In this week’s issue of Football Progression Path I’m going to discuss the football career triangle.
A recent conversation with Tom Worville about career development and progression brought to light an idea of his about a career triangle within football.
This framework is all about highlighting and understanding the key aspects of a career in football. Whether you’re aspiring to work in the industry, or if you’re already in the game, a better awareness about the key aspects of the job will only help you make better career decisions.
When starting in the game, most people quickly seize any opportunity without considering their career triangle.
For those already in the game, many hastily switch jobs, focusing on just one aspect of their career triangle.
When considering any opportunity in football you must think about it holistically and how it suits your lifestyle.
The three elements of the football career triangle.
- Location
- Impact
- Compensation
Understanding the Football Career Triangle
The football career triangle comprises of three pivotal aspects: location, impact, and compensation. These elements are integral to job satisfaction and long-term career advancement in football.
- Location: Working in a location that aligns with one’s lifestyle is essential. Whether it's being close to the training ground, working remotely, or finding a hybrid arrangement, a suitable location should support both personal and professional needs.
- Impact: The desire to make a meaningful contribution drives most professionals in football. Whether involved with the first team, recruitment, or the academy, feeling valued and contributing to the club’s success are vital for job fulfilment.
- Compensation: Financial reward is a significant consideration. While roles in analysis or scouting may not always offer high salaries, feeling fairly compensated for one’s skills and contributions is essential for motivation.
The Balancing Act
Achieving a balance within the career triangle can be challenging for many in the football industry.
An analyst may feel well-compensated but lack a sense of impact in their role, leading to dissatisfaction. Conversely, someone making a significant impact may feel undercompensated, prompting them to seek opportunities elsewhere. Another example is someone who has a young family, but is spending 15 hours a week driving to and from the training ground.
Everyone’s career and life is unique, you have use this to shape your own career triangle.
Shape Your Career Triangle
To achieve a balanced career triangle, consider the following strategies:
- Assess Your Needs: Evaluate personal and professional priorities, including family commitments, financial goals, and lifestyle preferences.
- Seek Opportunities for Impact: Pursue roles where your work is valued and contributes meaningfully to the club’s success. This may involve taking on additional responsibilities or actively seeking feedback to enhance your contributions.
- Negotiate Compensation: Don’t hesitate to discuss compensation with your employer. Emphasise your skills and the unique value you bring to the team to negotiate a fair salary.
The football career triangle underpins the importance of balancing location, impact, and compensation. By understanding and prioritising these areas, you can take meaningful steps toward a fulfilling career in football. Achieving balance in these three aspects is essential for long-term job satisfaction and success.
Thanks for taking the time to read this week's edition of the newsletter.
I hope you have a fantastic week ahead.
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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