By: Nick Langille – The Spectator
Boston, MA – A group of students from Husson University went to the Red Sox Career Fair on Thursday. People majoring in sport management, marketing, public relations, and sports journalism were invited to the career fair. This was the seventh annual Sports and Entertainment Career Fair held at Fenway Park. The event ran from noon to 4pm. Those in attendance spoke with different sport companies about possible job opportunities within each organization.
According to Harvard University, the organizations at this event included…
- Boston Bruins
- Boston Celtics
- Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Management
- Collegiate Athletics
- New England Patriots
- Various Minor League Sports Organizations
- Sports Media Outlets
Tickets were purchased on the Red Sox’s MLB website. There was a limited amount, so it became a first come, first serve basis until all of them were sold out. The tickets allowed individuals access to the career fair as well as a seat to the Red Sox versus Blue Jays game. This contest started at 7:10pm that night. Nathan Eovaldi made his third start of the season for Boston against Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez.
Also, the Red Sox gave away commemorative 2018 World Series rings to the first 7,500 fans who entered the ballpark.
For students, attending the career fair provides them with real world experiences in the field of sports.
“Students should go to learn how the real world is. We as students can almost seem sheltered to our own career fairs and what is being offered here. Going to Boston helped me realize there is so much more in the world than what surrounds Husson University,” said Boston Van Buren, a junior majoring in Sport Management and Accounting at Husson University.
Van Buren went to Fenway Park after attending last year’s career fair. He said there’s a lot to take away from going on this trip again.
“Now that I know how it works, I believe I have gained the necessary skills and experience to present myself and earn a possible internship for the future,” Van Buren said.
Program Coordinator of Sport Management Richard Fabri chaperoned students from Husson who went to Boston. Other chaperones included Assistant Professor of Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management Karen Boleska, Director of Career Services James Westhoff, and Executive Director of Safety and Security Raymond Bessette.
Richard Fabri went to his third Red Sox Career Fair with lessons he hoped students learned from their experience.
“Basically, I’m looking for you [students] to develop soft skills, be able to communicate, talk to people, and socialize,” Fabri said. “That’s why this profession whether it’s sport management or sports journalism, you have to be able to communicate, you have to be able to talk to people, and that is what I hope you [students] get out of it.”
Most people brought an updated resume and a few took their business cards with them as well. Fabri sees the importance of updating one’s resume and making business cards too.
“You want to be able to differentiate yourself from others. They are going to have a resume to actually write something down and say, ‘Hey, I like this person’,” Fabri said. “Business cards are another differentiation aspect … in some cases are easy to carry, you can put it in your wallet or purse.”
By attending a career fair, students can apply their soft skills to make connections with those working in the sports industry.