Bass Fishing Resumes!

Hello…as a New Year’s resolution I have come to the decision to make an attempt to acquire new sponsors by creating a fishing resume. I am currently sponsored by two companies, All Star Graphite Rods and Tournament Force Tackle Systems (tfbass.com). I would realy like to pick up one or two more sponsors for the upcoming tournament season. I am a fulltime student and part time employee. With the start of BFL only months away (not soon enough), I would find it very relieving knowing that I could possibly be receiving some financial aide.

If anyone has any tips, tricks, guidelines, examples or any other information that would help guide me in the right direction for writing fishing resumes, I would GREATLY appreciate it.

Thanks,
Dustin Smith

check pm

Quote:

---

I would find it very relieving knowing that I could possibly be receiving some financial aide.

---

Hey Jer…I could use some too…(but not for fishing…well..maybe!) I’ll be watching my PM’s!

Check your PM Slop.

If you end up landing any more sponsors please let me know what the secrets are. I have a great resume and a lot to offer but find the whole sponsorship ventures to be the hardest thing I have ever done year after year. The wind has been taken from my sail in every way possible. Its so emotionaly straining that I almost dont think its worth the effort and I have a resume that should do my speeking for me. I had to respond because you are rite, its not that far away and the more resumes you have spread out there the better chance you have to get lucky on one.

gs

One thing to keep in mind is, to most of the companies how well you fish is secondary. The more important thing is how well can you sell or promote their products. The companies need returns on their investments. No one will throw stuff at you just because you win.

I read a quote somewhere that stuck with me. It simply said” Anyone can catch fish and win tournaments but it takes someone special to sell my products.”

So before you approach someone be sure you are familiar with them and sure you can help them. They see so many fishermen with their hand out that it is easy for them to say know. I hear very often, from comapnies I work with, that they are very tired of getting call from an angler who seems to feel that they are owed a sponsorship just because they have won some tournaments.

Quite frankly, unless you like working shows, public speaking and being a salesmen it is probably not worth the effort.

Ken, you make it sound like applying for a job…and I guess it is!

I’m in HR…staffing more specificly. I’m amazed at the responses that I get when I ask two of my questions of candidates.

1. What position are you looking for? Most respond with anything you have open. To impress me (and others I’m sure) you have to have done your home work. Know the product and much as possible. THAT is one of the easiest things you can do to set yourself apart from the hundreds of people that want …in this case a job.

2. Why do you want to work for OUR company? After they stumble a bit…I ask them if they have ever heard of our company before…Most have not…but know our brands…. the candidates that REALLY want a job with US…..know who we are and what we do…before they talk with me.
I’m not saying that the answers to those two questions lands them a job…but in the case of a sponsership…. I would bet that you will have the edge if you

Fish and win (maybe just fish)
Know the company and it’s goals (check out the “about us” on their website.
Know the products inside and out…when to use them and when not to use them. You better have this “canned speach” ready…if you have to think about it…your toast.

Once last thought…(from my experiance) Don’t just submit your resume online…fax it in or mail it in!
Find out the person that makes the decisions name, then go in to see him…ask for the interview to sell yourself…be slightly pushy with a smile on your face…if not today…this afternoon…tonight?
Sometimes because of distance a phone call will have to do…that’s a hard sell but having pictures of you with their product…could help.

Anyway…I had a great night of fishing and just got a case of motor mouth…

OH GEEZZ! One more thing…tailor make your resume for each employer or sponser…I hate cover letters that have a companies name scratched out and mine in it’s place…Or better yet…(I think these are funny)

OBJECTIVE: Computer programmer

Sir, are you applying for a HR position if you really want to be a programmer? ??

Brian, excellent post!
I finished getting two certifications in Management and HR this past October by http://www.amanet.org/index.htm
thru a local community college business development center.
I needed to learn some things about starting my own company.

Anyway, I agree that generic resumes will not portray a candidate
as the best fit for a position.
And that is the function of HR, Find the best fit.

I also agree on using google before hand.
Not only do you want to convince them that you are the best fit for them,
but also evaluate if the company is right for you.
Google the company name, officers names, industry keywords and issues.
Formulate several questions to ask the interviewers.
This way you will come across as interested and knowlegable.

