How can you best present your club to prospective members?
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
When a football club is looking to recruit a new member of staff, the question is often the same: how can it attract the right candidates ?
Simply posting a job advert is no longer enough.
In a market where professionals can compare several opportunities, clubs must also learn to sell themselves to candidates. Their identity, values, sporting vision, working environment and career prospects can make the difference between one application and another.
Nowadays, recruitment is a two-way process: the club assesses the candidate, but the candidate also assesses the club.
So, how can you best present your club to prospective employees ?
A candidate isn’t just looking for a job
When a professional looks at a job advert, they don’t just look at the job title or the salary on offer.
He is also trying to understand :
About the club ?
What are his values? ?
What is his plan ?
What is his ambition ?
How does the organisation work ?
What role do employees play ?
What prospects might he have ?
An interesting role in an environment that does not meet the candidate’s expectations can quickly lose its appeal.
The club must therefore offer a genuine professional experience.
Telling the club’s story
History helps to give the club its identity.
A few lines may be enough to introduce:
its creation ;
its development ;
its main achievements ;
its local roots ;
its values ;
its sporting identity.
The aim is not to write a historical account running to several thousand words, but to enable the candidate to quickly understand what makes the club unique.
A club with a rich history already possesses a key element of its employer brand.
Give a clear presentation of the sports project
The candidate must be able to understand the club’s future direction.
What are the club’s plans?
Does it want to move up to a higher division? Develop its academy? Build up its women’s team? Expand its commercial operations? Become more professional?
Candidates will often be more attracted to a club that has a clear medium- and long-term vision.
Highlight your values
Values should not be mere words displayed on a page.
Training, respect, ambition, approachability, commitment, excellence, community...
Explain in concrete terms what they mean in the day-to-day life of the club.
Candidates want to know what sort of environment they will be working in and who they will be working alongside.
Introduce the teams that make up the club
Football is a team sport, and this should also be reflected in the club’s presentation.
Show the different departments:
direction ;
sports team ;
communication ;
marketing ;
sales ;
administration ;
human resources ;
medical ;
performance ;
training.
Introducing staff members helps to give the club a more human touch.
A team photo, a staff member’s portrait or a short interview can sometimes have more impact than a long, formal description.
Take a look behind the scenes
Candidates want to find out what goes on behind the scenes.
Photos of the offices, training sessions, away trips, events, meetings, facilities or social occasions: behind-the-scenes content helps to paint a more authentic picture of the club.
Above all, it allows candidates to picture themselves in their future working environment.
Show the reality, not just the end result.
Explain what you can offer staff
Successful recruitment is not just about finding someone capable of meeting the club’s needs.
You also need to explain to them what the club can offer them.
This could include:
autonomy ;
responsibilities ;
training ;
opportunities for career progression ;
access to a professional network ;
involvement in ambitious projects ;
an international environment ;
a unique experience in football.
Even a club with limited resources can have plenty of strengths to highlight.
Take care when drafting your job adverts
An initial job offer is often the first point of contact between the candidate and the club.
It must be clear, professional and sufficiently detailed.
In particular, you should include:
The role : What will the new employee’s responsibilities be?
The ideal candidate : What skills and experience are required?
The working environment : In which department will the candidate be working?
The project : Why is this role being created, or why is the club recruiting?
Terms and conditions : Location, type of contract, working hours and other useful information.
A good job offer enables the candidate to quickly determine whether the opportunity is in line with their career plans.
Think like a candidate
Before posting a job advert, ask yourself one simple question :
« If I were looking for a job in football, why would I choose our club ? »
If you’re struggling to find the answer, it’s probably because your employer proposition needs further development.
You should also ask your staff why they joined the club and what they appreciate about their working environment.
Their answers can provide an excellent basis for developing your employer brand.
Employer branding is becoming a real advantage
In football, a club’s sporting reputation is important. But it is not necessarily enough to attract the best staff.
A professional working in communications, marketing, finance, data or human resources may have several opportunities.
They will also choose their future employer based on:
the environment ;
culture ;
the values ;
the project ;
responsibilities ;
the outlook.
The employer brand therefore becomes a genuine recruitment tool.
Why set up a careers section ?
A careers section brings all this information together in one place.
Here, candidates can find:
the club’s identity ;
its history ;
its values ;
its teams ;
its environment ;
its business areas ;
its job vacancies ;
the application process.
The careers site thus becomes much more than just a page of job adverts: it is the club’s HR showcase.
WorkinFoot supports clubs with their recruitment
At WorkinFoot, we firmly believe that clubs should be able to present their career opportunities just as easily as they present their sporting ambitions.
The platform enables clubs to showcase their identity, career opportunities and working environment, whilst making it easier to connect with candidates specialising in the football industry.
The aim is simple: it’s no longer just about posting a job vacancy, but about making people want to join the club.
Good recruitment begins even before the application stage
Attracting the right talent does not depend solely on the number of people who see a job advert.
It also depends on the club’s ability to explain who it is, where it is heading, and why a professional would want to be part of this adventure.
In an increasingly professionalised world of football, clubs must now approach recruitment as a genuine strategy to attract talent.
Your club has a project. Let the talented people who could help bring it to life know about it.