Do you know what interview questions to expect when applying for a sports position? The following are the main things employers will want to hear from you. What is your favorite sport and why? Do you have any experience with that kind of sport already? Have you played on a team before or been an individual athlete, and if so, how often do you play now? If not, have you ever taken lessons or participated in recreational games at the park or gymnasiums around town? What’s your favorite part about playing sports and what’s the most challenging aspect for you personally-what would be your dream job as a professional player?” These are just some of the many questions an employer might ask during an interview. So prepare yourself with these helpful
1. What experience do you have with sports?
The interviewer wants to know if you have any experience with the sport they are hiring for. If you don’t have any experience, be sure to highlight your athletic skills and how transferable they are to the sport in question.
2. What is your favorite sport?
This question allows the interviewer to get to know you better. Be prepared to share your reasons for liking this particular sport.
3. What’s your favorite part about playing sports?
The interviewer wants to know what you enjoy most about playing sports. Do you like the physical challenge, the competitive aspect, or the socializing with teammates? Share your thoughts and explain why this is your favorite part.
4. What’s the most challenging aspect of playing sports for you?
The interviewer wants to know what is difficult for you when playing sports. Do you find it challenging to keep up with the physically demanding workouts? Do you have trouble dealing with competition or losing? Share your thoughts and explain why this is the most challenging part of playing sports for you.
5. What would be your dream job as a professional player?
This question allows the interviewer to see if you have any long-term goals or aspirations related to playing sports professionally. If you don’t have any such plans, be sure to share your reasons for not wanting to pursue this type of career. However, if you do have dreams of becoming a pro athlete, explain why and share your plans for making that happen.
6. Do you have any experience with the sport they are hiring for?
If you have experience with the sport, be sure to share your stories of playing it recreationally or competitively. If you don’t have experience with the sport, highlight how athletic you are and how athletic-related skills and traits apply to the job.
7. What has been your biggest challenge as a sportsperson?
The interviewer wants to know what makes you unique, how you rise up from challenges, and what sets you apart from other candidates. Be prepared with an example of a time where you were challenged by another team member or player on your own team, but rose above it anyway. Share why this situation was challenging for you and how you handled it.
8. Why do you want to work for this company?
This interview question allows employers to see if hiring employees is important to them if they researched the company prior to the interview, and if they’re qualified for the position. If nothing else applies, be sure to share your passion for the sport and how it relates to the job.
9. Should sports be an Olympic event? Why or why not?
The interviewer wants to know what you think about certain controversial topics, if you researched this company prior to the interview, and why you’re qualified for the position. If nothing else applies, be sure to explain your thoughts on whether or not sports should become an Olympic event. Be prepared with reasons supporting both sides of this topic so that you can explain either viewpoint confidently.
10. What are your future plans in terms of professional development?
This question allows employers to see if hiring employees is important to them if they have any long-term goals for their own career growth, and if they researched the company prior to the interview. If nothing else applies, be sure to share your passion for the sport and how it relates to the job.
11. What was your most recent sports injury?
The interviewer wants to know how you handle failure if you have a strong support system, and what kind of treatment options are important to you. Be prepared with an example of what happened and how it affected you emotionally, physically, and mentally. Then be ready to share the steps or lengths that went into recovering from this specific injury.
12. What is your favorite game/type of game (e.g., soccer)?
This question allows employers to see which sports you enjoy playing most, what types of teams or players you admire the most, and why these certain games appeal more than others do. Be sure to talk about one specific type of game or sport instead of all different ones in order to avoid confusion.
13. Who is your biggest role model in the sports industry?
The interviewer wants to know who you look up to within the sports world, why they are your role model, and what you’ve learned from them. If you don’t have a role model within the sports industry, be sure to share who your role model is outside of this profession and what you admire most about them.
14. What do you think about professional athletes being paid too much?
The interviewer wants to know what you think about certain controversial topics, if you researched this company prior to the interview, and why you’re qualified for the position. If nothing else applies, be sure to explain your thoughts on whether or not professional athletes are paid too much. Be prepared with reasons supporting both sides of this topic so that you can explain either viewpoint confidently.
15. What do you think about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports?
The interviewer wants to know what you think about certain controversial topics, if you researched this company prior to the interview, and why you’re qualified for the position. If nothing else applies, be sure to explain your thoughts on whether or not performance-enhancing drugs should be allowed in sports. Be prepared with reasons supporting both sides of this topic so that you can explain either viewpoint confidently.
16. How important is winning/achieving success to you?
The interviewer wants to know how much importance you place on winning, what you do to help your team improve, and what type of teammate you are. Be sure to discuss how many different ways winning can be achieved throughout the sport itself or how it relates to personal improvement.
