There are many instances where companies allow college students to shadow employees in the field that they have interest in. During this shadowing process these students get to experience first hand what the job is like and the demands that come with it. If I ever had the opportunity to have a shadow experience I would want to shadow a member of the front office within the Portland TrailBlazers organization. To be specific I would look to network with the director of basketball operations for the franchise. Upon graduating I will pursue a career in the sports industry and I want to also pursue a position with a professional sports team. An opportunity to shadow someone that knows all of things needed to be a part of an organization like a sports team would be invaluable and would be a stepping stone for me to achieve my goals. Getting a chance to shadow the director of basketball operations would also give me a chance to see if I actually want to go in a different direction when it comes to careers in the sports industry.

Many times when you get a chance to meet a professional you don’t have a lot of time to sell yourself and tell the professional who you are and what you are about. This opportunity to sell yourself is often called an elevator pitch. Usually you have about 1-2 minutes to tell someone who you are and what your career aspirations are. When meeting professionals my elevator pitch would include that I a sophomore business student at the University of Oregon from Charlotte, North Carolina that is determined to intern with a sports firm in the short term and eventually be a sports agent representing athletes and enhancing their brand. Within my elevator pitch i mentioned where I was from, what I was studying, and what I look to accomplish in the short term.

Employers are always looking for candidates with unique experiences that will help them be successful in a work environment. One of the experiences I had in high school taught me various skills that will be useful in future work environments. During my junior year in high school I was a camp counselor at a recreation center where I was working with the youth of the Charlotte community. During this experience I learned what it took to work with other people everyday. I improved my social skills and also learned how to work in a fast paced and hectic environment. Working with young kids was a challenge for me at first and I had to learn how to handle different personalities. Many workplaces demand their employees to be able to work at a quick and efficient pace.In many offices it is also know that social interaction is something that you will have to be comfortable with. Being able to mention these particular skills on my resume will make my application more attractive to employers. Even though this volunteer opportunity wasn’t as demanding as most jobs, it taught me some valuable lessons that will help me in the long run.