How to Write a Sports Industry Resume That Stands Out

This article is a guest submission from freelance writer Hannah Dickens.

If you're eyeing a job in the sports and recreation industry, there are a couple of things you should know before you send out your resume. You probably realize that many candidates have spotted this opportunity and will be sending their resumes as well, which means you'll have considerable competition.

Naturally, your resume will have to speak strongly about your skills and qualifications. But that's not all. It should also help you stand out from other candidates and get noticed by recruiters. Here are 7 tips to help you write a sports industry resume that will capture the attention of recruiters.

Adjust Your Sports Resume to Specific Jobs

Applying for a specific sports career job, you'll need to adjust your resume – every single time! It's quite simple – if you want it to work, your resume should highlight experience which makes you the best fit for the particular job you are applying for.

If you are applying for a job in graphic design, don't bury the fact you are an expert in Photoshop, in fact, make that the focus of your cover letter and resume. Tell a story about how you ran a marketing campaign from beginning to end using your tactical skills in Photoshop and your strategic skills in planning and organizing.

There is no one-size-fits-all resume, it always needs to be tailored for each job you apply for.

Let Your Personality Shine

Nothing helps better to stand out than showing one's personality. The recruiter will remember your resume and in this way you'll differentiate yourself from other candidates who might deliver generic content. Be original – it counts a lot in sports careers where many people are after one job.

Don't misinterpret this as submitting your resume on pink paper, or trying to be overly funny in your cover letter. Personality comes down to tone, don't be too stuffy, don't be flip, but let some of your best self come across on paper.

Don't Mess Up The Easy Part

If you don't start your resume with contact information, you risk recruiters simply failing to invite you to a job interview. This is your primary goal, so make sure your contact data is easy to find.

While this may seem basic - I can assure you, over my years of conducting interviews and reading resumes, I'd guess somewhere between 1-5% put the wrong contact information on their resumes.

Your Resume is a Living Document

As you go through internships, entry level jobs, volunteer opportunities, or just take on big projects at your current job - always be thinking of how you should integrate this experience into your resume. There is nothing worse than being interested in a new job, going to update your resume and thinking to yourself, "I know there were some other things I did at my last job...what was that project I ran?...How successful was it?"

Keep track of metrics, if a company you worked for had 1,000 twitter followers when you started, and by the time you left it was up to 50,000 - you need this tangible data on your resume! If you helped as part of a marketing campaign, that had a 43% increase in conversion over the previous years campaign - you need that data on your resume!

Have a data file you can always refer to with your best accomplishments, or just keep updating your resume often...when no one is looking.

Be clear and on point

Don't rush in organizing your resume. This is your only chance to communicate who you are as a professional to the employer, so don't blow it with hasty decisions and unclear structure. You need to make a great first impression and grab their attention.

One idea is to list five to ten accomplishments on the very top of your resume. Make sure to expand these topics in your resume so recruiters don't think you're just bragging. Structure your resume by dividing information into categories. It helps others to process information and saves time when they need to refer back to it.

In our world of applicant tracking systems, that look for skill set "matches", think of popular keywords that mirror your skills. If you have particluar skills like Photoshop, XOS Digital, Final Cut Pro, CMS systems etc make sure those terms are included early and often.

When it comes to most sports careers, a resume shouldn't be longer than 1-2 pages. If you feel it's running long, just cut out some experiences or combine them all into one point – especially if they're unrelated to the position you're applying for.

Don't Exaggerate Your Accomplishments

If you think recruiters won't bother to check the accuracy of information included in your resume, you're wrong.

That's why you need to make sure that all facts and experiences are precise and accurately captured in your document. Be specific – generalizations will look suspicious and definitely won't impress the employer.

Avoid Errors

Reread your resume several times to spot any grammar errors or typos. They happen to everyone, so have someone else go through your resume in search for such mistakes. Sometimes it's a good idea to have your resume and cover letter proofread and corrected by a professional editor with a knack for this type of format.

Platforms like Gumtree offer access to plenty of freelancers who can help you boost the quality of your writing.

Follow these tips and you'll be on your way to impressing the recruiters and getting that critical job interview invitation to develop a career in sports industry.

Hannah Dickins is part of the team behind DirectorStats.co.uk.