The SportsGrad Podcast: The Ultimate Guide to Make it in the Sports Industry SportsGrad

Welcome to part 1 of our 2 part ‘Best of Ask SportsGrad’ episodes!
This is a collection of the most popular questions asked by you guys that have made it to Ask SportsGrad.
Today we’re going to dive into your top questions specifically around cover letters and interviewing. You’ll learn how to stand out in a cover letter, how to make sure you get to the interview stage, and how to follow up after an application if you don’t hear back. Then on the interview front, we answer your questions on interview nerves, preparation you should do, questions you can bring in and more.
If you struggling to crack the sports industry job market, put this on repeat.
Enjoy!
We cover:
(00:45) Welcome to SportsGrad! What is ASK SPORTSGRAD?
(02:22) How should I structure my cover letter?
(04:58) What can I do to talk about transferrable skills in my cover letter?
(07:59) This is how a hiring manager wants you to respond to interview questions
(11:32) How can I beat the job interview nerves?
(14:14) How can I best prepare for an interview? Should I reach out to someone in a similar position?
(20:04) What’s the best way to follow up on an interview?
(24:27) How should you respond if a team asks if you have a favourite team you support?
(27:37) How to answer the inevitable interview question “so, do you have any questions for us?”
(31:13) What do I need to prepare for a phone interview?
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Additional episodes you may enjoy:
#128: Kimberlee Furness (Netball Australia) - How to sell yourself in a cover letter
#200: How to get a job in sport without getting lucky
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Want a weekly dose of career inspo? Get industry stories, upcoming events, and the latest sports jobs in your inbox each Friday.
👉 Subscribe to the SportsGrad Newsletter
The SportsGrad Community connects Members to peers, professionals, events, jobs, and development opportunities. Join as a Rookie or Pro Member.
👉 Become a SportsGrad Member
Want our recruitment insights? Hiring Managers, get the SportsGrad Talent newsletter
👉 Subscribe to SportsGrad Talent
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!
This episode is brought to you by Deakin University, the Official Education Partner of The SportsGrad Podcast. Find out why their Master of Business in Sport Management is not one of, but the best one in Australia ranked at #1 at www.deakin.edu.au
Thanks for listening! You’re all legends.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Mirinda Kidman, Manager of Delegation Services for the FISU World University Games 2025.
If you’ve never heard of FISU before, this episode is going to open your world to one of the largest employers in the sports industry - university sport. Based out of Germany in the Rhine-Ruhr region, the 2025 games will host over 10,000 athletes and officials from 170 countries across 12 days.
In this episode, we dive into the World Uni Games, the second largest multi-sport event in the world after the olympics, and you’ll learn how Mirinda crafted her career to this position, what she does, and how she became a stand out candidate. Plus, why she loves being part of the SportsGrad Community all the way over in Germany.
Enjoy the episode!
We cover:
(00:34) Who is Mirinda Kidman?
(01:40) Hello and welcome to the SportsGrad Podcast!
(03:31) What’s going on inside the SportsGrad Community?
(07:30) What’s it like working in Europe with all of the major events on at the moment?
(09:45) Quick-fire questions
(16:52) Who are FISU World University Games and what do they do?
(21:50) Why is the FISU so much larger than other university sports across the globe?
(25:41) What planning is required in the year prior to the Games?
(29:48) How many people work at FISU and will there be opportunities to work there in the future?
(31:49) What does Mirinda’s role involve as the Manager of Delegation Services?
(40:15) How did Mirinda get her role, and how did she get accepted?
(46:15) How did Mirinda stand out in her application for this role?
(49:10) Why did Mirinda join the SportsGrad Community?
(51:10) What other professionals should get involved in the SportsGrad Community?
(52:20) Mirinda’s advice for those applying for roles at major events
(55:15) ASK SPORTSGRAD
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Additional episodes you may enjoy:
#289: How to move from London to Australia and work in sport with George Ludlow
#283: How to get your first full-time job in sport with Hayley Gorman
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Want a weekly dose of career inspo? Get industry stories, upcoming events, and the latest sports jobs in your inbox each Friday.
👉 Subscribe to the SportsGrad Newsletter
The SportsGrad Community connects Members to peers, professionals, events, jobs, and development opportunities. Join as a Rookie or Pro Member.
👉 Become a SportsGrad Member
Want our recruitment insights? Hiring Managers, get the SportsGrad Talent newsletter
👉 Subscribe to SportsGrad Talent
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!
This episode is brought to you by Deakin University, the Official Education Partner of The SportsGrad Podcast. Find out why their Master of Business in Sport Management is not one of, but the best one in Australia ranked at #1 at www.deakin.edu.au
Thanks for listening! You’re all legends.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Interested in making the move to Australia to land a job in sport? Meet George Ludlow, an Account Manager at Gemba who has just made the move from London!
