In today’s issue of Football Progression Path I’m going to teach you how to effectively analyse football job descriptions.
Regardless of your experience in the game, it’s easy to see an interesting job title with a club and get excited.
This excitement can lead people to quickly skimming through the job description, without effectively understanding the role. In fact, this approach can lead people to miss opportunities as they jump straight to the essential experience and requirements then get discouraged when they don’t meet all the criteria. However, these descriptions are not always as rigid as they first appear.
Understanding and analysing job descriptions is crucial in the competitive world of football recruitment.
To effectively navigate job descriptions, a strategic approach is essential:
- Read thoroughly
- Analyse responsibilities
- Essential vs desirable
- Tools & software
1. Read Thoroughly
- Initial Read: Go through the entire job description to get a sense of the role. Don't rush, take it all in.
- Detailed Review: Read it again, noting or highlighting key elements like location, job title, and departmental context. You should have all the keywords down to fully understand what they want.
2. Analyse Responsibilities
- List Current Skills: Write down all of the key resposibilities of the role, then write down the skills you possess that align with them.
- Identify Gaps: Note any responsibilities you lack and consider how you can learn them. Don’t worry if you don’t have the time to learn them yet, it’s about showing you’ve got a growth mindset and having the awareness for your own development.
3. Understand Essential vs. Desirable Skills
- Essential Skills: These are must-haves, but lacking one doesn’t mean you can’t apply. Be ready to explain your growth plan. Remember it’s all about showing you have a growth mindset.
- Desirable Skills: These are bonuses. Highlight any transferable skills you have that relate to these areas.
4. Prepare for Tools and Software
- Familiarise Yourself: If the role requires specific tools (e.g., Python, SQL), learn the basics to discuss them confidently.
- Highlight Experience: If you have experience with similar tools, emphasise this in your application. It doesn't always matter that you haven't used a specific tool or platform, but showing you understand what they are, and that you’d be able to work with them is important.
Mastering the art of analysing football job descriptions can significantly enhance your career prospects. By taking a methodical approach, you can better understand what clubs are looking for and how you can fit into their vision. Remember, the key is not just to meet every requirement but to demonstrate your potential and willingness to grow.
So next time you see a job role you think is exciting, take the time to sit down and go through methodically.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of the newsletter.
Speak again soon.
Liam
Whenever you’re ready there are 3 ways I can help you:
- The Online Portfolio Blueprint - My flagship course for helping new, current and aspiring football professionals. We give you the blueprint on how grow your knowledge, network and opportunities in football by writing online through an online portfolio.
- Pro Scout Edge - Our scouting tool has be created by professionals and tested by experts in football. It’s the ultimate online scouting database you need for your scouting journey. It forms an all-in-one system for player and team scouting, with templates, dashboards and more.
- Football Connective Community - Bringing together like-minded new, aspiring and current analysts & scouts to share knowledge and learn together to improve and progress our football careers. This is done through the four pillars of analysis, scouting, online portfolio and employment.
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