Jr. Pro Staff?

[basspro96]

Anyone know of any companies with a Jr Prostaff...I have been looking for companies that may have a Jr pro staff to get my Resume to....BTW here is my website. It has my Resume and everything on it. Thanks!

Freewebs.com/basspro96

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

You need to be 18 to enter into a legal contract.  Most companies don't want to deal with this.  Sometimes you can get a few freebies but for the most part, they want to see an adult.

One way to get a foot in the door young is to win the Jr's for your state.  Lots of those kids (quite a few are members here) have developed relationships that way.  Even then, it's mostly a "product in exchange for exposure" type of deal, not a pro staff position.

Understand, to work the pro staff, first, you need to be a pro. Second, you need a license so you can drive to work (convention centers, tournies, factory, retail stores, etc.)

That's just the beginning

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Caleb, first and foremost,...congrats on your Beta Club achievement.  That stands out to me more than anything,...KEEP IT UP!!

Secondly, you state you are a tournament fisherman but there are no "tournament results". No history of where you placed in the tournaments.

"about me" could go alot deeper.  Fishing styles, your power techniques, # of tournaments/yr etc.

Being a resume, companies also want to know what's in it for them?  How will you create impressions for them, etc.  Add all that.

[basspro96]

I am still working on my resume. I change the dern thing then I find something else! Lol....Thanks for the tips! I will definantly use them. And  ya I understand that about the pro staff. I guess I really mean like field staff. Or even like the freebie thing.  Thanks!

[packman]

I am way into archery and had 5 sponsors by the timed i turned 14. If the world of bass fishing sponsors is like archery Low_Budget_Hooker is right i just got products in exchange of wining tournaments and advertising for the company. Hope this helps!

[bassattackerdad]

Hey Caleb,

Good job! You've got spunk for a 13 year old. There are a number of companies with Jr. Pro staff. I know that Pure Fishing(Berkely, Abu Garcia, etc.) gives out a lot of gear to youth each year. Perhaps contact their marketing dept. Eagle Claw is also a big supporter of youth. The Director of Pro Staff nat Eagle Claw(Lazer Sharp Hooks, Wright & McGill, etc) is a really nice guy. Remember, all of these companies have yearly budgets for this sort of thing so timing is important. I recommend you go to the Outdoor shows at the Classic & the FLW Cup if you can make it. Talk to manufacturers & suppliers personally. As far as your resume is concerned, take out the part about "hoping they will consider you." Don't look for a handout. They will consider you based on your merits and your character. Tell more about you, what sets you apart, what makes you tick as a fisherman. Everybody puts in the gobbledigook about representing you products, etc., etc. At 13 to be honest, your representation doesn't mean a whole lot. But your desire and passion does, and this is what a manufacturer will see.  Be personal in your resume. These are people you are relating to. Also, put your fishing accomplishments first.

[Tin]

please dont take this the wrong way and understand what im saying. At 13 you really need to spend you time with school and perfecting your craft. there are 3 major thing that companies are looking for, 1. they want to get more out of any deal than what they give out, 2 some one who can promote them, and 3 some one who knows what they are doing and will work har and be successful both on the water and off. i was sitting at the same place your are now about 6 years ago, I desided to work hard in school, get better at fishing by doing it as much as possible. now i am fishing in college, as well as club and local series and the Bassmaster opens this year(by doing this I have picked up some fairly large prostaffs and sponsorships.). if you look at what the pros and college anglers said in the blog I just did for Collegebass.com (it will be up tonight or tomorrow) they would agree with what I said. basically work hard in school. get better at fishing and deal with pro staffs and sponsors later in life.

You got into college and blog for a website with writing skills like that? :-X

Criticize and look at yourself before you give someone else advice dude. I'm not trying to be a d*ck, just saying that if a was a company looking to sponsor someone and read this, I would say your ability to communicate and respond to questions from potential clients is "not what I'm looking for".

[Bassnajr]

please dont take this the wrong way and understand what im saying. At 13 you really need to spend you time with school and perfecting your craft. there are 3 major thing that companies are looking for, 1. they want to get more out of any deal than what they give out, 2 some one who can promote them, and 3 some one who knows what they are doing and will work har and be successful both on the water and off. i was sitting at the same place your are now about 6 years ago, I desided to work hard in school, get better at fishing by doing it as much as possible. now i am fishing in college, as well as club and local series and the Bassmaster opens this year(by doing this I have picked up some fairly large prostaffs and sponsorships.). if you look at what the pros and college anglers said in the blog I just did for Collegebass.com (it will be up tonight or tomorrow) they would agree with what I said. basically work hard in school. get better at fishing and deal with pro staffs and sponsors later in life.

You got into college and blog for a website with writing skills like that? :-X

Criticize and look at yourself before you give someone else advice dude. I'm not trying to be a d*ck, just saying that if a was a company looking to sponsor someone and read this, I would say your ability to communicate and respond to questions from potential clients is "not what I'm looking for".

X2

I must concur with Tin. You'd better hope your "sponsors" don't read this post. Jeeez!!!

AJR :-/

[Bassnajr]

Don't take it personal, of course you should continue to help people, but you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. Taking your time, thinking about what you have to say, and then communicating that message correctly (in many ways, punctuation etc.) is vitally important. A lesson young Caleb should heed.

Also spell-check is a must!!!! 

Peace!!!

AJR

[Tin]

I was trying to help the kid out; I was more concerned with getting the info in than making it look pretty. I have never had any problem with my writing in school or any of my blogs. Plus I thought that the whole point was to help people, when I felt like I needed help I asked for it. I was simply trying to give him some good advice so maybe I just won't next time.

And I specifically said I wasn't trying to be a d*ck. So drop the attitude and learn how to take criticism. I really hope your sponsors are not viewing this.

[wickyman]

Ok, back to the original poster.  You have quite a resume, and you seem to be on the right track.  I am 26, and have been working on sponsorships for a while.  I don't have quite the resume you have, though.  All I can say, is just hone those skills, keep up your grades, and go to college, just as a back up.    Things don't always work out, and some of the best tournament fisherman, are actually business men during the week. 

Everything on your resume is quite impressive though, and you have fished in quite a few tournaments, it looks like.  Turn some of those 2nd and 3rd places into 1st, and in no time, you will be looked at. 

Plus being able to drive, and haul your boat to the water, does help...  haha  But beings that you are 13, you have some time to work on that.  It's good to see younger people trying to get into the industry, no matter where they come from!  Keep it up, kid! 

[basspro96]

Hey guys sorry for not posting on this in a while..Things have been very busy for me lately.. Band concerts...Big projects due, Big tests. I got an email on this post. Now I feel stupid because I didn't know what the guy was talking about. Haha! But in all seriousness you guys have really helped. .Thanks guys! Keep the critiques coming! I need them! Haha!

[Glenn]

I wouldn't let your age get in the way. It's all about marketing and sales, not tournament wins and fishing prowness (although that's a plus).  A friend of mine, Nick Barr, started like out like you, and had a boat sponsorship along with a number of other prostaff positions by time he was 16, and wasn't really that great at tournaments (although he did do well in the Jr. Bassmasters).  But he knew marketing and could write.  He got his mug in the press over and over, built a website, did seminars, etc. etc.  Being young was a bonus, as it set him apart from many others.

It's all about leveraging your age as a unique marketing benefit few others have, and then exploiting it to the max.

Good luck!!

[basspro96]

I have heard about him...I am going to send my Resume into the Strike King Jr pro staff marketing guy.  I am going to talk to a pro or two about it. I am so lucky to know of a website with so many knowledgeable guys! Thanks so much!