76ers announcer becomes voice of inspiration

By Kristie Kahl

Sitting front row at every venue for your favorite sports team. Flying first class and staying in a five-star hotel for every business trip. Getting paid weekly, even when you don’t go to work everyday. According to the voice of the Philadelphia 76ers, many people can have this, too.
Rider students were motivated by the story and advice of Marc Zumoff, the TV voice for the 76ers for 15 consecutive seasons, when he visited Rider on March 2.
In the industry for 30 years, Zumoff started his career at a radio station in Trenton. He has collected 10 Emmy awards throughout his career as he lives the high life covering and traveling with the Sixers.
Zumoff started off his lecture describing every perk he claims through working so closely with a pro sports team. The moral of his success story — there is a lot to be done in order to achieve your dream job.
He believes that the first step to obtaining the perfect job is through internships because they “present golden opportunities.” He recommends starting with people who have an “in” in the business.
“Be referred by people in the business that you want to break into and that could be anybody — a neighbor, a friend, a relative or your own parents,” he said. “And then go out and take information on the interviews with the people in order to become friendly with them and develop contacts.”
With the economy the way it is these days, Zumoff feels it is all the more important for college students to build relationships to secure their futures.
“Building that network and becoming an intern will give you a leg up on the competition,” he said. “If there is a job opening, hopefully you get promoted as opposed to being on the outside looking in and trying to get a job because you’re unemployed.”
Zumoff believes in the theory that graduates should “be a big fish in a small pond and be a small fish in a big pond.” Zumoff recommends that students get a job at a small company as well as a part-time job at a bigger business. At the smaller place, graduates get more hands-on experience, while they work insignificant tasks at the larger company.
“That way, you’re getting your practical experience one place, but your foot is in the door at a bigger place,” Zumoff said.

Zumoff also believes in the schmooze method — send an employer snailmail and suck up. This letter consists of three sentences: one, name drop a reference; two, mention the desire of a furtheredcareer; three, set up an appointment in accordance to both schedules. With this intact, Zumoff said that follow-up is the next important factor, and a student will find him or herself ahead of the game.
With the path to success comes the inevitable rejection. Zumoff sees rejection as a turning point for graduates.
“Let that rejection fuel you,” he said, “because if you happen to be angry, you can use that adrenaline to fuel your efforts to send out more tapes or more examples of your work or trying to meet more people, that sort of thing. So, use rejection to fuel something positive.”
For more information, contact Marc Zumoff at marczumoff@comcast.net or visit marczumoff.com.