or as a team.

Possible careers to consider: Coach, Sales, Entrepreneur, Talent Agent, Graphic Designer, Real-estate Agent, Recruiter, Day Trader, Wealth Management

The Creator: Creators love activities that involve creativity. Art often goes hand and hand with Creators, but this could be anything from a clay sculpture or an excel spreadsheet.

Possible careers to consider: Web Developer, Architect, Marketing, Copywriter, Artist, Game Design, Social Media Manager, User Experience researcher, Product Manager

Using my own career as an example, I have found my play personalities aligns mostly with the director and the collector. When I look at possible career opportunities, I look for roles that would allow me to spend time working on long term projects that require a lot of planning and coordination to fulfil my director play personality. I also look for roles that allow me to have new experiences and connect with people in a variety of ways that expand my collection of knowledge.  Finding ways to play in your career is only one way to help narrow down what you want to do, but it can be a useful model when trying to find a career you will enjoy doing day to day.

“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him, he’s always doing both.”

– James Michener, novelist

Making the Most Out of Your Sophomore Year

By Corinne Townley, Career Advising Fellow

Your first year at Elon flew by. You persevered through one of the toughest school years in modern history. Now, you’re back on campus with a plethora of opportunities right outside your door. What are you going to do next? How do you make the most of your second year? Here is my list of 5 things to consider doing throughout your sophomore year that will help develop your career development skills…  

  1. Join a student organization related to your career interests  

There are so many wonderful student organizations on campus directly related to different career fields and industries. Joining an organization is a low stakes way to learn more about career path and gain valuable transferable skills like working on a team, leadership, and communication. Not sure which organization to join? Check out our career communities to explore various opportunities on campus. Simply select the career community that most closely aligns with your interests and click ‘Student Organizations’ for a comprehensive list of clubs and organizations to join.  

*Tip: Don’t go overboard! Employers love to see you dedicate yourself to one/two organizations. They would rather see you hold a leadership position in one club than 10 clubs where you are member. 

  1. Conduct Informational Interviews  

Learn about a career of interest directly from the source by conducting Informational interviews. Information Interviews is connecting with someone in a field that interests you and having a conversation. This could be a family friend, someone you met at a networking event, an Elon alum or anyone you want to learn more about You can ask them questions about their personal career journey, what internships they did, what it is like to work in their industry, what skills they believe are vital to being successful in the field  and more. These conversations can help you narrow down occupations of interest and gain valuable connections within the industry.  

*Tip: Get comfortable with the informational interview process by reading out quick guide and practicing on your professors or family friends!  
 

  1. Complete an Externship/Shadowing Experience  

Doing an externship, or shadowing, is another great way to gain an understanding of what a specific job entails. Shadowing typically lasts 1-2 days where you will shadow one or multiple professionals as they go through their working day. You may have the chance to attend meetings, have one-on-one conversations with members of the organizations, or take a peek at what projects they are working on. This will give you the real inside scoop on what it is like to be someone in this role day-in and day-out.  

*Tip: You can find and apply for externship position on the Elon Job Network or find them through networking! 

  1. Connect with your advisors  

It’s a common misconception that the career center is only for your senior year; but that couldn’t be further from the truth! The Student Professional Development Center is here to support you throughout all phases of your career development journey. We can help you explore career options, construct a resume for part-time jobs or internships, practice for interviews, draft a cover letter, or simply chat about some ideas you’ve been having regarding your life after Elon. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with us. We are in this career process together! 

*Tip: Connect with an advisor today! 

  1. Attend Sophomore Success  

If you are looking to learn some professional development skills look no further than sophomore success! This free, in-person event is open to all sophomores across campus. During this multi-rotational event, you’ll be able to acquire professional skills through meeting and learning from real employers. Designed to be a learning environment, this is a low-stakes, high-reward event! If you haven’t spent time on professional development during your time at Elon, then this program will be a perfect starting point! Take advantage of the opportunities to receive free business cards, a LinkedIn headshot and make an appointment to connect with a real employer the following week for a virtual one-on-one resume review.  

*Tip: Register today for Sophomore Success and place a hold on your calendar for Thursday, October 28th from 4:30-6:40 PM.  

Your sophomore year is a special time. Don’t let it pass you by without considering some professional development opportunities. There are things you can do now to help best prepare you for your life after Elon!  

Let’s Meet our New SPDC Graduate Apprentice!

