iWorkinSport, the first truly international job fair dedicated to careers in sport, celebrated the fifth edition of its annual Job Fair last Friday, at the SwissTech Convention Center, in Lausanne, Switzerland.
After a return to an in-person format in 2022, the 2023 edition of the iWorkinSport Job Fair once again fostered invaluable connections between recruiters and job seekers. Dedicated to revolutionizing the way sports professionals find their dream jobs, iWorkinSport attracted hundreds of ambitious candidates who seized the opportunity to engage in impactful job interviews with esteemed sports organizations from around the world.
While the event showcased Switzerland-based international sports organizations, which constituted 50% of the recruiters, the other half of exhibitors and recruiting companies hailed from abroad. Recruiters from countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Monaco and Egypt converged to seek out exceptional talent.
The 2023 job fair featured an extensive lineup of renowned companies actively seeking to fill dozens of positions. Athletics Integrity Unity, CAF - the African Football Confederation, Elevate Staffing, ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), FEI - the International Equestrian Federation, FIBA, Infront Sports & Media, the International Olympic Committee, Lausanne City Football Club, On Location, Soccerex, Sports Business Talent, TEAM Marketing, ThinkSport, UEFA and the UEFA EURO 2024 were among the esteemed organizations seeking talent.
In addition to facilitating connections between candidates and recruiters, the job fair also boasted a top-quality conference program. Attendees were treated to company presentations and enlightening panels featuring seasoned professionals who generously shared their expertise, aiding candidates in their pursuit of fulfilling their goals. The conference reached its crescendo with a captivating keynote speech by FIFA's Gianluca Famigli, who presented “the 7Ps that will help you get your dream job”, leaving the audience inspired and motivated.
The event's activities extended beyond the job fair itself, with a pre-event workshop exclusively designed for recruiters and academic partners. HR and Talent Acquisition professionals engaged in fruitful discussions about the challenges, needs and trends that sports organizations are currently going through in order to attract and retain talent. This was followed by a VIP dinner and the highly anticipated 2nd edition of The Most Attractive Employers in Sport Awards. The prestigious evening took place against the backdrop of the stunning Olympic Museum, offering panoramic views of Lake Geneva.
This year, the job fair was supported by an impressive lineup of academic partners including AISTS, Johan Cruyff Institute, FIFA Master, University of Liverpool, Escuela Universitária Real Madrid – Universidad Europea, Columbia SPS, and London Business School. Their collaboration underscored iWorkinSport's commitment to nurturing the future generation of sports professionals and providing a comprehensive platform for career growth.
The iWorkinSport Job Fair is organized by ENGAGE Sports & Entertainment SA, a Swiss-based events company, with the support of the International Centre for Sport Studies – CIES (Gold Partner) and ThinkSport. Grace Blue Partnership was the Recruiters’ Workshop Presenter and SportCarrière and Sport Business Talent were the event’s recruitment partner.
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CONFERENCE AGENDA
9.30 – 10.00: Opening Speech by Joao Frigerio, Founder of iWorkinSport
10.00 – 10.30: (PANEL) Industry Trends: what sports organisations are looking for
Panellists:
• Didier Rossi, Global Head of Human Resources at FIBA
• Natacha Schauenburg, Vice President of People at Infront Sports & Media
• Robert Wispelweij, Director Workforce Operations at On Location
Moderator: Tim Palmer, Managing Partner - Sports, Media & Entertainment at Grace Blue Partnership
10.30 – 11.00: (PANEL) Get a job in sport! Practical tips and advice from experts
Panellists:
• Kathrine Mastrup, HR Business Partner at ESL FACEIT Group - EFG
• Rodolphe Fourgeot, Consultant Sport & Entertainment at SportCarrière
• Raoul Tondini, Head of People & Culture at European Club Association - ECA
Moderator: Eric Amstein, Career Coach and Consultant
11.00 – 11.15: Company presentation: FIBA
11.15 – 11.30: Company presentation: Infront Sports & Media
11.30 – 11.45: Company presentation: SPORTFIVE
11.45 – 12.00: Company presentation: UEFA
12.00 – 13.30: LUNCH BREAK
13.30 – 14.00: Company presentation: FIFA
14.00 – 14.30: Company presentation: On Location & Elevate
14.30 – 14.45: Company presentation: ESL FACEIT Group - EFG
14.45 – 15.00: Company presentation: Liga Portugal & Thinking Football Summit
15.20 – 16.00: COFFEE BREAK
16.00 – 16.30: Keynote speech by Gianluca Famigli, FIFA