Looking for work in Motorsport Management
Discussion
I am a new graduate, and I am looking for work in the motorsport field- I have just graduated from Swansea Metropolitan University with a 2:1 in Motorsport Management. I know times are hard and the industry is very competitive, but I was wondering if anyone knows of any opportunities that may have arisen lately? I've been searching for about 2 months now and haven't found anything available, it is all mostly engineering jobs. I'm from the Worcester area and would be willing to commute a reasonable distance. I have experience of organising events with the WSCC and I would consider any position at all.
If there is anything available then I have CVs ready to send out.
Apologies for the ham-fisted post but I suppose I am just having a stab in the dark in the hope that something might turn up.
Thank you,
Donna
If there is anything available then I have CVs ready to send out.
Apologies for the ham-fisted post but I suppose I am just having a stab in the dark in the hope that something might turn up.
Thank you,
Donna
What kind of job are you looking for? Most management level jobs in motor sport are done by experienced engineers who have moved upwards, the nature of the roles and the business does tend to require a solid technical knowledge. I don't know how technical your course was..?
I would imagine you are looking for jobs in the organisational side of a management team, dealing with logistics/PR/customer contact/marketing etc. Most people in these roles will have to have an incredibly broad skill base and, as such, most will be hired on proven experience in other Industries..
My advice would be to put the motor sport dream on hold for a while, get yourself a job which will allow you to develop skills and accumulate experience, and then have another shot at motor sport stuff once the industry picks up. In the meantime it would be worth getting in contact with the various motor sport championship organisations and ask if they would like a bit of free help at races etc. Once your regularly track side you will quickly get contacts and no doubt jobs will start appearing.
I would imagine you are looking for jobs in the organisational side of a management team, dealing with logistics/PR/customer contact/marketing etc. Most people in these roles will have to have an incredibly broad skill base and, as such, most will be hired on proven experience in other Industries..
My advice would be to put the motor sport dream on hold for a while, get yourself a job which will allow you to develop skills and accumulate experience, and then have another shot at motor sport stuff once the industry picks up. In the meantime it would be worth getting in contact with the various motor sport championship organisations and ask if they would like a bit of free help at races etc. Once your regularly track side you will quickly get contacts and no doubt jobs will start appearing.
I worked for a world rally team for about five years before I left in March this year. I agree with the advice given above. I was lucky in that I worked for what started as a very small team so my job was very wide ranging. I handled purchasing, project management of car builds, logistics, PR, invoicing, sales, marketing, HR, accounts etc. The larger teams are just like any other big company which has departments for each role so specific training, qualifications or experience in your chosen field would be useful. I did not have a tehnical qualification but a broad knowledge of the sport, business and an ability to learn technical 'stuff' quickly is beneficial. If you have a passion for it then this will come naturally.
The industry is extremely close knit, everyone knows everyone elses business, rumours and gossip thrive which can also mean that networking and reputation counts for an awful lot once you are in the loop.
In terms of getting a foot in the door, I would identify any companies that you may like to work for and then call / e-mail / visit them. I used to employ people who came knocking on the door so you just never know. Other than that, check Autosport website every Thursday for jobs and start to visit races or rallies and make yourself known. Maybe offer to tag along for a weekend, unpaid. Pester people; I got my job by asking everyone I knew if they knew of any vacancies. I still see, and hear, of a lot of vacancies so things aren't as grim as you would imagine.
I am sure you are aware that 99.9% of people involved in motorsport do it for the love of it, rather than any financial gain. It is very poorly paid as competition for jobs is so fierce that people will work for free in order to get a foot on the ladder, as it is seen as a dream job for many. A little like the TV and film industry I guess. The reality is very different. People I worked with were earning more from the sport thirty years ago than they are today.
But, after saying that, it is a great industry and the experiences I had and the people I met made it the best five years of my life. The UK is the centre of the motorsport universe, with the centre of that universe being based around Silverstone and 'motorsport valley' so you are ideally placed for landing a job. Keep working at it and good luck.
If you need any more specific info or contacts, please ask.
The industry is extremely close knit, everyone knows everyone elses business, rumours and gossip thrive which can also mean that networking and reputation counts for an awful lot once you are in the loop.
In terms of getting a foot in the door, I would identify any companies that you may like to work for and then call / e-mail / visit them. I used to employ people who came knocking on the door so you just never know. Other than that, check Autosport website every Thursday for jobs and start to visit races or rallies and make yourself known. Maybe offer to tag along for a weekend, unpaid. Pester people; I got my job by asking everyone I knew if they knew of any vacancies. I still see, and hear, of a lot of vacancies so things aren't as grim as you would imagine.
I am sure you are aware that 99.9% of people involved in motorsport do it for the love of it, rather than any financial gain. It is very poorly paid as competition for jobs is so fierce that people will work for free in order to get a foot on the ladder, as it is seen as a dream job for many. A little like the TV and film industry I guess. The reality is very different. People I worked with were earning more from the sport thirty years ago than they are today.
