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I have in interview this coming Tuesday for what would be my first job in golf, as an entry level assistant at Anglebrook Golf Club here in New York (http://www.anglebrookgc.com).

Here is the letter that got me the interview:

"Dear Mr. Davis,

My name is Mike Ryan, and attached please find my resume for consideration for the position of Entry Level Assistant at Anglebrook Golf Club.

The first thing you may ask yourself is, why am I getting this application? Aside from experience in website copywriting and direct mail sales campaigns with Legendary Marketing, I have no formal experience in golf. To make it as simple as I can, I have a "normal," everyday desk job that I am completely and entirely dispassionate about. My passion is the game of golf.

Though I have no formal experience in golf yet, I think I can bring a unique perspective to your operation as someone who has worked in professional office environments for several years now. You would also not be getting a "9-to-5" employee, but rather someone who has worked in other fields and would relish the opportunity to work in golf. I am hard working, motivated, personable, and have both a professional appearance and demeanor.

I have spent a good deal of time working on my own game with my good friend and teacher, Peter Beames, who coached Gary Player in the 1960's and 70's. Peter has been encouraging me for the past 3 years to get into the field of golf. I have been looking very seriously now for some time to find an entry level opportunity in the tri-state area, and it just so happens that Anglebrook is very near to my home in Cold Spring.

If I were to be given this opportunity, you would have the hardest working, most passionate and dedicated entry-level assistant in the game of golf at your disposal. I am also currently a copywriter for Legendary Marketing, the world's leading golf marketing company, with experience in writing copy for country club websites, newsletters, and direct mail campaigns. This experience and knowledge could also be of great benefit to Anglebrook.

If you feel that there would be an opportunity for me at Anglebrook, I would very much appreciate the chance to speak to you about it. Please feel free to contact me for any reason, and if you would like to speak with Peter Beames about my potential and qualifications, I will happily arrange that.

Best regards,

Mike Ryan"

So if you've made it past this letter and are still reading I need some information. If you were hiring an entry level assistant in my position, someone who has never worked in golf and needs to make up for a lack of experience with enthusiasm and willingness to learn, what are the important things you think I should focus on in preparing for the interview? What would you be looking for if you were interviewing someone like me?

As you can tell from the letter, I'm just absolutely DYING to get out of my "career" boring-as-heck deskjob and do something that I'm actually interested in! I just want to give myself the best chance.

I think the best thing I have going for me is just my desire to get into the business. I basically think that's the reason the guy called me.

I'd appreciate any tips! Wish me luck!!!!!!!

Are you kidding? I'd take the range picker over my cubicle any day!!!

Good luck, Mike.

As the guy doing the hiring, I'd want to know if you have given any thought to becoming disillusioned with the golf biz. The biz isn't the game itself. We like sausage, but we don't necessarily want to see how it's made! That said, my experience has been that, all things being equal, hire the person that has passion. I think you'll nail it ... unless, of course, his brother in-law is also applying.

Thanks a lot for the input. I have the passion, and I am definitely not under the false impression that it's going to be me hanging out and playing golf. That being said, I would give pretty much anything to be out of an office setting at this point and just to be around people and be interacting with people who have the same interest and love of the game that I do.

Thanks again.

Every one has or had to start somewhere. If the Mr Davis is Adrian Davis from England, just be yourself and if you are good enough he will look after you, like I did him.

SellMate makes a good point, IMO. If I were the hiring manager, I'd be thinking, "OK, possibly this guy really does have the passion that will sustain him for a long time in this job, with advancement possibilities, too. Or maybe he's not running TO this job but AWAY FROM (and I wonder why) his current job, and will get disillusioned here, quit, and a year from now I'm going through this again."

As much as you are dissatisfied in your current position, don't bad-mouth it or you'll look like a possible malcontent. Instead, say (I assume these things are true) you currently work for a place that has given you lots of good experience, you've learned a lot (some of which is transferable to the new job), and you've also learned that the work you're doing right now doesn't adequately match your interests and passions (as you've explained) and that you've got the flexibility to make a change and explore new pathways.

Also, try not to appear desperate for the job. Project quiet confidence and the attitude that "this is a very intriguing possibility, one that could work out well for both of us, let's talk about this."

Other advice: Learn as much as you can about the place (probably you've done at least some of this), so it's clear you've already got something invested in the opportunity. Show up knowing something about them already (not passively expecting to be taught during the interview). Ask knowledgeable questions. I've hired a few people, and the best ones (in my experience) are the people that I can see are interviewing ME as much as I'm interviewing them.

This is kind of rambling and incomplete. Maybe I'll have more later. Right now I have to head home and shovel snow. Good luck, Mike!

Thanks for taking the time, I appreciate your advice!

Good luck with your interview. If I was reading your cover sheet, the first thing I would have liked was the first paragraph. It is an attention grabber.

Based on what you have said, you seem to be a person that would make a great assistant. Just remember, the golf business is very different than the average person's perception of it. It seems most people think that I get paid to play golf and hang out at the course. As an entry level, expect to work long hours for little money doing the jobs that knowone wants to do. Depending on the type of course you would be working at, you may get to play a couple times a week to a couple times a month. I played less than 20 rounds last year. But the course I work at is a busy environment. Some of my friends that are assistants at private clubs play a few times a week.

With that said, I love my job. Again, it's not what people think it is, but I wouldn't have it any other way. When I graduated college, I thought my next stop was the cubicle. The pro at the course where I played told me he would give me a job in the pro shop until I found a job. That was almost 4 years ago, and I never found that cubicle.

The course you are talking about sounds familar. Where in NY is Cold Spring? The Superintendent at our course is from the White Plains area and knows a lot of people in the New York area.

PM me if you need any help.

If you enjoy playing golf you better reconsider. Most guys I know in the "business" don't get to play that often anymore. Long hours for the pay they get.

I agree with you Hopper. I left Pro Golf here in the UK because of just that. I wanted to play and I was lucky to get a game once a month, a quick few holes is not a game. Now as an amateur I get about 40 games per year.

Hey, thanks a ton for all your input. The course is a pretty exclusive private one in Westchester County, with membership capped at 300. When I talked to the pro he seemed like aquite young guy, very friendly, very laid back. I'm probably about 45 minutes from White Plains in the Hudson Valley, and the course is even closer to White Plains.

Again, thanks a bunch for all the info!

Another thing (you're a smart guy; sorry if this is obvious!): Be sure to send a thank-you note after the interview. It's not only good manners; it's an additional selling opportunity. Possibly after you leave the interview, you'll think of a good point you should have made. Thank-you note is a good place to make that point ("I've given some more thought to what you said about X, and I think that Y"... something like that). Or maybe during the interview you sensed some reservation he had about you (being over-qualified or whatever); thank-you note is a chance to address that. OK, guess I'm done. Best wishes and keep us posted.

Actually, I probably wouldn't have thought of that. Thanks!

The best of luck to you on Tuesday!

Good for you....my brother turned pro when he was about 30 to "live his dream" as the head pro at our home course. He quit after a year because he missed playing. He doesn't miss having to put up with the kranky members who constantly gave unsolicited advice on how to run the course. The pros at my present course (all class A certified and good golfers) get out maybe once or twice a month.