Wade Graf, Senior Director of Group Sales for the New York Mets, never thought he’d work in sales. But he did know he wanted to work in professional sports.
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“I grew up loving sports,” he shares. “I even thought I’d become a professional golfer. But when that didn’t work out, I developed an interest in the business side of sports. His desire to make this his job was so strong that he skipped some college to work as an intern for the Houston Astros.
“Getting an internship in an MLB front office is tough,” Graf explains. “I knew this opportunity to join the Astros would probably be my only chance to prove myself. ”.
After the internship was over, Graf re-enrolled at a different school because he liked their business administration undergraduate program. After graduating, he took a sales job selling season tickets and suites with the Texas Rangers.
“And, quite honestly, I had no idea what sales even entailed,” he says. “But I quickly realized how much I loved interacting with people. I loved the thrill of closing a sale and bringing in money for a business because I’m very competitive. ”.
Graf stayed in sales in the sports industry and was in charge of Inside Sales and Staff Development for the Rangers, then Premium Sales for the Dallas Mavericks, and now his current job with the Mets.
Graf is in charge of 16 full-time employees and 12 part-time employees. He comes up with the strategy for Group Sales and Corporate Hospitality, which are private or semi-private areas of the ballpark where companies can host clients, business prospects, or employees.
Graf says, “I’m always thinking of new ways to improve our fans’ and group leaders’ experience when they come to Citi Field. Ultimately, we want to give them a once-in-a-lifetime chance that they will talk about for the rest of their lives.” ”.
But it’s not just the fans who are having fun. Graf has gone to four World Series as part of his job. He has been with the Astros once, the Rangers twice, and the Mets once. And make no mistake, it’s just as exciting to be there if you aren’t a player.
“Being part of a team that makes it to the World Series is surreal,” Graf says. “Owning a championship ring is a dream of everyone who works in this industry. All the hard work and emotions we experience throughout a season come down to one week in October. ”.
Interviewing for a role with the iconic New York Mets Organization can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. As one of the most celebrated Major League Baseball franchises the Mets only hire the best and brightest talent. With competition fierce it’s crucial to enter your interview fully prepared to showcase your skills, experience, and cultural fit.
To help you ace your interview and join the Mets team, we’ve compiled the top 20 most commonly asked interview questions. By understanding the types of questions you’ll face and crafting compelling responses, you’ll be ready to step up to the plate and hit your interview out of the park!
Researching the New York Mets Organization
Before your interview, make sure to thoroughly research the Mets organization, values, and culture This provides essential context for understanding the team’s goals and priorities. Key facts to review include
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Founded in 1962 as an expansion franchise, the Mets played their first season in 1962 at the historic Polo Grounds before moving to Shea Stadium in 1964 and eventually Citi Field in 2009.
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They have two World Series titles (1969, 1986) and five National League pennants. Their colors are blue and orange.
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Under owner Steve Cohen, the Mets have invested heavily in top talent with a win-now mentality, as evidenced by acquiring superstars like Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Francisco Lindor.
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Core values include excellence, teamwork, passion, accountability, determination, and innovation. The culture emphasizes analytics, fan engagement, and community service.
The Top 20 New York Mets Interview Questions and Answers
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Why do you want to work for the New York Mets organization?
The interviewer wants to gauge your passion for the Mets brand. Emphasize your lifelong fandom, highlight the organization’s storied history and recent success, and share why their values and culture resonate with you. Discuss how your skills would contribute to their mission of excellence on and off the field.
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What do you know about the Mets’ leadership team and organizational structure?
Demonstrate you’ve researched the executive leadership (Cohen, Alderson, etc.) and understand the various business units. Explain how your experience fits into the structure and how you can collaborate cross-functionally to achieve organizational goals. Reference the team’s investment into analytics, technology, and fan experience.
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How would you describe the Mets’ culture and work environment?
Highlight hallmarks like collaboration, innovation, and accountability. Share why those align with your work style and values. Reference investments into professional development, wellness, and community outreach as signs of a strong culture. Convey your eagerness to contribute your skills in this type of environment.
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Why do you want to take on this particular role at this stage of your career?
Link your career goals and trajectory to the role’s responsibilities and path for advancement. Share why it excites you and allows you to utilize your strengths. Reference any related experience that prepared you for the role. Convey your commitment to continuous learning and development within the role.
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What makes you qualified for this position?
Connect your skills, accomplishments, and experience directly to the role’s requirements. Provide examples that demonstrate transferable abilities even if your background isn’t a perfect match. Emphasize soft skills like work ethic, collaboration, and analytical thinking. Share relevant metrics/results that convey your readiness.
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How would you approach building relationships with potential partners/sponsors in a highly competitive market?
Emphasize listening, strategic engagement, and delivering value. Share ideas like leveraging CRM tools to track interactions, creating unique branded experiences, attending key industry events, and tailoring partnerships to align with their goals. Reference the competitive landscape and how you would differentiate.
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If you were hired for this role today, what would be your priorities in the first 30/60/90 days on the job?
Convey eagerness to dive in while also taking a strategic approach. Highlight relationship building, learning processes/tools, identifying pain points, and collaborating with your team. Share ideas specific to the role, like an audit of current campaigns or competitive analysis. Demonstrate you’ll balance contributing immediately while ramping up fully.