George has transformed his life from leaving behind a career in property he wasn’t passionate about, to now working on some of the most lucrative partnerships in Australian sport, including Toyota’s sponsorship of the AFL, Australia’s biggest sport. To arrive at what he describes as his dream job, George started his quest for a role in sport in Australia almost 8 months ago and has been extremely proactive in his approach.
Today we dive into exactly how he made the move overseas, what he did to stand out, how he felt taking such a big risk, and his best tips on how you can take your career around the world.
Enjoy the episode!
We cover:
(00:32) Who is George Ludlow?
(01:53) Hello and welcome to the SportsGrad Podcast!
(03:25) What’s going on inside the SportsGrad Community?
(07:46) Welcome to the SportsGrad Podcast George
(09:10) Quick-fire questions
(13:56) What is George’s role at Gemba?
(15:45) George’s career journey post-university to when he decided to move to Australia
(19:54) What made George initially choose the property industry over sports?
(21:06) How did George decide to make the jump to work in sports overseas? Was he nervous?
(22:08) How did George find out about SportsGrad whilst in the UK, and how did it benefit him once he arrived in Australia?
(26:49) What was the interview process like at Gemba?
(30:17) How have George’s feeling towards moving overseas changed now that he has landed a job?
(31:20) What has he loved most about being in Melbourne?
(32:21) Was it easier for George to find roles when he arrived, or was it possible while it was overseas?
(34:18) What can people be doing to reduce the time job hunting in a new country?
(36:59) George’s advice for someone who is thinking about moving overseas
(41:52) ASK SPORTSGRAD
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Additional episode you may enjoy:
#251: How to move to London and land a job in sport with Chris Dobson
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Want a weekly dose of career inspo? Get industry stories, upcoming events, and the latest sports jobs in your inbox each Friday.
👉 Subscribe to the SportsGrad Newsletter
The SportsGrad Community connects Members to peers, professionals, events, jobs, and development opportunities. Join as a Rookie or Pro Member.
👉 Become a SportsGrad Member
Want our recruitment insights? Hiring Managers, get the SportsGrad Talent newsletter
👉 Subscribe to SportsGrad Talent
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!
This episode is brought to you by Deakin University, the Official Education Partner of The SportsGrad Podcast. Find out why their Master of Business in Sport Management is not one of, but the best one in Australia ranked at #1 at www.deakin.edu.au
Thanks for listening! You’re all legends.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Ashleigh Newton-Spence, the Competitions Coordinator at Champion Data.
If you’re not familiar with Champion Data, they’re the company behind the statistics of some of your favourite sports - think the AFL, Netball Australia and LIVGolf!
Ash has been with Champion Data for over 8 years, and previous to this worked in radio production, and at Channel 10 as a Production Assistant. She’s also one of our beloved SportsGrad Pro Members, so make sure to connect with her inside the Community.
Lots to look out for including how to manage people effectively, how to grow within an organisation, and the ins and outs of coordinating match days. Make sure to have a listen, it’s a good one!
We cover:
(00:32) Who is Ashleigh Newton-Spence?
(01:42) Hello and welcome to the SportsGrad Podcast!
(02:32) What’s going on inside the Community? Community info night, events and wins.
(05:42) Welcome to the SportsGrad Podcast Ash!
(06:34) Who is Champion Data and what do they do?
(09:04) Quick-fire questions
(18:13) What does the Competitions Coordinator do at Champion Data?
(23:07) What makes a great data capturer?
(25:21) Do you have to be good with statistics to work at Champion Data?
(27:56) How does Ash continue to develop and grow whilst being at an organisation for 8+ years?
(30:32) Challenges Ash faces at work
(33:05) How did Ash develop her ‘people skills’ and how did she practice it?
(37:31) The essential skills to work in a role like Ash’s
(41:01) What other departments are there at Champion Data?
(43:54) Why Ash got into the SportsGrad Pro Community, and what has she gotten out of it?
(48:38) What advice would Ash give to her younger self?
(51:35) ASK SPORTSGRAD
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Additional episodes you may enjoy:
#206: How to get into sports analytics with Libby Owen (Champion Data)
#210: How to be an AFL Commentator with Brian Taylor
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Want a weekly dose of career inspo? Get industry stories, upcoming events, and the latest sports jobs in your inbox each Friday.
👉 Subscribe to the SportsGrad Newsletter
The SportsGrad Community connects Members to peers, professionals, events, jobs, and development opportunities. Join as a Rookie or Pro Member.
👉 Become a SportsGrad Member
Want our recruitment insights? Hiring Managers, get the SportsGrad Talent newsletter
👉 Subscribe to SportsGrad Talent
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!
This episode is brought to you by Deakin University, the Official Education Partner of The SportsGrad Podcast. Find out why their Master of Business in Sport Management is not one of, but the best one in Australia ranked at #1 at www.deakin.edu.au
Thanks for listening! You’re all legends.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Jeffrey Leong, the Sponsorship Manager at MKTG Sports + Entertainment.
