Sandeep Chohan writes about her journey into football

After graduating from Southampton Solent University in 2012, Sandeep Chohan had a clear career plan – to combine her passion for sports and business in a full-time job.

She’s written for us about how she achieved her goal and the help Raise Your Game gave her as she made her way into the sport.

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I graduated from Southampton Solent University with a 2:1 BA (Hons.) Football Studies with Business in 2012. My long term ambition has always been to work in a Sports Business area of a football club. I’ve never been sure of exactly where, but I know it would be a combination of football and business as these two things have always been my passion. I’ve naturally been good at business and blended with my love and knowledge for football it’s a career I want to pursue.

I had a little experience, completing an internship in the marketing department at Millwall Football Club followed by match days in the Reading FC ticket office. I currently work as a ticketing administrator at Chelsea Football Club where I started in July 2015.

I first come across the Raise Your Game conference in 2013 when I was out of work and looking into sport through the newspaper. Unfortunately I was unable to attend but kept an eye on social media for the 2014 conference where I first attended. I also attended the 2015 conference. I had just moved into an administration role from my banking career in hope I will be able to make some contacts to make a step into sport on a full time basis.

I have always been quite open to what exactly what I want to do in football Raise Your Game allowed me to sell myself to people more. I had confidence with people who are essentially strangers that I met at the conference telling me my interview technique is great and giving me some pointers on how to improve.

I spoke with Clive Tyldesley, Emma Jones and Kate Laurens. Kate actually took a copy of my CV as she was very interested in me. Unfortunately no job came of it but she assured me with my passion and determination I will get into football full time, I just needed the patience and to keep trying. An exercise with Clive Tyldesley helped me a lot. He asked me to sell myself and answer ‘why would I employ you’ and he gave me feedback on how I can improve these answers for interviews which was a great help.

I got some great advice and one of the advisors suggested using LinkedIn more, so I began to do this. I also considered starting a blog and making business cards but i didn’t get round to it.

I’d recommend 100% going to Raise Your Game. It only takes a day out of your life but it can make a positive difference to every day the rest of your life. If you’re serious about getting into sport, there is no reason not to attend. It’s free, you meet people with years and years of experience who work in the industry daily. You get to network and make contacts for the future.

Raise Your Game is a great way to meet people working in the sports industry. You get the opportunity to speak to people who have been in your position and have developed from there. You get great advice from people who work in the industry daily. You get to network and even hand your CV in directly to people at clubs.

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