#20: Carlo Kasparian (FFA) - How One Volunteer Position Can Launch Your Career

Introducing Carlo Kasparian – GM of Digital Marketing and Content at Football Federation Australia!

Carlo – a Bachelor of Business and Marketing Graduate at Western Sydney University - has combined his passions for football and storytelling with his experience in agency and client marketing to land his dream job in the world of sports digital.

At age 29, Carlo packed his bags and temporarily moved his life to London. In this episode we discover the tactical change of approach Carlo took (after constant knock-backs) to land his ‘eye-opening’ volunteer position at the Chelsea Football Club Foundation and how you can leverage your own work experience and connections to launch your career.

Carlo reveals to the SportsGrad Podcast the benefits of moving ‘in-house’ to access internal job opportunities, why it may already be too late for you once a job is advertised, and how you can build your network to unlock the hidden job market.

We even get an incredible insight into the scenario-driven interview process at the FFA and discuss why the success of an interview is driven by how well you can turn it into a conversation!

In this episode you will learn:

-      The benefits of working for both a client and agency – and why having “empathy for both stakeholders makes you a far better member of any team.” (7:25)

-      The scenario-driven questions in Carlo’s FFA interview and why it’s “okay to say you don’t know the answer.” (29:30)

-      Tips for students to gain opportunities during Covid-19 and the fundamental skills you should be improving right now. (48:36)

-      The qualities Carlo sees in the best volunteers that come through the FFA. (51:30)

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