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How would you approach improving the fan/customer experience at Citi Field?
Share innovative ideas like enhanced mobile experiences, VR technology, flex ticketing, expanded food options, and upgraded amenities. Emphasize understanding fan demographics, listening to feedback across channels, and continuously evaluating data and metrics to identify improvement opportunities proactively.
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Tell me about a time you had to solve a difficult problem. What was the situation, how did you approach it, and what was the outcome?
Choose an example that highlights analytical thinking, creativity, and perseverance. Explain the systematic approach you took to understand root causes, devise solutions, and implement changes. Emphasize collaboration and communications skills. Quantify the results achieved. Convey the lessons you learned.
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Describe a time when you received constructive criticism from a supervisor. How did you respond?
Share an example that demonstrates maturity, openness to feedback, and a commitment to growth. Explain how you actively listened, implemented changes, and followed up with your supervisor. Highlight that you viewed the experience as an opportunity to improve rather ignore the criticism. Convey how it made you both more self-aware and more effective.
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Tell me about a time you successfully led a cross-functional team project. What was your role and how did you ensure it was a success?
Share an example highlighting leadership abilities like setting vision, managing workflows, tracking progress, and guiding collaboration. Discuss how you handled challenges, managed stakeholders, and kept the team aligned. Quantify the results achieved. Convey key learnings that make you a stronger leader.
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How would you approach negotiating a partnership agreement with a potential sponsor or vendor?
Highlight preparation, strategic thinking, communication, and relationship building. Discuss researching needs, defining negotiating ranges, articulating value proposition, and finding common ground. Convey you aim for mutually beneficial win-win relationships built on trust. Reference securing favorable terms while maintaining positive partnerships.
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If you were mentoring someone just starting out in this field, what core advice would you give them?
Share wisdom that applies directly to the role and industry like nurturing networks, mastering the fundamentals, being a lifelong learner, balancing initiative with patience, and remembering your “why” during challenges. Tie the advice back to your own experiences. Convey a passion for paying it forward.
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Imagine you’ve been asked to lead a presentation to executives about a new marketing initiative. How would you approach preparing and delivering an impactful presentation?
Highlight executive presence, compelling delivery, and strategic messaging. Discuss tailoring content/tone for the audience, leveraging visuals effectively, inviting dialogue, and reading verbal/nonverbal cues. Convey confidence in public speaking skills while emphasizing you’ll take it seriously and prepare extensively.
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Tell me about a time when you had to adapt quickly to changing priorities. What was the situation and how did you handle it?
Choose an example demonstrating agility, prioritization skills, communication, and swift execution. Explain the new parameters you were given and how you worked to understand new requirements. Discuss how you re-evaluated priorities, collaborated with stakeholders, and implemented changes seamlessly. Share the results achieved.
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What do you think the Mets organization can do better from a fan experience perspective? How would you improve it?
Thoughtfully critique an area of opportunity like pricing, amenities, customer service, promotions, digital experience, etc. Provide innovative yet feasible ideas to enhance it leveraging industry trends and customer feedback. Convey your passion for the fan experience and mindset of continuous improvement rather than harsh criticism.
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How would you respond if a long-time, unhappy fan posts a series of angry complaints on social media channels? Walk me through your approach.
Express empathy, active listening, and ownership of the issue. Discuss responding promptly, gathering details, understanding circumstances, and working to make it right. Reference policies and boundaries while maintaining a human, compassionate tone. Highlight the importance of brand stewardship in diffusing negative situations professionally.
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This role requires working with confidential and sensitive information. How would you ensure discretion and protect organizational data?
Emphasize maturity, integrity, and accountability. Reference adherence to policies, protocols, ethics training, and need-to-know access. Discuss securing systems, avoiding public discussions, and highlighting issues promptly. Convey you understand the need for high standards when handling confidential assets.
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What are your salary expectations for this role?
If asked, provide a reasonable range based on research of industry standards, cost of living, and your experience level. Emphasize you are open to discussing compensation components and focused on finding a package fair for both parties. Redirect to discussing your eagerness to contribute and learn rather than making salary the key factor.
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Do you have any questions for me about the role, expectations, or anything else?
Ask insightful questions that demonstrate your understanding of the role, interest in the organization, and preparation for the interview. Inquire about challenges, training opportunities, leadership philosoph
How Do You Achieve the Work-Life Balance You Want?
When I make decisions at work, I always think about what’s best for my family—they are my “north star.” I want to have a very successful career and make a big difference in the sports industry, but I want to be a better husband and father even more. I’d turn down an amazing career opportunity if it meant sacrificing time with my family. I’d rather be able to take my kids to school every day and be at home with them than work so much that our relationship gets strained.
Finally, I work hard and do my best at work, but not at the cost of the people I care about.
What’s Your Favorite Part of Your Job?
I love helping my staff get better jobs and grow professionally, which is why I’m so passionate about my job. It’s really rewarding to be a part of the process of seeing former interns become senior salespeople and leaders in this field.
Wade Graf and family courtesy of Wade Graf.
Former Mets answer Opening Day trivia questions | Baseball Night in New York | SNY
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