Eleven years ago, Chad 颅Mihalick had just 颅completed his degree in business 颅admin颅istration at Pepperdine and was searching blindly for an 颅entry-level position at an action-sports company. 颅Frustrated by how difficult it was to even figure out who was hiring, Mihalick hit upon a 颅solution: , a combination job board and news site that he launched in 2002. Malakye.com now hosts listings from some 1,900 action-sports and outdoor companies, from Quiksilver to The North Face. Here, Mihalick outlines a strategy for 颅scoring all types of gigs in these fun and growing industries, whether your background is in design, marketing, sales, or finance.
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PLUS:听Ten icons of career change, career guidance, and the hot adventure industries.
1. STUDY. Before applying for a job, familiarize yourself with industry trends and hot topics through trade sources like , 颅, , , and 颅.
2. BRAND. Like it or not, LinkedIn is probably the method most companies will use to get to know you initially, and they pay close attention to your recommendations and who鈥檚 in your network. An 颅active blog or Facebook page can also help define you.
3. NETWORK. Trade events like the SIA Snow Show, Interbike, and Outdoor Retailer are ideal venues for establishing industry contacts, but they usually require a company affiliation. It鈥檚 often easier to connect with industry people at big sporting events like the Sea Otter Classic and Teva Mountain Games. Shake hands, collect business cards, then follow up over e-mail or social media and ask if they鈥檇 be willing to spend a few minutes answering some exploratory career questions.
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4. TARGET. Being a diehard weekend skier doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean you understand the technical听 aspects of听 binding design or ski lamination. Professional experience should be your entry point: if you鈥檙e an accountant, apply for a job in the accounting department.
5. CHARM. In the outdoor industries, a good cultural fit is a 颅significant factor in landing a job. A demonstrated passion for sports and adventure can tip the scales when you鈥檙e up against other 颅qualified 颅applicants. Race results, 颅volunteer stints, and travel experiences are fair game for r茅sum茅s and those small-talk moments during interviews.听