Why Getting Into Football After Uni Is So Hard (And What You Can Do About It)

Breaking into the football industry as a graduate can feel like trying to join a match that’s already kicked off without you. You’re qualified, enthusiastic, maybe even obsessed with the game. But when it comes to getting a foot in the door, the system feels… different. And it is.

Here’s why:

1.

No Graduate Schemes

Let’s be honest: football doesn’t do the corporate thing. You won’t find many graduate schemes with clear pathways, paid rotations, or built-in mentorship like in law, finance, or tech. Most clubs don’t have the infrastructure—or incentive—to train up dozens of fresh grads every year. It’s not because they don’t need talent. It’s because they expect it to arrive ready.

So if you’re waiting for a formal programme to develop you, you might be waiting a long time.

2.

Entry-Level Roles Are the Actual Roles

In many industries, entry-level jobs are stepping stones. You assist, shadow, learn on the job. But in football, an “entry-level” job is often the job. Clubs are lean. They hire to solve problems, not to develop potential.

Take roles like player care officer, recruitment analyst, media assistant. These might sound junior, but in many clubs they’re solo or central roles, expected to deliver from day one. That means graduates with no hands-on experience often miss out.

3.

The Industry Rewards Competence, Not Credentials

Football respects results. Whether you’re working in performance, analysis, marketing, or player support, the question is: can you do the job now?

You could have a first-class degree from a top uni. But without coaching badges, scouting hours, edited reels, events managed, articles written—or something real—you’re easy to overlook. That’s why internships, voluntary roles, university societies, and even self-started side projects are often more valuable than academic modules.

4.

It’s Who You Know (and Who Knows You)

Football is tight-knit. Jobs are filled fast—and often quietly. Many never make it to public job boards. Roles are handed to people known inside the club, trusted through existing networks, or recommended by someone already respected in the game.

That doesn’t mean it’s unfair—it means you need to get on the radar. And that requires strategy: showing up, sharing your work, building reputation, and helping before you’re hired.

5.

It’s a Small Industry With Fierce Competition

Despite football being a multi-billion-pound industry, the actual number of jobs per club is small. Most clubs operate with tight staff numbers. And with thousands of graduates dreaming of a career in the game, every open role can attract hundreds of applications.

So you’re not just competing with your peers. You’re competing with ex-players, interns, master’s students, and people already inside the club system looking to move sideways.

But Here’s the Good News: It’s Not Impossible.

The system might be different—but it’s not locked. You don’t need connections at the top. You don’t need to wait for permission. You just need a plan.

At Careers in Football, powered by Career Tactics, we help graduates:

• Understand the real landscape of football careers

• Build standout positioning through smart, hands-on experience

• Create powerful CVs, portfolios, and pitch strategies

• Explore unexpected roles in performance, storytelling, operations, data, player care, and more

We’ve created task books, impact maps, role quizzes, and strategy guides to help you go from passionate outsider to confident professional—step by step.

🔗 Ready to get started?

Visit [insert website] or follow us @CareersInFootball for tips, tasks, and opportunities that actually make a difference.

Because in football—as in life—it’s not about finding the perfect moment.

It’s about creating your breakthrough.