But, after saying that, it is a great industry and the experiences I had and the people I met made it the best five years of my life. The UK is the centre of the motorsport universe, with the centre of that universe being based around Silverstone and 'motorsport valley' so you are ideally placed for landing a job. Keep working at it and good luck.
If you need any more specific info or contacts, please ask.
I know several people who did similar degress with me at uni and the advice given above is fantastic, take it. One was lucky enough to get into a team through someone he knew and quite often this is how it seems to in the industry.
It's so massively competitive you would be a lot better working in another industry to build up relevant skills while building contacts in the sport, work for free at weekends, offer help if it's needed and try and slip your foot in the door.
Whats your background by the way, the expereince in the WSCC? Did you do a placement year?
It's so massively competitive you would be a lot better working in another industry to build up relevant skills while building contacts in the sport, work for free at weekends, offer help if it's needed and try and slip your foot in the door.
Whats your background by the way, the expereince in the WSCC? Did you do a placement year?
Edited by MiniMan64 on Tuesday 4th August 10:09
Thanks so much for all the advice given here, initially it was quite disheartening to read after slogging over my degree for the past three years but it has given me a push to look in another industry- namely the Automotive one. This is in trouble too but it is perhaps more accessible at the moment- I have a passion for cars anyway so it probably helps. I gave CVs to Listers VW and Listers Audi today. I also spoke to my local race team about working for free, it seems like everybody is doing it at the moment as he already has 2 doing the same, trying to gain experience but who knows, he may feel like employing a third :P
Night Driver: Yes, that's precisely the kind of job I'm looking for, I couldn't pin it down before when anybody asked me (quite embarrassing haha). In terms of my course, in the first and second years we had a Motorsport Technology module, very interesting, not a lot of practical work though. Only thing practical we did was to remove a valve from a cylinder head! But we did learn a lot of theory.
Mr_Wendel: I love learning techy stuff to do with cars, I'm always asking my fiance things and I also work on my own car. As regards tagging along for a weekend, I didn't ask the race team specifically for a weekend as they may think I just want to visit a race
But it may only be W/Ends anyway depending on if I get any other job.
MiniMan64: My fiance has a Westfield Megabird and we were the Area Organisers for the Cheltenham, Gloucester and N Wilts area so I have some experience of organising events. Nothing official though. I was wondering actually if I should put it on my CV?
To date I've sent 31 CVs out, and had responses from Red Bull, Abbey Motorsport, Global GT Lights and Abbott Racing Motorsport (not actually a team but a specialist in Saab tuning, but that's the Autosport Directory for you). I shall still probably send more but I shall definitely look out for jobs in the Automotive industry (if it's suitable that is??). Today I have even been considering becoming a Marshal.
Thank you all very much for all your help, if anyone else has anything to add please do
Night Driver: Yes, that's precisely the kind of job I'm looking for, I couldn't pin it down before when anybody asked me (quite embarrassing haha). In terms of my course, in the first and second years we had a Motorsport Technology module, very interesting, not a lot of practical work though. Only thing practical we did was to remove a valve from a cylinder head! But we did learn a lot of theory.
Mr_Wendel: I love learning techy stuff to do with cars, I'm always asking my fiance things and I also work on my own car. As regards tagging along for a weekend, I didn't ask the race team specifically for a weekend as they may think I just want to visit a race
But it may only be W/Ends anyway depending on if I get any other job. MiniMan64: My fiance has a Westfield Megabird and we were the Area Organisers for the Cheltenham, Gloucester and N Wilts area so I have some experience of organising events. Nothing official though. I was wondering actually if I should put it on my CV?
To date I've sent 31 CVs out, and had responses from Red Bull, Abbey Motorsport, Global GT Lights and Abbott Racing Motorsport (not actually a team but a specialist in Saab tuning, but that's the Autosport Directory for you). I shall still probably send more but I shall definitely look out for jobs in the Automotive industry (if it's suitable that is??). Today I have even been considering becoming a Marshal.
Thank you all very much for all your help, if anyone else has anything to add please do
It's probably not much help but you're defintely going to have more luck finding a position the more contacts you make, its going to be a "oh so and so has got this, give them a call" rather than a return from a CV. Those companies will surely get hundreds of CV's sent to them.
Maybe start with the smaller teams, club and national level rather than stuff like Red Bull? Surely can't hurt to get more experience technically either, especially hands on.
Maybe start with the smaller teams, club and national level rather than stuff like Red Bull? Surely can't hurt to get more experience technically either, especially hands on.
I do have a contact who has several contacts in motorsport, he has found something for me to apply to but I'm just waiting for him to get me the details... I have asked the chairman of WSCC if he knows of anything in the Speed Series and I'm waiting for him to get back in touch also...