By: Danielle Golinski, Associate Director of Career Services, Love School of Business

Pretty soon the Student Professional Development Center will be welcoming our second Graduate Apprentice in our office. We are thrilled to welcome Mackenzie Hahn, a 2020 Elon University undergrad. Mackenzie will be working in our office for the next two years (graduating in 2023) while completing her graduate degree in the Master of Arts in Higher Education program here at Elon. Mackenzie will have a very student-facing and student-focused role where she will be able to provide career advising to all students across campus in both one-on-one and group environments. We are totally thrilled to welcome her in just a few short weeks. Keep an eye out for her as she returns back to campus with a new lens of experience.

Learn more about Mackenzie:

Mackenzie is from rural New Jersey (the part that makes it the Garden State). She received her undergraduate degree in International Studies and Political Science from Elon University. As a student, she worked at the Center for Design Thinking.  After graduating, Mackenzie joined Charles Aris as an executive recruiter, but decided to return to Elon to further her education with a master’s degree in Higher Education. This decision came after realizing she wanted to combine her work in higher education during undergrad with her experience in career development. Mackenzie is excited to help students build their resumes and reach their career goals through the SPDC! In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys fostering rescue dogs, cooking, camping with friends, and traveling to new places.

We look forward to welcoming Mackenzie to the SPDC soon. Her office will be located on the first floor of the Koury Business School – feel free to drop by!

Introducing the 2021-2022 Career Advising Fellow!

By: Danielle Golinski, Associate Director of Career Services, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business

Another year has passed, and here we are, once (surprisingly) again, to hand over the career advising fellow baton to our new fellow! But, first, before the baton is officially passed, I would like to spend a brief moment to honor and recognize all of the great work that our 10th fellow – Alysia McGlone – has accomplished over this very unique, and very virtual academic year. For all of us in the SPDC, this has been a year of many, many firsts and new opportunities to stretch and grow in our work. Alysia was, fortunately, not fearful of this year and took the virtual career advising space by its wings to see what could happen. New programming, new ideas, and new perspectives. Thank you, Alysia, for your ideas and commitment to the SPDC and to the students that you’ve connected with!

Now, let’s pass this baton! I’m thrilled to welcome and introduce our next Career Advising Fellow, Corinne Townley. We are so excited to welcome Corinne in early August for training, and she will hit the ground running when the students return back to campus later that month. Big things ahead!

Let’s learn a bit more about Corinne:

Corinne Townley was born and raised in the Queen City of Charlotte, North Carolina. After high school, she attended Appalachian State University where she obtained her Bachelors of Science in Child Development. At the end of her junior year, she realized child development was not her passion, so she decided to pursue her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at William & Mary. While in graduate school, she became a board member of the Higher Education Student Association, advisor for the First-Generation/Low-Income Student Group, and worked in the Career Center. During her assistantship at the Cohen Career Center, she fell in love with empowering students on their career journeys. She graduated from William & Mary in May of 2021 and is thrilled to be joining the SPDC! In her free time, Corinne enjoys playing guitar, snowboarding, drinking coffee with her friends, and playing with her cat, Zoey. 

Failure vs. Perfectionism: Navigating the Interview Question That Exposes Your Flaws

By: Alysia W McGlone, Career Advising Fellow

You’re here. Game face is on. You’ve done your due diligence and have researched the organization. You’ve practiced responses to expected prompts and questions such as, “Tell me about yourself”, “Why do you want to work here in this role?”, and “Do you have any questions for us?”. Whether virtual or in-person, this interview is going to go well because you are confident and ready to share your best professional self with the hiring committee.

This brief, 20-minute conversation is indeed going well. You’ve given examples to their behavioral questions that prove you to be an asset to the role, department, and organization. Then, they ask you to describe a time when you failed and you’re blindsided thinking, “Oh, wow, I was not expecting this question”. To remain calm and confident, you’re contemplating discussing a time where the failure wasn’t even “that big of a deal”. But that’s not what the hiring committee is after by asking this question. It’s important to be honest about a time when your actions did not yield expected results for a given task. The committee really wants to know here how you responded to failure (e.g. resilience, responsibility, integrity).

Your gift shines through even in, or perhaps especially in, response to adversity. Employers will respect you for respecting them with an honest answer. So, the decision of whether or not to present yourself as perfect, never having failed, becomes less appealing to you and you decide to “do the hard thing”. Reflecting on a moment at work, a class project, or even during a volunteering experience, you explain a situation that discloses a time in which you failed. It’s okay to have failed. Every human has failed, even the ones on the hiring committee.

