Everyone remembers scoring their first goal. You charge downfield, sneak past the defenders, and launch the ball. It soars past the goalie into the net. You’re hooked. Soccer becomes your life, and now you’re determined to find soccer jobs to start a fulfilling career.

Finding career opportunities in your favorite sport is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. There are so many paths to go down, and you want to find an employer who aligns with your values.

If you’re looking for soccer jobs, now is the perfect time. It’s the most popular sport in the world, and it’s also one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S.

As the biggest major professional sports league in the U.S., Major League Soccer (MLS) is the perfect place for soccer fans to find a fulfilling career.

Let’s take a look at why MLS is perfect for you and how you can score soccer jobs:

Why MLS

Major League Soccer is well-respected as a top employer in North America for soccer enthusiasts. According to their Glassdoor company page, 88 percent of employees approve of the CEO. What’s more, 75 percent of employees would recommend working there.

Among the positive employee reviews, many people highlight why they love MLS as their employer. They enjoy the free soccer swag, the company’s focus on recognition, and the number of growth opportunities.

More importantly, employees play an active role in the current movement that is bringing soccer to North America. In a few years, when soccer becomes a staple in major sports in the U.S. and Canada, you can proudly say you were involved.

In other words, you aren’t just working at soccer jobs; you’re initiating a change in North American culture and uniting people through soccer.

Corporate Responsibility

Another cool aspect of MLS is their involvement in bettering their communities. Employees and athletes alike participate in various aspects of their corporate social responsibility programs.

Their community outreach program, known as MLS WORKS, addresses important social issues and improves communities through campaigns that focus on several areas, like cancer research and treatment, health and wellness, and anti-discrimination community service. For example, they partnered with ESPN and Special Olympics to promote social inclusion and unity.

The Greener Goals strategy raises awareness about environmental issues and aims to reduce the league’s carbon footprint. During Earth Week, they hosted a Week of Service, where athletes and employees donated their time to eco-friendly initiatives.

To bolster urban communities, MLS works with grassroots partners, like America Scores, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, and Soccer Association for Youth. Their campaigns empower urban youth through soccer, writing, creative expression, and service learning.

Where to Work

Given the size of the organization, you have plenty of soccer jobs to search for. For example, you can find soccer jobs with your favorite team. If you want to work for the league office, Soccer United Marketing (SUM) and MLS offer several great career opportunities.

Also, the National Sales Center (NSC) is a great place to work within MLS. As an NSC employee, you play a major role in boosting the sales performance for the league, which helps the league grow and connects more fans with the teams they love.

Their Twitter feed shows a fun workplace culture, where employees host fun games, like sales contests and ‘captain for the week.’ NSC employees also enjoy extensive training to learn the best practices for selling ticketing products for each club and learn how to think on their feet through improv classes.

How to Get Soccer Jobs

In a competitive field like sports, earning job offers can be difficult. The best way to rise above the competition is to show your passion for sports and get creative.

Related Jobs

Our research found that 58 percent of employers prefer creative resumes. These are far more memorable than the typical boilerplate resumes employers receive.

Think about how you can showcase your skills in a fun, unique way. For example, if you’re applying for a graphic designer position with your favorite soccer team, create your resume in the form of a game ticket. Mimic the design of a standard ticket, and add your experience and skills to it. Print it on the same type of paper tickets are printed on, then mail it to the organization.

Another great way to stand out is by getting active in the soccer world. Our research also found that employers prefer to see candidates who join professional organizations, comment on industry discussion boards, and share industry content on social media.

As you look for soccer jobs, focus on expanding your network by joining memberships relevant to your career and attending networking events. Also, build your network online by actively engaging in professional discussions through soccer and sports business forums.

MLS gives soccer fans a great opportunity to find meaningful work and manage a sustainable, successful career in something they love. As the league grows in popularity, competition to join the league intensifies. Now is the perfect time to score soccer jobs with MLS.

Sign up for a premium membership today to get access to our selection of sports jobs, which includes opportunities with MLS and other soccer employers.