And if something doesn’t feel right for you,
have the courage to resolve those feelings or
politely decline any offers.
Like for me, I would never work for Donanld Trump.
Our personalities just would not mesh at all
(from what I’ve seen on the apprentice).

I just wanted to throw my two pesos in here.
Hopefully it helps.

I would suggest, if you are looking for some sort of money sponsorship, look outside the fishing industry. All fishing related companies get bombarded every year with “pro’s” looking for some sort of sponsorship. Endemnic sponsorship is the hardest money there is to get. Only the oldest and most established pro’s ever recieve any money. The basic idea is that these manufacturers would rather give 500 fishermen $100 in product, or discounts on products, and have them covering the country saying they are “sponsored” than to give $50,000 cash to 1 or 2 ectablished “pro’s” and have them out on the trail.

If you really want a good shot at some money as a sponsorship, go outside the fishing industry, a non-endemnic sponsor. Those people who’s products we all use when we fish, but that aren’t just fishing related.

In todays world, fishing as a pro, is not much more than a stepping stone to a career in marketing.

Good Luck!

How about doing it the old fasion way… Do well on your own and eventually someone will come knocking… Do great and the whole world wants a piece of you. Get to the classic or win a couple bfl’s or one everstart and you will have what you are looking for. The funny thing about this method is that it will mean more and give you motivation along the way.
jc

The only problem with that scenario is the contract!

I’m not a bass man, but I do have considerable experience on the walleye side of this game. Big wins are good, but short lived. If a man goes out and wins a big tourney, he had better have some contract clauses pre-set in his agreement with his sponsors, or his market value in regards to what he is worth on the open market is pretty much nothing except to maybe get a couple more product sponsors. Most of your name pro’s have it clearly written what they are to be paid if they reach certain goals during a season, and with each and every one of their sponsors. With the right foresight and contract, a pro can make many thousands of dollars with a good season just on his contract clauses, but without those already in place before the season, he doesn’t have much of anything. The sponsors have use of his name and all that entales, without any obligation to the angler outside of what the angler accepted at the start of the season.

Its a vicious game, but that is the nature of the beast.

I’ll agree with JLDIII on the non-fishing sponsors. Last year was my first year with my own boat and I was able to land about 8 or so local businesses for about 50-100 bucks a piece. I made decals for my truck and also had a shirt made with the sponsors on it. It wasn’t a lot of money, but it sure helped a lot becasue all my entry fees for the year were covered. You don’t have to be Kevin Van Dam to land most businesses becasuse all you are doing is simple advertising by displaying their name. Then at the end of the year I wrote a little letter with my highlights of the year and stressed how appreciative I was with their help so that this spring when I ask again I hopefully get the same response. Thats all I can really offer if you are just looking for monetary help.

Good luck,

Brad

Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate it. I included in this post a ROUGH copy of my resume, let me know what you think.

Dustin

I think this is very informative and very well written but, I also think it is way to long. It has to be a quick read and one-page is best two at the absolute max. I think it should be more like an outline than and article.

I think the fishing info is good but you should highlight your marketing abilities 60-70% and the rest is fishing info.

Also, as a side bar. I’m not sure if your school has a fishing club as do several of the Big 10 schools. If so I’d like to make you familiar with the CAST program from American Bass Anglers. This is for college students to fish our tournaments for free and compete for scholarships. I know money is tight when you are in school so this makes tournament fishing a little easier.

If you want to see the details here is the web page . If you have any questions giveme a call (319)721-0152. I think the closest tournament to you would be just south of Chicago or out on the Mississippi River with me.

Ken…thanks for the info. I changed all my fishing information to a bulleted list rather than paragraphs, it cut my resume down to just under two pages. Let me know what you think!

I have checked into the CAST program. My school isn’t part of it but was told that if I found enough partipants it would qualify…but due to fishing all the 2005 BFL’s Great Lake Division, I am just not going to have time even if it did.

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it

Dustin Smith

Dustin, I hope you don’t mind but I took some liberty with changes I’d suggest. I’m sure some you’ll like some you won’t but remember it is only suggestions. I’ll send it to in a seperate email.