There is hidden beauty about this question or questions similar to it such as, “Describe your greatest weakness”, “Describe a time when you had a conflict with someone”, or “Describe a time when you’ve received negative feedback”. Let me show you how!

Here’s how you do it: You get to walk employers through a situation that wasn’t great and didn’t meet your or others’ expectations. Answer with a smile and with confidence that the lessons learned further amplify you as an asset to this role, department, and organization.

  • Describe the situation. Who was involved, what was your role, and where and why did it occur?
  • Tell the committee what tasks were assigned to you. Provide an overview of the type of goals or challenges presented by the situation.
  • Explain your specific actions taken. What did you do individually or in collaboration with others to complete this assignment?
  • Display integrity. Discuss the results as they happened – no filler, no fluff, no embellishment. Did you meet, exceed, or mismanage your actions needed to resolve the challenges of the situation?
  • Be reflective in your storytelling. What did you learn about yourself throughout the process? What would you do differently if you were in a similar situation in the future?

This framework transforms what may seem like a “personal failure” into a tangible “professional area for improvement” to which you then delineate tangible action steps you’ve taken since the event to increase your knowledge regarding this and similar skills in the future.

At this point, it’s out there. They’ve heard your flaws. But the more important outcome is that the committee has heard your commitment to learning and development. You can rest assured that despite the urge to succumb to the unrealistic pressures of perfectionism, you haveindeedpresented your best professional self, ready to take on future challenges as an ethical, responsible, and resilient leader.

Minimizing Burnout & Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace

By: Alysia W. McGlone, Career Advising Fellow

It’s important to consider adaptive or active coping strategies when embarking on lifestyle changes. Instead of avoiding challenges imparted by life, I propose that attempts to address them be applied. Particularly in the modern workplace, it is helpful to practice meaningful ways to minimize burnout and promote mental health. What exactly are burnout and mental health? In simplified terms, burnout is a prolonged feeling of exhaustion and lack of creativity. Mental health is considered both a broad category and state of condition and can be understood as successfully resolving life’s challenges with positive coping strategies and relating to others. It follows then and is important to note that mental illness can be understood as responding to life’s challenges with negative coping strategies, an inability to make choices, and or relate to others. Let’s take a look at how the intersection of mental health and career development impacts college students’ abilities to feel prepared when entering the workplace.

Historical Context and FoundationsHistorical context and foundations are necessary to begin this conversation. Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs seamlessly connects to the primary needs of college students.

Maslow created a theory about why we do the things we do, asserting that until our most basic, individual physiological and safety needs are met we cannot possibly consider positively coping with our higher-order needs. These include the external needs of connecting with others, feeling good about ourselves, and the transcendent needs of having agency and morality in our lives. Similarly, college students primarily face challenges including but not limited to healthy sleep habits, maintaining academic success, successfully taking ownership of finances, and positively responding to other expectations associated with changes in parental and family dynamics.  

Once essential self needs are resolved, college students can learn to adapt to the major changes in their lives such as graduating and living independently for the first time, creating new routines without the guidance of an academic structure, or grieving the loss of and finding new applications of former identities to make meaning of this new juncture in their lives. The point is that these needs apply to all college students and occur in larger systems rather than individual vacuums. Hopefully, knowing this can provide some sense of relief – you are not alone.  

The Modern Workplace

Workplace boundaries around the world have blurred with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and made it easier to misconstrue our understanding of the “workplace” because of our ability to work from home or anywhere. When thinking about external signs and internal symptoms of burnout, applying emotional intelligence is of utmost importance. This ability can be understood as learning about your and others’ emotions and responding appropriately to identified needs. How might this impact your time at work? How might how you feel at work impact your time at home with family and friends? Recognizing your external behaviors and internal feelings is critical when minimizing the stress or physical and emotional coping responses to internal and external forces. In doing so, you can increase your quality of life and practice promoting mental health in the short- and long-term.

Objective Signs of Burnout Include

  1. Change in sleep habits
  2. Becoming cynical, critical, or passive-aggressive to others
  3. Dragging yourself to work
  4. Irritability or impatience

Subjective Symptoms of Burnout Include

  1. Low energy for productivity or procrastination
  2. No satisfaction from achievements
  3. Feeling unhappy with the actual versus posted job duties
  4. Using food, drugs, or alcohol to feel better or numb feelings
  5. Experiencing unexplained body ailments not caused by a physiological condition but mental stress.

