November 24th, 2008 
Journo A couple of months ago I wrote a post for “The NASCAR Life” series talking about the off season. The trials, the tribulations and the plain hard work that continues past the final race of the season.
Since then of course things have changed quite dramatically. The economy is in the worst shape it has been in in decades and NASCAR has put a moratorium on testing for facilities where the big five race. Last week saw some large scale layoffs at just about every team in the sport.
So with that I thought it would be a good time to re-post the original, and elaborate on the most prominent issue this off-season. That is the job search.
In this business when you are out of work, the first most important thing to do is to let people know you are available. If they know you’re looking, and you are good at what you do, there is a chance they will call you. Just as important is to begin calling anybody and everybody you know in the business. As I have said what feels like a million times, is it’s not what you know, but who you know. If you have a well connected friend and there is an opening, chances are they will be able to at least get you in the door.
Now this off-season is going to feature a particularly brutal job market. For those that know what they are doing and have a good reputation, finding a job will not be too difficult (they may have to take a pay cut though).
But there are definitely going to be people who have an exceptionally hard time finding a job. Many of the positions that were elimanated across the board were jobs that had become very redundant. For these individuals locating a similar position is going to be next to impossible.
Likewise these people are going to have to seriously consider hefty paycuts and jobs in lower series (even those teams though are struggling). I know many small teams in lower series that are in good shape that are being inundated by resumes from those laid off in the Cup Series.
Whatever the case, this is a bad time to be without employment in this sport, or anywhere for that matter. I wish everyone who is without a job right now the best of luck.
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So you have finally gotten done with the race at Homestead and the banquet is behind you. Nine months of constant travel and 50 hour weeks have come to an end and a three month vacation is headed your way. Think again! The work for your next season is just beginning and it is a long road to Daytona at the end of February. From testing to media, professional sport’s longest season really never comes to an end.
From the hauler drivers to the mechanics testing is a way of life for the guys who make the cars go and get them where they need to be. In the off season this is even more the case as teams take new innovations and mechanical improvements and fine tune them for their regular season programs. These test sessions occur all over the country at NASCAR sanctioned (and unsanctioned) tracks and at wind tunnels from Mooresville to Detroit. The schedule is about as hectic and busy as the regular season.
Back in the shop, everyone is working to turn over cars for the next season. Whether it is a new paint scheme or new body style the teams must be ready to change with their manufacturers and sponsors. This can be as little as removing some decals or as extreme as completely rebuilding the fleet. This was of course the case with the Car of Tomorrow (or Today). While they did have a chance last season to begin building the new cars, the off season was the time to complete the switch.
For the front office, the neverending season un-ravels work from the previous season, starting the cycle all over again. Drivers are paraded in front of sponsors and taken to appearances all around the country. Media professionals pitch stories, setting the tone for the next season and putting into place the story lines that will dominate the preseason. New merchandise is designed and approved and the old stuff is sold off at severely discounted prices.
Those in the market for a new job in the sport make their transitions this time of year. This team personnel silly season occurs every year as better positions become available and teams move people around. While this is not to say moves do not occur during the season, the largest migrations go down when the season has come to an end.
Despite the NASCAR season only running from February to November, it truly never comes to an end. While the offseason means more time at home, it does not mean there is less work to do, or to be done. These multi-million dollar organizations require constant upkeep, without which they would not be able to run or be competitive. For the men and women that keep this sport going, the job never has an off season.
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“In this business when you are out of work, the first most important thing to do is to let people know you are available. If they know you’re looking, and you are good at what you do, there is a chance they will call you. Just as important is to begin calling anybody and everybody you know in the business.”
How prevalent is the use of social networking like Facebook and LinkedIn in NASCAR circles? If I had to find a new job in my industry, that’s the first sites I would hit. A simple status update let’s a lot of people who should know know that I’m available. Of course it needs to be followed up with resumes, emails, phone calls etc. But does that initial step work in NASCAR?
Great point. TC could probably speak to this a little better than I could, but many people within the sport use social networking sites. I definitely know of guys updating their status’ to alert their friends they are out of job, or are looking.
It really is another great tool for letting the world know where you stand.