Think of all the usual routes into applying and getting jobs, and then throw them out of the window. Motorsport doesnt work like any other business in the world.
Your best bet is to arrive at every meeting on the calendar and ask every team/company in the paddock. One might well like the way you talk and get you working for them.
Sending CVS can work sometimes, but most teams will ignore them or some will send a message back saying thanks for the email but we dont have anything, have kept your cv on file in my email junk mail box.
The more people you know in the business...the more chance you have.
Have you thought about driver management?
Your best bet is to arrive at every meeting on the calendar and ask every team/company in the paddock. One might well like the way you talk and get you working for them.
Sending CVS can work sometimes, but most teams will ignore them or some will send a message back saying thanks for the email but we dont have anything, have kept your cv on file in my email junk mail box.
The more people you know in the business...the more chance you have.
Have you thought about driver management?
yeah definatly, take a wallet full of them in envelopes, just talk to teams for a little while and show an interest, then politely ask.
Drivers all have managers, Some have managers who do everything from find sponsorship, and pr event organising to making the driver toast in the morning. They tend to deal with all the financial side of the driver including wages, tax etc. They are normally the people responsible for finding the funding for the driver to race...and when they get to a top level become in charge of the drivers salary,contracts with teams,pr ecents, personal sponsors etc.
I guess the best way to describe it would be a sales person, who literally sells the driver they have on there books to try and get the driver the best seat on the grid in there desired championship. Hope that helps, if you need anything else feel free to pm me
cheers
lewis
Drivers all have managers, Some have managers who do everything from find sponsorship, and pr event organising to making the driver toast in the morning. They tend to deal with all the financial side of the driver including wages, tax etc. They are normally the people responsible for finding the funding for the driver to race...and when they get to a top level become in charge of the drivers salary,contracts with teams,pr ecents, personal sponsors etc.
I guess the best way to describe it would be a sales person, who literally sells the driver they have on there books to try and get the driver the best seat on the grid in there desired championship. Hope that helps, if you need anything else feel free to pm me
cheers
lewis
Just to add something to my previous post.
A team will be more comfortable in hiring someone experienced in the role, but perhaps not the industry, than someone who is a real enthusiast about the industry, but new to the role. The perfect motor sport recruit (imo) is someone who's gained the job experience elsewhere, but has a real interest and understanding of the sport (hence why alot of engineers come in from aerospace).
You need to identify exactly what you want to be doing in a motor sport environment. I regularly speak to people who are 'desperate to work in motor sport - doing anything' - these people don't get jobs! You need to be able to identify what/i] you want to be doing and, most importantly, [i]why. Team managers are much more receptive when you tell then what you will do for them rather than when you ask them what you can do for them!
Obviously, this is the last thing anyone wants to hear when just having studied for years, but it is the truth.
I would suggest you start looking for an admin/junior management type role within an engineering environment (Aerospace would be ideal, but any manufacturing/design type business will have similar roles). You can then start to gain the valuable professional experience you need. Whilst your working this job you will have evenings/weekend free to get involved on the motor sport side of things, helping out at races, organising etc - you'd be amazed at how many people you see working in motor sport that have other jobs to actually pay the bills! Once your regularly track side and around the right people then you will end up finding the job you want - but its very important that you know what the job you want to be doing is.
What kind of stuff did you do at Uni, other than the course? Were you involved in any of the formula student stuff at all? If you were able to show you gained some team management/logistics/finance type experience through this then just play on that in your CV and, in my experiences, it can count for alot!
A team will be more comfortable in hiring someone experienced in the role, but perhaps not the industry, than someone who is a real enthusiast about the industry, but new to the role. The perfect motor sport recruit (imo) is someone who's gained the job experience elsewhere, but has a real interest and understanding of the sport (hence why alot of engineers come in from aerospace).
You need to identify exactly what you want to be doing in a motor sport environment. I regularly speak to people who are 'desperate to work in motor sport - doing anything' - these people don't get jobs! You need to be able to identify what/i] you want to be doing and, most importantly, [i]why. Team managers are much more receptive when you tell then what you will do for them rather than when you ask them what you can do for them!
Obviously, this is the last thing anyone wants to hear when just having studied for years, but it is the truth.
I would suggest you start looking for an admin/junior management type role within an engineering environment (Aerospace would be ideal, but any manufacturing/design type business will have similar roles). You can then start to gain the valuable professional experience you need. Whilst your working this job you will have evenings/weekend free to get involved on the motor sport side of things, helping out at races, organising etc - you'd be amazed at how many people you see working in motor sport that have other jobs to actually pay the bills! Once your regularly track side and around the right people then you will end up finding the job you want - but its very important that you know what the job you want to be doing is.
What kind of stuff did you do at Uni, other than the course? Were you involved in any of the formula student stuff at all? If you were able to show you gained some team management/logistics/finance type experience through this then just play on that in your CV and, in my experiences, it can count for alot!
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