Strategies to Minimize Burnout and Promote Mental Health

Strategies to minimize burnout and promote mental health are things that you can do to practice making healthy habits in your life. It is normal to and expected to make mistakes when changing maladaptive habits. I encourage you to think of promoting mental health in your workplace and overall life as a “one and done” deal, but rather see it as an endeavor that requires a commitment to make a lasting impact. The tools and strategies provided here can be helpful, but you are the only one who knows you the best. Therefore, taking and adjusting these suggestions to fit your life needs will ensure the most benefit.

Strategies for Success

  1. Self-care and self-compassion planning and practice
  2. Practice gratitude
  3. Clear boundaries and breaks with daily renewal exercises
  4. Deep breathing exercises
  5. Develop a System of Support:
    1. You!
    2. Friends
    3. Family
    4. Elon Counseling ServicesReligious leader and or Spiritual practices
    5. Career advisors
    6. Mentors
    7. Mobile apps
    8. Manager or supervisor
    9. Human resources specialist
    10. Employee assistance program and other self-management specialists, tools, workshops, and safe spaces

One de-stress technique that you can practice using at work or in your leisure is this Breath Bubble from the Calm channel on YouTube. Practice doing this deep breathing technique for 1-2 minutes. The benefits include more awareness of your feelings (thereby proactively minimizing the likelihood of burnout occurring); a low heart rate; paced breathing (that facilitates positive emotional states); a reduction in anticipating the negatives of “what could be” (i.e., anxiety).

Taking time to reflect on what you may be thinking, feeling, can aid your emotional intelligence thereby promoting awareness, which is the first step in enacting strategies for prosperity in your life. 

Sports Betting: a Look into the Industry’s Past and its Huge Growth Potential for Job Seekers

By: Alison Doherty, Assistant Director of Career Services for the School of Communications

A little over two years ago, the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting, and since then 20 US states have already legalized the practice in some form.  Now allowed in 40% of the country, and continuing to expand, it is clear that this will become a huge industry with an enormous impact on the business of sports.  A hot topic amongst sports enthusiasts and lawmakers alike, it is often viewed as controversial, but regardless of one’s views on it, it is a rising data-driven market that is creating jobs in the areas of marketing, technology, and business development/operations.  I sat down with Bill Squadron, Assistant Professor of Sport Management, who opened my eyes to this growing field as we discussed the history of sports betting, its operations, and how students can best prepare themselves for jobs in this area.

History and Growth

Professional sports leagues have been concerned about sports betting ever since the game-fixing scandal of the 1919 World Series.  The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PAPSA) effectively outlawed sports betting nationwide except for a few states, most notably Nevada which brought in billions of dollars through sports gambling.  Just like during Prohibition however, illegal gambling was still prominent in the US, and the rise of the internet caused black marketing gambling to increase substantially over online platforms.  As NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated in 2014, “despite legal restrictions, sports betting is widespread.  It is a thriving underground business that operates free from regulation and oversight” and “some estimate that nearly $400 billion is illegally wagered on sports each year.” 

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, wanting to offer sports betting in Atlantic City, challenged the constitutionality of the federal law, arguing that PAPSA did not apply equally across all states.  After several years of litigation, the Supreme Court ruled in May 2018 that PAPSA did in fact violate the 10th Amendment and overturned the federal law, opening the door for any state to legalize sports gambling.  

How it works

If you’re a casual sports fan like me, you may think of sports betting as gambling on the outcome of high-stakes games, such as playoffs, strictly in terms of who wins and who loses.  But in fact, people can bet on essentially any outcome, in real-time, play-by play, such as how many runs a certain baseball team will score in the next inning.  The odds are constantly updating, allowing spectators to wager continuously as the action unfolds.  I was surprised to learn that people will bet on teams and people they don’t even know, not just those that they follow, and on all kinds of sports around the world.  While football and basketball are the most popular sports to bet on in the US, many also bet on horseracing, boxing, soccer, tennis, esports, and more.  As Professor Squadron explained to me, the scale of it is so much bigger than most Americans realize.

However, policies, procedures, and tax rates vary state by state, so each state that legalizes sports betting is allowed to do so in their own way (for example, the state of New York does not currently allow mobile sports betting).  There are both in-person locations to place bets (which will likely be inside venues and stadiums in the future), and huge online platforms, such as BookMaker, Draft Kings, and Ladbrokes.