17. How would you react if I told you that there is no championship game in your future?
The interviewer wants to know how you handle failure if you have a strong support system, and what kind of treatment options are important to you. Be prepared with an example of what happened and how it affected you emotionally, physically, and mentally. Then be ready to share the steps or lengths that went into recovering from this specific situation that didn’t end as hoped for.
18. What are your thoughts on the current state of the sports industry?
The interviewer wants to know what you think about certain controversial topics, if you researched this company prior to the interview, and why you’re qualified for the position. If nothing else applies, be sure to explain your thoughts on the current state of the sports industry. Be prepared with reasons supporting both sides of this topic so that you can explain either viewpoint confidently.
19. What is your favorite sports movie?
The interviewer wants to know which sports movies you enjoy watching, what you think about the sport portrayed in the movie, and why these certain movies appeal more than others do. Be sure to discuss one specific sports movie instead of multiple. Be sure to pick a movie either about the sport you’re going for or something related to it.
20. Who is your favorite athlete of all time?
The interviewer wants to know who your favorite sports icon is, what makes them stand out from the rest, and why this person is one of your biggest role models. If you don’t have a favorite athlete of all time, be sure to share who your favorite athlete is and what you admire most about them.
21. What obstacles have you faced in pursuit of your career goals?
The interviewer wants to know how you handle difficult situations if you’ve ever had to overcome any major challenges, and how you reacted to them. Be sure to choose something from your personal life instead of from the workforce. It’s okay if you’ve not had any major obstacles in your career yet, but try to share something challenging that has happened whether it was at work or outside of work.
22. What organizational skills do you possess?
The interviewer wants to know how organized you are both with time and task, what kinds of notes/plans/records you keep, and how much attention to detail goes into this process. The best way to answer this question is by explaining that there are several ways you can organize yourself depending on the type of job or project at hand. For example – keeping detailed records for one thing (like game times) but only listing things in a spreadsheet if needed.
23. What would you do if confronted with an ethical dilemma in the workplace?
The interviewer wants to know how you handle difficult or uncomfortable situations if you have any experience with this, and how you would approach this type of situation. It’s best to give an example of a time when you had to address a difficult ethical dilemma head-on. Explain what the dilemma was, how you reacted, and the outcome of the event. Try not to be emotional while telling this story – it’s important to stay professional.
24. What was the most rewarding experience in your previous job?
The interviewer wants to know what made you feel the best in your previous job, whether it was a team victory or something that went above and beyond their expectations. Share an experience that was both positive and meaningful to you. Try not to focus on things like money or awards – instead, focus on the emotional rewards that your job provided.
25. What do you think are the most important qualities for a successful sports broadcaster?
The interviewer wants to know what you believe are the key attributes for someone in this specific industry. Be prepared with a few different qualities, such as being able to remain unbiased, having knowledge about the sport, and being able to articulate thoughts and feelings clearly. If you have any personal experiences or examples from your previous work that align with these qualities, be sure to share them!
26. What would you do if you were unable to pursue a career in sports broadcasting?
The interviewer wants to know how you would react if this specific career path wasn’t available to you. Be sure to discuss your backup plan and how you would approach finding a new job. If you don’t have a solid backup plan, be sure to express that you’re still open to different career possibilities and are actively researching other options.
27. How have you developed your skills as a sports broadcaster?
The interviewer wants to know what type of learning methods you prefer when it comes to acquiring new skills. Do you like hands-on learning, reading articles/books, watching videos, or practicing in a real-world environment? Share the methods that have worked best for you and explain why they’ve been successful. If there are any specific resources (websites, podcasts, etc.) that you’ve found helpful, be sure to mention them!
28. What are some things you do to prepare for a new season?
The interviewer wants to know how much research and preparation goes into your work. They want to hear that you’re aware of what’s happening in the world, especially when it comes to sports. Talk about the different ways that you keep up with current events, whether that means reading articles or listening to podcasts on a regular basis. You can also mention watching videos online as well as looking at data/charts if necessary.
29. Why did you decide to pursue sports broadcasting at this point in your life?
The interviewer wants to know why now is the right time for you personally. Do any events or life changes coincide with your decision? It’s okay if this reason isn’t something that has anything to do with the company or industry – think of this question as more of a personal reflection. Try not to focus on why you chose this particular career path (this is already implied), but rather, talk about where you see your life headed and how sports broadcasting plays into it.
30. Do you prefer working alone or in a team?
The interviewer wants to get an idea of whether you work better independently or within a group setting. Talk about the pros and cons for both scenarios and be sure to mention any examples from your previous work experience that show either one at its best.
