Cédric Bastos is Director Talent Acquisition HQ at adidas, one of the most recognised sports brands in the world. The company was named one of the Most Attractive Employers in Sport by a report recently published by iWorkinSport. This is one of five interviews with top recruiters in the industry featured in the publication.
The study surveyed more than 1,600 people from 83 countries representing all continents, with the majority already working in sport, and asked them a simple question: “If you could choose to work anywhere in sport, where would that be?” At first, the respondents chose organisations divided into ten categories and, at the end, they indicated one single preferred choice, overall – the “Employer of their Dreams”.
The publication features rankings of the most attractive employers in sport divided in the following categories: Football Clubs, Sports Teams (other than Football), Sports Teams in the USA, Sports Leagues, Sports Governing Bodies, Event Organisers, Sports Marketing Agencies, Sponsors, Sporting Goods Companies and Sports Tech.
Additionally, the report presents the aspects that candidates rate as most important when deciding where they would like to work.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT HERE.
Interview with Cédric Bastos is Director Talent Acquisition HQ at adidas
What roles are most in demand at Adidas today?
Our company operates a lot in retail, with half of our workforce in retail—around 30,000 employees. For headquarters, creative talents like designers, product managers, and brand communication professionals are in high demand. We also look for niche profiles in legal and finance, which can be more challenging to recruit for. But overall, creative profiles are the focus areas with the biggest volume. Tech and digital capabilities are growing. This includes both social media and improving the digital experience for our consumers on our digital channels, as well as integrating digital into our stores. We also look for tech talents to develop these areas, but creative talents remain crucial for our brand's differentiation.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start working in sports but doesn't know where to begin?
Be open and ask yourself why you want to be in the industry. Research the options available and understand how your skills and experience can contribute to the industry. Create a match between your profile and the opportunities available through your CV, cover letter, and interview.
How do you view candidates who apply for multiple roles within the same company?
It depends. Applying for roles that have no link to each other can be a negative. Candidates should make choices and apply for roles that bring synergies to their profile. Applying to multiple roles is not necessarily bad as long as it makes sense and matches your profile.
What should one do to ace an interview with you?
Second, be yourself. Be authentic. An interview is a stressful situation, but we want to see the real person behind the profile. Show your values and what you stand for.