Job Opportunities and Essential Skills

It is likely that we will continue to see major growth in this industry as more states legalize sports betting.  Not only is it a huge revenue source for states through the taxes they collect, but it can also increase fan engagement for current fans and bring in more casual fans.  As a very technology and data driven industry focused on risk management, the major employers (casinos and online platforms) will be looking for data scientists, statisticians, mathematicians, and programmers who can calculate odds in real-time and manage complex online platforms.  In addition, there is also a big interest in sports leagues and media agencies who want to work with these employers, opening up plenty of opportunities in marketing and customer acquisition.

So, who should consider a career in sports betting?  It’s not for everyone, but for those who know and love sports, and also understand the math and technology behind it, it may be a perfect fit.  Professor Squadron expressed that employers are looking for exactly that: the combination of sports knowledge and data/technology expertise.  This field may interest students in the School of Communications, especially sport management, strategic communications, and media analytics majors.  Students in business, math, statistics, or computer science would also have valuable skills to bring to the field.  If you want to go into this business, work on developing two major skill sets: technological (math, data science, programming), and communications (marketing, content creation, business development).  LinkedIn Learning, among other resources, can help you develop these skills.  If this field is of any interest to you, make sure to stay informed on this rapidly changing and mounting industry, and the job opportunities it presents.

How to Market a Liberal Arts Education for Your Next Career Opportunity: Why studying within the College of Arts and Sciences makes you a valuable candidate

By: Alysia McGlone, Career Advising Fellow

Arguing why the liberal arts and science degree is valuable

The long-standing idea that intangible skills are not valuable to the success of a company is antiquated, misleading, and a vague representation of the true nature of this skillset. Terms like people skills, hospitality, and a customer service mentality, or interpersonal, leadership, and behavioral skills, or even communication, human, and technical skills all indicate how a candidate is grounded in a humane connection to others, industry concepts, and has the frame of mind to apply one’s listed abilities while positively impacting people. The term “soft skills” is inadequate because it is dismissive, vague, and implies that employers find these skills as optional or that they are unable to be learned or measured like any tangible skill. This simply is inaccurate.

Still not convinced that a major, minor, or concentration in the College of Arts and Sciences will be sought after by employers? Then review these data points. In 2013, the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) revealed in a National Survey of Business and Nonprofit Leaders that 80% of employers care more about their need for all graduates to obtain broad knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences. Critical thinking, communication skills, and complex problem solving are of greater importance than the actual undergraduate major. Additionally, 95% state that mastering these skills adds innovation in the workplace, and approximately 95% also state that ethical judgment and integrity, intercultural skills or diversity engagement, and continuing education are highly sought in a new candidate.

In 2018, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), a leading organization in career development, supports the findings stated above.  Instead of thinking about a “culture fit,” employers and recruiters believe it is time to begin thinking about “culture add.” What do you add to your organization? Furthermore, in the age of COVID-19 and beyond, the usefulness of liberal arts skills are now more than ever able to be shown via innovative responses to crisis management across all industries. Market intelligence, global supply and demand shifts, and adaptability all intertwine to show your personality, and how you are able to showcase resilience and motivation.

How to market your liberal arts background in your personal brand

Don’t forget that Elon University offers all students in all majors a liberal arts education! Pair your liberal arts expertise, resilience, and desire for continuing education with tangible evidence through this massive list of resources, which contains 15 key skills for graduates. Asking your professors about how learning objectives specifically relate to these competencies will help you and employers know how the curriculum is preparing you to be a valued contributor to the workplace. Furthermore, research the job market before graduation to determine the in-demand skills of today. These actions paired with obtaining LinkedIn Learning course completions and certifications will prove to employers that you are serious about being a top candidate. It will also provide points of connection when building relationships with professionals in your field as you engage in the processes of networking and informational interviewing. Log in with your Elon student email username and password to get started today! Lastly, don’t overlook your volunteer, abroad, service, or research opportunities! Tip: archive your service and research projects in your LinkedIn profile by redacting any identifying or confidential data in your Experience and/or Featured sections of your profile, as this will provide a “show” versus “tell” approach to credit your skills to employers.

Want more reasons for how your liberal arts and sciences education applies in the workplace setting? View information about salaries, places of work, and knowledge application of the liberal arts and sciences from King University and a representative from Chapman University. The skills offered by a liberal arts education will last a lifetime and can be applied even as technologies fade and the next technologies emerge. So, market yourself with pride knowing a liberal arts degree will surely add to your professional and personal development.