Philadelphia Football Team Looks For Students With "Soul"
"Internships are very important. They helped me get my start in the business," said Rich Lisk, General Manager of the Philadelphia Soul. "I am still in contact with the person who gave me my first opportunity when I was nineteen years old". As the General Manager of the Philadelphia Soul Arena Football Team, Lisk attributes much of the team's management success to the hard work and dedication of the interns and volunteers before, during and after the season.
"We encourage students to use internships as a test drive for their careers," said Lisk. "The experience allows students to get out there and learn as much as they can outside of the classroom."
Internships at the Philadelphia Soul are offered in several departments including accounting, communications, community relations, marketing, operations and ticket sales. Internships are offered continuously throughout the year.
"Students are encouraged to take initiative and work on assignments that will add to their portfolio," states Lisk. "We are looking for students who want to work and want to learn about the overall organization. We don't want someone who is going to sit in the corner."
When applying for an internship with the Philadelphia Soul, students can find all necessary application information on the website under Employment Opportunities in the "team" tab. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis, and focus on students that are looking to gain experience, expand their networking skills and display an eagerness to learn. Candidates must be well organized, committed, outgoing and involved in extra-curricular activities.
However, one of the biggest misconceptions about the program revolves around the team owner, Jon Bon Jovi. "Students often think that they will be able to meet Jon. That's not going to happen," says Lisk. "We want students here for the right reasons. We want them to learn about the business and how it operates".
An intern, whether going for college credit or not, can expect a wide range of exciting duties guaranteed to teach real world experience. For example, during the season the communications interns can anticipate organizing press packets, contacting the media for press passes and credentials, distributing game stories and press releases to local and national media outlets, meeting with players and coaches for interviews, attending each game and writing game notes. Interns will not be stuck behind a fax machine or telephone.
"Working the games is not a glamorous aspect of the job, but when we see everything come together during the game, it makes all of the hard work worth it," said Lisk.
As a former intern himself, Lisk appreciates the value of field experience. At 19 years old pursued an opportunity at the Madison Square Garden Boxing department. During this time, Lisk learned how to manage a business, create contacts and prioritize time.
"The relationships created during my time with the Madison Square Garden staff not only molded me into a better worker, but have continued to help me through my career. I still maintain a strong relationship with my former co-workers," says Lisk.
In order to foster the importance of an internship, Lisk has hired several former interns as full-time staff. Approximately 50% of the Front Office personnel were former Philadelphia Soul interns. Steve Shultz, a former intern in the Sales and Marketing Department, was hired post graduation as the Client Service Manager. He was then offered a job with the Philadelphia Soul as a result of his dedication and strong work ethic demonstrated during his four months with the team.
"Internships are all about the hands on training that you can not learn from a textbook," said Shultz. "In this business, you quickly learn that it's who you know not what you know."
During the 2007 season, Shultz was promoted to Director of Operations, where he currently organizes game day operations and passes his experiences along to interns in his department.
The Philadelphia Soul regular season begins in March and runs until July. Students can watch games on the ESPN network, but are also encouraged to attend the games. "This is a great game for students" said Schultz. "Tickets start at only $13 for the March 2008 season. Anyone can find tickets on sale through the website, www.philadelphiasoul.com."
As the premier organization in the Arena Football League, the Philadelphia Soul is an upbeat and exciting place to learn every aspect of working in sports. Entering their fifth season in Philadelphia, the Soul have consistently sold out 93% every game since the introduction of the team. They are coming off an exciting season that carried them to the second round of the playoffs. They have also been nationally recognized with the Commissioner Award for Best Team in the Arena Football League and Turnkey Honorable Mention for Fan Development.
"I am an open book," stated Lisk. "I encourage students to learn as much as they can. I will teach you everything you need to know."
Find out more about the Philadelphia Soul internship opportunities at
www.Philadelphiasoul.com.
To order single tickets or the Chickie and Pete Ticket Package go to:
http://www.philadelphiasoul.com/tickets/cptickets/