IN THIS ISSUE

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, Pathwayers -

Longtime readers of this newsletter may remember a fellow named John Bello.

John was one of the original co-founders of Pathway and played a very important role in getting this thing off the ground.

Nine months into the Pathway project, some guy named B.J. Callaghan called John to see if he might be interested in joining his staff at Nashville SC. The two worked together at the U.S. Men’s National team and B.J. had just been asked to lead the rebuild of the Music City club.

We immediately understood the opportunity was too good to pass up and we were thrilled for John (and his wonderful family, too).

Here we sit 2.5 years later and B.J., John, and the entire Nashville SC staff have set MLS on fire. Last year, the club captured its first major trophy by lifting the U.S. Open Cup.

How did they follow it up this year?

Oh, just by putting together the best regular season in League history.

In 34 matches, Nashville lost only THREE times this season. They scored 71 goals and allowed just 25 - an astounding +46 goal differential. And they’re FUN to watch.

The club lifted its second major trophy by capturing the Supporters’ Shield and now they’re entering MLS Cup Playoffs as a clear favorite.

Take our word for it: John is one of the good ones. We’re proud to call him a friend and will be leading the cheers for him and Nashville SC in the playoffs.

Go get ‘em, JB.

-Kyle Sheldon, Co-Founder & CEO

NEW SOCCER JOBS

There are a couple of new roles that are pretty darn exciting. Check ‘em out below.

Here's something that might be hard to hear… saying "soccer is my passion" won't get you a job in soccer.

I get it. I love the sport, too.

Most people who work in this industry do. It's a big part of why we're here.

But passion alone won't get you hired.

I talk to a lot of people who want to break into soccer.

And when I ask them what they want to do, a lot of the answers sound the same:

"I just love soccer and want to help it grow."

“Soccer is my passion.”

“I want to work in the sport I love.”

That's a great place to start. The trouble is that almost everyone applying for a job in this industry could say the same thing.

Every hiring manager in soccer has read that line hundreds of times.

When everyone in the pile loves the game, loving the game stops setting you apart.

Clubs, leagues, agencies, and brands are hiring people to solve problems.

Sell tickets, build partnerships, create content, run match days, and grow fan bases.

So the questions that matter most are these:

Your love for the game makes you a fit for the industry.

Your answers to those questions make you a fit for the job.

Start with what you've actually done.

Maybe you've run social accounts for a youth team, managed budgets, sold something, organized events, written articles, or worked with data.

Those skills count, even if they didn't happen in soccer.

Your task is to show how those skills translate in a soccer context.

Think about the problems soccer organizations are trying to solve.

Then ask where your skills fit.

"I'm good at writing" is a start. "I can write content that helps a club grow its audience" is something an employer can picture you doing.

Always, always, always bring in real-life and data-backed examples - don’t just tell a future employer what you can do, tell them what impact your work had.

You may not have a clear answer yet, especially early in your career.

That's okay.

The goal is having some idea of how you'd contribute and a plan to get better at it. Nobody expects you to have everything figured out on day one.

Sometimes it takes years to find your place in the sport.

I’ve talked to many individuals who knew they wanted to work in soccer but couldn’t find the right entry point right away.

Look at the career paths of Lynnea Bolin, Meg Patten, Zach Moore, and Isabelle Turner - I talked to all of them before they landed their first gig in soccer.

They all had different backgrounds and experiences, but in my conversations with them I found some common threads:

I promise you: Those who keep going, who keep pushing, who keep trying - they’re the ones who find their way into the industry.

Being clear about how you can contribute shows employers you're serious about growing.

It tells them you're more than just another soccer fan.

👉 This week, write a sentence or two that answers this question: "How can I add value to a soccer organization?"

Then share it with someone in the industry and ask if it lands.

Loving soccer is the starting point.

Knowing what you bring to the table is what gets you hired.

-Kyle Sheldon, Co-Founder & CEO

ICYMI: MUST-READ ARTICLES

📰 As always, there’s a whole lot happening in the world of American soccer. Here are a few of the headlines you need to be following this week.

ALSO…

FOLLOW ALONG

SEE YOU SOON, SOCCER FRIENDS