In Episode 3 of The Sports Careers Coach Podcast, Seth Levit and Jamie Carrig tackle one of the biggest decisions facing students who want to work in sports: Do you need a master’s degree, or are you better off gaining real-world experience?

Jamie earned a master’s degree in sports administration. Seth entered the sports industry with a bachelor’s degree and immediately began gaining experience with organizations including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Dolphins. More than 30 years later, both have built successful careers in sports—and both believe their decision was right for them.

So how do you decide what's right for you?

Seth and Jamie make the case for both paths, discussing when a graduate degree can open doors, when experience may be more valuable, and the questions you should ask yourself before committing another two years—and potentially significant money—to school.

In this episode:

• When a master’s degree may be required for the career you want
• Why graduate school can build credibility, skills and your professional network
• Careers in collegiate athletics where an advanced degree can be especially valuable
• Why real-world sports experience can sometimes outweigh another degree
• The value of internships and getting your foot in the door
• The financial realities of graduate school
• Graduate assistantships and opportunities to have an employer help pay for your degree
• Whether aspiring coaches and professional sports employees need a master’s
• The questions to ask yourself before choosing school vs. experience

The biggest takeaway? There isn't one correct path into the sports industry. A master’s degree can create opportunities and remove potential career ceilings—but it won't create your career for you. Your experience, relationships, work ethic and what you do when an opportunity arrives still matter.

If you're a college student, recent graduate or young professional trying to build a career in sports, this episode can help you make one of your most important early-career decisions.

Want to build a career in sports? Some of the most important things you can do to stand out require absolutely NO talent.

In Episode 2 of The Sports Careers Coach Podcast, Seth Levit and Jamie Carrig introduce the TNT philosophy: Takes No Talent—five things completely within your control that can help you break into the sports industry and build a career that lasts.

Inspired by the “Takes No Talent” philosophy Seth first encountered at Miami Dolphins training camp, Seth and Jamie explain how the same principles used to build successful athletes can apply to aspiring sports professionals.

Their five TNT principles:

EFFORT — Outwork the competition.

ENERGY — Bring enthusiasm and a positive attitude every day.

SELFLESSNESS — Understand that you're part of something bigger than yourself.

RESPONSIVENESS — Return the call. Answer the email. Be accessible.

FIRST ONE IN, LAST ONE OUT — Show up early, stay until the job is done, and make your dedication impossible to miss.

Drawing on decades of experience in professional and collegiate sports, Seth and Jamie share stories from the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Cavaliers, Barry University and more to explain why these seemingly simple habits can make such a big impression on the people who hire, promote and recommend young professionals.

You may not control how much experience you have. You may not have attended the “right” school. You may not know the right people yet.

But these five things? You control every one of them.

If you're a high school or college student, intern, recent graduate or young professional trying to break into sports, grab your playbook and get ready to be coached up.

Follow The Sports Careers Coach for practical advice designed to help you break into the sports industry, stand out once you're there, and build a career that lasts.

Want to work in sports but aren't sure how to break into the industry? Meet your coaches.

In the first episode of The Sports Careers Coach Podcast, Seth Levit and Jamie Carrig share the very different paths that turned their passion for sports into careers spanning more than three decades.

Seth traces his journey from a sports-obsessed kid attending Miami Dolphins training camp to volunteering in the University of Florida sports information department, landing internships with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Dolphins, and eventually building a career that has included professional sports, nonprofit leadership, media, broadcasting and podcasting.

Jamie shares how a childhood spent keeping score of baseball games eventually led him from playing college sports to internships, collegiate athletics and a 35+ year career in the industry.

Along the way, they reveal some of the lessons that will become cornerstones of The Sports Careers Coach—including the importance of internships, volunteering, networking, mentors, taking chances and simply finding a way to get your foot in the door.

If you're a high school or college student, recent graduate, young professional, or anyone trying to turn a love of sports into a career, this is where your journey starts.

In this episode:

• How Seth and Jamie first discovered careers behind the scenes in sports

• Why your first internship can change everything

• The importance of networking and mentors

• Why athletes should start thinking about life beyond playing

• How volunteering can become a career opportunity

• Why there isn't just one path into the sports industry

• What to expect from The Sports Careers Coach Podcast

Huddle up, take a knee and grab your playbook. It's time to get coached up.

Subscribe to The Sports Careers Coach for practical advice, lessons and stories designed to help you break into the sports industry and build a career that lasts.