Advancing your career in athletics administration.(National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators )

Athletics administration doesn't have to be an old boys' network anymore. These days, moving into prime roles isn't about who you know--it's also become about what you know.

That's the belief of Andi Seger, a consultant at Alden & Associates, a national executive recruiting firm that specializes in sports administration. She is emeritus director of athletics at Ball State University IN, where she served for 27 years, including 12 as senior woman administrator and seven as AD.

Emphasizing that resumes, work experience and strategic networking are what women need to advance in sports administration, she addressed a packed room at the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) conference in Sacramento in October.

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Taking stock

The first step, said Seger, is to perform an honest self-assessment. Ask yourself, what makes you tick? What makes you happy? What are your goals? Where do you see yourself in two, five, or 10 years? What makes you thrive professionally? Are you happiest leading or managing?

This introspection will help you to determine what you want from a job, helping you to form job criteria so that you aren't just guessing whether or not a job would be a good fit.