Successful start for iWorkinSport Job Fair

The first edition of the “iWorkinSport Job Fair”, held on 19 May 2017 at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, was hailed a success by organisers, recruiters, academic partners and candidates alike. The innovative format of the event enabled some of the most renowned organisations in the market to meet, interview and recruit students and alumni from prestigious sport management courses in Europe.

Jointly organised by ThinkSport and ENGAGE Sport & Entertainment, this first job fair of its kind attracted about 250 people from 30 countries. Candidates flew in from places like the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, India and Kazakhstan.

The following 14 organisations and companies brought their recruiters to the event: Adidas, FIFA, FISE (Extreme Sports International Federation), FIVB, IMG, Infront Sports & Media, Libra Law, mycujoo, the NBA, PwC, Soccerex, Sportcal, Sportradar and UEFA. For a total of 45 job offers, they interviewed candidates provided by the event’s five academic partners: CIES’s FIFA Master, AISTS, the Johan Cruyff Institute, the University of Liverpool’s Football MBA, and the EU Business School.

Apart from the 200 job interviews which took place, iWorkinSport Job Fair also hosted a programme of discussions and presentations focusing on careers in the sports industry as well as a dinner at the Olympic Museum. Discussion about a next edition are already underway.

Click here to relive the panel sessions (available soon).

Anna Hellman, Director of ThinkSport, joined the panel discussion about „The Value of Education in the Sports Industry” and said: “Sport is a big field involving lots of different expertise, from sport regulations, marketing, technology and security to hospitality and protocol, to name just a few. In order to discover what exactly you want to do in sport, the best is to get involved, try out and experience.” She added: “Networking is key, not only for getting a job, but also when you actually have one. Working in sport often means to interact in an international environment, around the globe. Therefore there will be always unknown factors and a large network can help you understand and access needed information more easily.”

Joao Frigerio from ENGAGE Sport & Entertainment said after the event: “Being the first edition of such innovative type of event presents several challenges, but we are extremely pleased with this first step. Every year, hundreds of graduates enter into the market with specialised training in sport management. As well as having their own qualities and profiles, they all share common traits: they have an international mentality, they are highly motivated and committed, they have invested a significant amount of time and money in their education, and they share a passion for sport. The best organisations in the sports industry are looking for employees with these characteristics… So, all we had to do was to find a way for them to meet in a useful and optimised way.”

With its unique concentration of international sports organisations, academic excellence and innovative businesses, Switzerland, the canton of Vaud and the Olympic Capital of Lausanne are a vibrant hub for the global sports industry. According to a 2013 study implemented by Rütter and Partner, the 67 international sports organisations which are based in Switzerland employ a total of around 1800 people. In 2011, these international sports organisations generated income of about CHF 4.7 billion, most of which came from abroad. A significant portion of the income was reinvested in sports.

​ThinkSport also offers a job section on its website, featuring current employment opportunities within its rich network of sport organisations, research and development institutes, educational bodies, businesses, the public sector, international organisations and NGOs.