IN THIS ISSUE

INTRODUCTION

Hello again, Pathwayers!

Today’s Career Tips theme is fitting because I’m currently writing this intro from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport after watching the U.S. Men’s National Team defeat Senegal 3-2 in a chaotic - but fun! - World Cup send off match yesterday.

I’m off to Chicago for a 3-day production with our long-term partners, MLS Consumer Products. It will include 6am call times, a jam-packed shoot schedule, and late nights - all to produce a 30-second commercial spot, social content, and photo assets.

Don’t get me wrong, these productions are FUN, but boy oh boy, are you ready for a full night’s sleep after you hear “that’s a wrap” on the last shoot day. 😴

I wouldn’t change it for anything. If you’re someone who is trying to break into the industry, let this be an encouragement to keep going.

Also, the World Cup starts in EIGHT days.

-Kyle Sheldon, Co-Founder & CEO

NEW SOCCER JOBS

A lot of people dream about working in soccer. And understandably so.

You get to work around:

From the outside, it can look incredibly exciting (and it very often is).

But if you want to build a long-term career in this industry, it’s important to understand something early:

Working in soccer is very different than watching soccer.

So let’s pull back the curtain a bit…

Soccer doesn’t operate on a traditional 9–5 schedule.

There are:

And when the season gets busy…

Things move fast.

Especially around matchday.

There’s really no perfect way to describe matchday until you experience it.

It’s exciting. Fast-paced. Intense.

But also:

A normal matchday might include:

And all of it is happening in real time.

The people who thrive in soccer tend to stay calm when things get chaotic.

Travel is a huge part of many soccer careers.

And yes, there are definitely moments that are exciting.

But there are also:

A lot of the industry runs on energy, flexibility, and adaptability.

This part is important.

Most people working in soccer genuinely care about the game.

That creates:

People want to win.

They want things done well.

And because so many people care deeply about the work, the pace and expectations can be high.

Because despite all of that… there’s nothing quite like it.

There’s a reason people stay in this industry for decades.

You get to:

And on the best days?

There’s an energy around soccer that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.

If you want to work in soccer, don’t just chase the highlight reel.

Understand the reality of the work, too.

The people who build great careers in this industry are usually:

Because soccer careers aren’t built only on passion.

They’re built on consistency, professionalism, and resilience.

And yet…

For the right people, it’s one of the most rewarding industries in the world.

-Kyle Sheldon, Co-Founder & CEO

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SEE YOU SOON, SOCCER FRIENDS