He has over 5 years of experience in Sports Marketing, currently managing brands such as Great Southern Bank and Cadbury. Through this, he leverages their partnerships through rights-holders such as the Brisbane Heat, Carlton FC, Football Australia & Rugby Australia.
Lots to look out for including how to work in sponsorship management and what it’s like working in sports marketing!
This episode is what we call a ‘Career Q&A’ and is a taste of the online events you get access to as a SportsGrad Member. If you like what you’re hearing but want to learn more, we have a Community Information Night on June 12th coming up, in time for the Community officially opening on August 13th. You can register for the free event here.
Enjoy the episode!
We cover:
(00:28) Who is Jeffrey Leong?
(01:43) Welcome to the SportsGrad Podcast! Here’s what’s going on inside the Community…
(13:50) Welcome to the Career Q&A Jeff!
(16:01) Jeff’s introduction - who is he and what is his career journey?
(19:13) What is MKTG Sports + Entertainment and what do they do?
(20:19) What does Jeff do as a sponsorship manager?
(23:22) What does a day in the life look like in Jeff’s role?
(28:39) How does Jeff work with large brands such as Cadbury?
(32:32) The benefits Jeff sees in professional development and additional studies
(34:14) Challenges Jeff has had in his role and how he overcomes them
(35:10) Jeff’s long-term goals in the industry
(36:59) What does career progression look like at MKTG?
(38:39) How Jeff stood out in his interview at MKTG
(42:37) How does Jeff stay passionate in his role?
(44:09) The logistics between clients and rights-holders and how they manage business relationships
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Additional episodes you may enjoy:
#244: Event Management at Cricket Australia with Katie Staniforth
#253: How the AFL analyse their data with Penny Privett
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Want a weekly dose of career inspo? Get industry stories, upcoming events, and the latest sports jobs in your inbox each Friday.
👉 Subscribe to the SportsGrad Newsletter
The SportsGrad Community connects Members to peers, professionals, events, jobs, and development opportunities. Join as a Rookie or Pro Member.
👉 Become a SportsGrad Member
Want our recruitment insights? Hiring Managers, get the SportsGrad Talent newsletter
👉 Subscribe to SportsGrad Talent
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!
This episode is brought to you by Deakin University, the Official Education Partner of The SportsGrad Podcast. Find out why their Master of Business in Sport Management is not one of, but the best one in Australia ranked at #1 at www.deakin.edu.au
Thanks for listening! You’re all legends.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Jacob Gaynor, the Social Media Manager of the most followed club account in the AFL, the GWS Giants.
They have attracted attention this season by taking an approach that some see as a little bit edgy, however the numbers speak for themselves. The Giants have topped the list for follower growth in 2024, gaining 10k more than second place, Collingwood FC.
The Giants have been very deliberate about their challenger brand, and Jacob holds nothing back about what goes into what you see on the surface.
Plus, for those Social Media Managers who want to be the most responsive and engaging, you’re going to absolutely love the level of preparation Jacob puts into hitting you with the right meme at the right time. Strange that meme skills are a thing in 2024, but it’s working, and we think you’re going to love hearing from Jacob who’s on top of the AFL social media world right now.
Enjoy the episode!
We cover:
(00:47) Who is Jacob Gaynor?
(02:08) Welcome to the SportsGrad Podcast!
(04:08) What’s going on inside the SportsGrad Community?
(06:44) Welcome to the SportsGrad Podcast Jacob!
(07:27) Quick-fire questions
(14:10) What are the series of jobs that lead Jacob to the Giants?
(17:15) Who are the Giants trying to target on socials, and how do they do so?
(21:20) What type of brand are the Giants wanting to build, and how do they continue ‘being the disruptor’?
(27:12) How does the media team plan and prepare their content and memes?
(36:15) How does Jacob save and organise future content?
(39:40) Do the Giants look at their metrics and how does the reviewing and reporting work?
(45:19) How does the social team work with commercial partners to mutually align?
(47:26) How Jacob builds relationships with players at the Giants
(51:13) Who does Jacob look up to in the industry?
(54:57) Jacob’s advice for other social media managers
(58:50) ASK SPORTSGRAD
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Additional episode you may enjoy:
#124: Hamish McLachlan - How to commentate the AFL grand final
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Want a weekly dose of career inspo? Get industry stories, upcoming events, and the latest sports jobs in your inbox each Friday.
👉 Subscribe to the SportsGrad Newsletter
The SportsGrad Community connects Members to peers, professionals, events, jobs, and development opportunities. Join as a Rookie or Pro Member.
👉 Become a SportsGrad Member
Want our recruitment insights? Hiring Managers, get the SportsGrad Talent newsletter
👉 Subscribe to SportsGrad Talent
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!
This episode is brought to you by Deakin University, the Official Education Partner of The SportsGrad Podcast. Find out why their Master of Business in Sport Management is not one of, but the best one in Australia ranked at #1 at www.deakin.edu.au
Thanks for listening! You’re all legends.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.