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108
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3/8/2014
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I have been popping in and out of this forum since I was about 12 years old and now I am getting close to graduating college and starting my life in the real world. My question is, what can I do to land a job in the motocross space?
I currently have five semesters left at the University of Utah and I am studying business, specifically Finance and Operations/Supply Chain Management. Does anyone have recommendations on what to study or where to find an applicable internship?
This is a shot in the dark, but I do not even know where to start. This sport is my passion and I would be happy being able to have a career in this rad industry.
I currently have five semesters left at the University of Utah and I am studying business, specifically Finance and Operations/Supply Chain Management. Does anyone have recommendations on what to study or where to find an applicable internship?
This is a shot in the dark, but I do not even know where to start. This sport is my passion and I would be happy being able to have a career in this rad industry.
I guess I graduate in while, my apologies.
If I were to take that gamble, first company in the industry id try to work for is WPS..
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Go give seminars to the political geniuses in DC!
All that said, I have no regrets. I think that if I passed on the opportunity, I’d always day dream that “damn, it’d be so cool to work in the industry” when now I know that it’s still just a job, and it really wasn’t so great.
Maybe you need to get it out of your system, too, and right after college is certainly the best time. Just know what you’re in for and enjoy the ride… best of luck wherever you end up OP.
I guess the first question you need to ask yourself is what you want to do when you grow up, then start working toward that goal. I graduated with a MIS degree but quickly realized that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I’ve been in marketing and sales in the Powersports industry for 20 years now. No matter what you decide to do in your career, that degree that you’ll be holding soon will certainly help open doors for you, even in our industry.
Do what you love, do it well, and money will follow.
Remember this, money doesn’t equate happiness.
I don't know why everyone thinks you don't make any money in this industry. Sure if you stay at the floor sweeper level you'll always be broke, but have some drive and work your way up and there are a ton of people making great money and doing what they love.
Anyways, let me sum up 90% of the responses you will get on here from people living in regret- Working in the MX industry is awful, they don’t pay shit, you will work 24/7, it’ll ruin your love of MX..etc..etc..
Your better alternative is to work for a company that makes toilets or faucets…
Pit Row
Part of my job is riding sweep at the GNCCs so I’m literally on a bike for around 10 hours per weekend, and this is after riding a utility quad around the whole week leading up to the event setting up the course. I also tool around the infield of Loretta’s or several Pro Motocross events on either a dual sport, pit bike or quad taking care of various things, and still enjoy actually riding for fun.
So, while it does suck the fun out for some people not every single person who goes to work in the motorcycle industry ends up hating it, not making money or not wanting to ride anymore. I’m not over here getting rich but I keep the bills paid, have some nice things to show for it, and can say I enjoy my job (even at Ironman last weekend when it poured down the rain!) There’s nothing I’d rather do, and even with working almost 30 events this year, I was still at home the weekends of Millville and Washougal watching those races on TV and wishing I was there.
There’s a few good pieces of advice here. The key is definitely making connections and putting not just your name, but your face out there. It really all depends on what direction you want to go in the industry. While it is a small industry there’s a lot of different areas whether it be working with an OEM, distributor, aftermarket company, retailer, media, promoter, or whatever, there’s actually a pretty vast array of directions to take. You’re in a good position that what you’re studying can apply to a lot of different things, so I guess you have to ask yourself which direction you’d want to go and just start trying to make connections there. Phone calls and emails are your friend!
As others have said, working in a shop is maybe the best way, unless you know someone. That's what I did and it opened up a lot of opportunities, particularly as a rep which is certainly better than working! But remember in the moto industry as in life, its about who you know not what you know and this goes 3x for motocross.
If I were in your shoes I would be learning how to code and preferably something blockchain related. That will allow you to ride way more than working in the motorcycle industry ever will and absolutely make more money. Remember that salaries are less in the sports world because everyone is doing it due to passion and they can get away with paying you less. Also remember that you will likely have to work at least some weekends if you end up in mx, which again will take away from your own riding time.
Anyway, don't stress too much about it, as others pointed out, you are way ahead of the game if you are already thinking about this stuff. You have a lifetime to work, but how long can you really aggressively ride a motocross bike? Use your youth to pursue your passions, not doing so is what most regret later in life.
You will severely limit your professional opportunities and income potential if you focus on the MX industry, and I mean severely.
Get a ‘real gig’, make some $… expand your horizons. There is so much innovation happening in the world today, take advantage of this and find a wave to ride.
Maybe after a few years of real world experience you could start a side gig that is MX related - look at the world of fin tech and find a nitch. Stay in the sport this way,
Moto has been in my life for 50 years…high tech has been my career for ~40 years. Moto in no way could have given my the experiences and rewards that tech has.
My show is called The Dirt Buzz, and you can find a complete list of episodes here:
https://dirtbuzz.buzzsprout.com/
I started working at a dealer when I was young, dabbling at getting a degree that I never finished, (well, I got a 2 year).
The worst advice I ever followed was to leave the industry, if I was an enthusiast and wanted to remain so. I tried my hand at many different things that I just wasn't passionate about. I made good money in the food and beverage industry but was never really happy, and always stressed out.
Six years ago, at 50, I went back to dealership life. I make a third of what I did, but I don't deal with late nights, drunks, and hating going to work. Now, I'm surrounded by things and people that I enjoy.
Money isn't everything. Take that for what it's worth.
Get a financial or a business degree , invest in real state and passive income as you much as you can so you dont have to work. The sooner you start the faster this will happen
I’m 25 now, and just recently got out of the MX industry.
All I thought was that it would be my dream and I would never be unhappy and always be fulfilled.
I was very wrong. I wasn’t making enough money to support myself and my hobbies, nor did I have the time to.
On the weekends when there were big races and just small events in general that I wanted to go to, I had to work at them. Let me tell you, it absolutely sucks when you’re working and all you want to do I ride your dirtbike, but you can’t, and literally everyone around you is. Not for me.
I realized I would rather make more money, exceed farther in a career, and have more free time to actually ride my dirtbike in the first place.
To be honest, I’m glad I did it though, because if I hadn’t, I would’ve never realized what was on the other side. Now I know, and can be happy working my normal job and riding on the weekends. And can actually enjoy the sport.
Working in the industry will suck the passion for it right out of you. You get to a point where you’re just completely over it. I remember thinking “fuck this….I’ll go make more money and ride my dirtbike more. I’m over it.”
Anyways that’s my advice. I would see people on here saying the same thing all the time though and I always thought they were just negative people and stuff. Nope, they were right.
I wish you the best with what you choose though. If you REALLY want to do it though, make sure you do it right out of college or in the early part of your 20s, that way if you don’t like it, you can leave and still have PLENTY of time to succeed in something else. You’re young so don’t sweat it. Try things. Fail. Succeed. Build. Be happy. Ride your dirtbike. You only get one shot.
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