The Insider's Lounge
The Insider's Lounge
Ethan Reilly - The Secret Playbook to Landing Your DREAM Job in Sports (S2 E23)
In this episode of The Insider’s Lounge, we sit down with Ethan Reilly, Senior Account Executive at Octagon, one of the world's top sports and entertainment agencies. Beyond his role, Ethan creates sports business content, helping others navigate the process of breaking into the industry and excelling. He has built his career by combining strategic networking, content creation, and hands-on experience, and today, he shares the exact steps to land your DREAM job in sports.
We kick things off with Ethan’s journey into the industry, breaking down how he got his start and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. From there, he drops must-know advice for high school and college students who want to break into sports—whether through internships, volunteer work, or simply making the right connections.
Next, we dive into one of the biggest game-changers in career-building: How to land coffee chats and Zoom calls with industry leaders. Ethan explains how to stand out on LinkedIn, craft the perfect cold message, and make genuine connections that lead to real opportunities.
For students and young professionals, we explore how to maximize college for career success—from choosing the right courses to leveraging campus resources—and answer the big question: Is college even worth it?
Then, we shift to resumes and job hunting, uncovering what actually makes a resume pop and how to navigate career detours when things don’t go as planned. Ethan also reveals what it really takes to succeed in your first six months on the job, including the common mistakes most newcomers make.
Finally, we explore the power of content creation as a tool for networking and personal branding—why it’s more important than ever and how anyone can use it to build credibility, even with no prior experience.
Ethan's Instagram: www.instagram.com/ethan_talks_sport/
Ethan's TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ethan_talks_sport
🎙️ More Insider's Lounge Content: https://linktr.ee/theinsiderslounge
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:30 Ethan’s Journey to Working in the Sports Industry
03:44 Advice for High Schoolers Wanting a Career in Sports
09:06 How to Land Coffee Chats & Zoom Calls with Industry Leaders
13:59 Maximizing College for Career Success
18:22 Networking & Overcoming Social Anxiety
23:55 Is College Even Worth It?
29:43 Building a Standout Resume
33:06 Dream Job Detours: Navigating the Job Hunt & Breakthroughs
38:11 Making an Impact in Your First 6 Months on the Job
44:38 Building Your Brand Through Content Creation
50:41 Quick Fire Round
53:55 Outro
