Week 3: Jacob Resnick

This week, I’m sharing some insights from my conversation with New York Mets Minor League Operations Associate, Jacob Resnick. I broke down our conversation into different points in his life, so feel free to read all the way through or pick the sections that interest you most!

Quinnipiac

Jacob chose Quinnipiac for a myriad of reasons – the programs in the School of Communications, the faculty, the extracurricular opportunities, and the alumni network. He began his time at QU as a journalism major but switched to Communications/Media Studies after his first semester because he was “intrigued by the different areas that media studies covered.”

When he became interested in the business side of sports, he declared a minor in Business Analytics because he noticed that many jobs desired candidates with a background in math/statistics/analytics. “It was totally out of my comfort zone…but I think it was definitely worth it,” he said.

He explained that everything he did in the School of Communications was worthwhile and praised how the classes were a good mixture of teaching and applying what you’ve learned. But the biggest impact on his college career was made outside of the classroom and inside the media suite.

Jacob was heavily involved in student media from the very beginning of his time at Quinnipiac. He joined QBSN during his freshman year and originally spent his time in the organization as a broadcaster. He became the Online Editor during his sophomore year and stayed involved through the rest of his time in college. Q30 Television, as he put it, was basically his whole life. As the Sports Director during his junior and senior year, he spent the end of his time at QU putting his heart and soul into the station. “Eat, sleep, breathe…everything I did with them. All my friends were met through there, and it was a really great experience,” he said.

Jacob Resnick, left, among his classmates hosting an episode of Bobcat Breakdown on Q30 Television. (Photo provided by Jacob Resnick)

Career Timeline

From a young age, he always knew he wanted to be around baseball in some capacity. “At a very early age, I realized that there’s a lot more than just what happens on the field,” he said.

Jacob grew up going to Mets games at Shea Stadium, and has now fulfilled his childhood dream of working for his hometown team. (Photo provided by Jacob Resnick)

He began using his baseball knowledge and writing skills very early on, writing for several blogs throughout high school and the beginning of college. In February of 2021, during his junior year, he took a step back from the blogs and advertised that he was looking for a job to write about the Mets. Someone from SNY reached out to him, and that was the beginning of his career in baseball.

As a freelance digital contributor and minor league writer, he wrote numerous articles about the Mets minor league system and even worked on a bi-weekly web show for two seasons. While it was a fully remote job, he appreciated every opportunity it provided. “It was good to be affiliated with a big reputable outlet that allowed me the opportunities to have my name published on articles that were on a major site, and to get to talk to people who I might not have had the opportunity to otherwise.”

Right after graduation, he began working with MLB.com as an Editorial/Social Producer, covering the minor leagues/prospects on a part-time basis. He’s contributed tons of articles to MLB.com and MiLB.com, but two stuck out in our conversation. First, his conversation with Yankees’ (at the time) top prospect Anthony Volpe and his article about a great offensive night. He also mentioned some of the crazier stories he’s written, like the time the Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego Padres’ Single-A affiliate) threw its first no-hitter, and the mayor of the city happened to be their broadcaster.

Whether he was tweeting, writing, or staying up until 2 a.m. to watch the last west coast game, he truly enjoyed his first real-world job. “It was fun. It was a really good experience,” he said. “It’s a product of the platform that I had built and the people I had gotten to know…I was happy to make use of it.”

In April of 2023, he landed a job as a Minor League Operations Associate with the New York Mets, a dream he’s had for quite a while, and he appreciates everyone who has helped him along the way. “I’m just fortunate to have been given opportunities. The first blog that I wrote for, I was 13. I don’t know if many people are willing to give 13-year-olds a platform to publish things…but I’ve always said that one thing has led to another in my career so far.”

Jacob currently works in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the home of the Mets' single-A affiliate, the St. Lucie Mets. (Photo provided by Jacob Resnick)

Networking

Just by reading about his job history, I don’t even have to stress the importance of networking on this blog (but I will anyway!). He explained that he’d had conversations for many years with certain people in the Mets organization who were familiar with his work. Clearly it made an impact.

But Jacob totally understands how most students feel about networking. “It’s always an uncomfortable thing to do. The thought of asking for something for yourself is not a thing that most people are comfortable doing,” he said. He recommends reaching out with a purpose, such as asking to hop on a phone call to ask some specific questions or asking for some feedback on a project you’ve worked on. “Those kinds of things lead to somewhere more productive, when there’s a purpose behind the outreach.”

He mentioned the common saying that even if a really talented baseball player comes from a small school in the middle of nowhere, the scouts always seem to find them. Likening the job search to baseball terms, he’s taken a similar approach. “Do really good work and people will take note, and they will hopefully present you with opportunities to come from that.”

Now for the part everyone’s been waiting for – his advice.

In terms of what you need to apply for a job, he said that “there’s no substitute for having done the things that the jobs you’re applying for are looking for.” Even if you’re applying to an entry-level job, there are many ways to get experience without having a job in the industry, “whether that’s student media or anything on the outside.”

Additionally, Jacob said it’s important to be obsessive about the subject matter that you’re dealing with, and to make it a part of your job to know know everything about what you’re covering. “It will make you so much smarter and be able to anticipate things…if you can anticipate what’s going to happen, you’re ahead of the game.”

But it’s also essential to be able to draw the line between professional obsessive, and obsessive obsessive. “Being level-headed and being able to explain things even in moments of crisis is important,” he said. It’s one thing to say that, and another to have experience in it. Growing up a Mets fan, Jacob said there were times “at Citi Field, and something crazy happens, and I wouldn't even celebrate that much in the stands because there was something I wanted to tweet.”

His biggest advice for students like me, graduating in May, is to “do the job before you have the job.” He explained that there are many resources available to gain experience, whether that’s starting a blog, learning a new software, or immersing yourself in the rules of the game. “Be ready to present someone in the industry with something tangible” – even if you’ve never had a job, you’ll be able to say you’ve done it already.

On the flip side, for students about to enter college, Jacob advises you to put yourself out there and take that leap in whatever you’re pursuing. “You’re not going to reap the benefits if you don’t take that first step…you have 4 years ahead of yourself. That’s the maximum time for most people…you’re only going to have less time to start it the more you wait.”

Above all, he stressed the importance of kindness, no matter what industry you end up in. “Be nice to people,” he said. “Always carry yourself with a good attitude about things…treating other people well will get you further in the world.”

Jacob acknowledges that he wouldn’t be where he is today without the people he’s met and experiences he’s had. “Getting this job with the Mets, which has really been a dream job, is only the product of the last thing I did which is the product of the thing I did before that…everything’s just kind of led to one another. I’m fortunate to all the people who have given me those opportunities, and just excited that I’m still hopefully at the beginning of where I’m headed.”

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If you’d like to keep up with Jacob, follow him on Twitter @Jacob_Resnick or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Week 3 is in the books! Don’t forget to follow the blog on Instagram or connect with me on LinkedIn to keep the conversation going.

See you next week!