NEW YORK (March 1, 2024) — Following the conclusion of the 2024 WIS Career Fair, presented by Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League, Women In Soccer is proud to share record-setting numbers and celebrated feedback from the event. The WIS Career Fair, which included coach-specific recruiting on Feb. 2 and 8 - the first time the sessions were offered - and industry-wide recruiting on Feb. 12 and 13, saw, in total, nearly 800 participants, shattering the organization's previous record of 490 in 2023.
“We’re so proud of the results and feedback we received from this year’s Women in Soccer Career Fair,” said Pip Penman, Women in Soccer’s co-founder and ED of content and marketing. “We’re ecstatic that our organization is able to provide a platform to encourage and empower so many women and marginalized individuals to find their place in the game. Equity in the soccer industry will only improve when more diverse voices shape it!”
The WIS Career Fair is designed to connect potential candidates for the soccer industry directly with recruiters and hiring managers in some of the game’s top organizations. Using Remo’s virtual event management platform, candidates were able to meet face-to-face with multiple hiring managers during each Career Fair session, moving from virtual table-to-table.
As one participant explained: “I liked the variety of topics plus the ease of moving around during breakout sessions - I felt the platform was really great and much better than other virtual events I've attended. As someone looking to make the transition from men's to women's soccer, every connection is valuable.“
This year’s Career Fair featured 52 total recruiting organizations, such as MLS’ NYCFC and New England Revolution, the NWSL’s NJ/NY Gotham FC and Bay FC, and non-profits like Soccer Without Borders.
Additionally, the events also included panels and educational opportunities with 48 expert speakers providing insight on topics such as “Kicking off a Career in Activism,” “Confidence Training Camp,” “Scoring Equitable Hires,” and “Creating a Career in Content.”
“The talks were so valuable. I loved the session about confidence and the opportunity to connect with other amazing women, not just for looking for a position, but also for networking. This was a meaningful experience for me and I can’t wait to have a second chance to participate in this kind of initiative,” said another attendee.
“I really enjoyed the panels focused on finding your voice in the sports world and uplifting underrepresented communities! There were so many moments of solidarity and I'm grateful I got to meet and listen to so many great leaders. I also really appreciated the open networking/recruiting event and the initiative that recruiters/club reps took. Their openness and accessibility was really cool to see, and I feel like it demystifies the places I apply to,” explained another.
Following the four-virtual sessions, an in-person event was held at WIS’ Tribeca-based headquarters for those local to the NYC market. A photo from that event can be found here.