If you’re looking for a job in greenkeeping or grounds maintenance, there are more ways to find work than just scrolling job boards. You’ll generally find a job faster if you cast your net wider.
In this guide, we’re breaking down the main ways you can search and apply for work in the grounds management industry, wherever you are in the world.
Table of Contents
Use Specialist Job Boards
Starting with the obvious, specialist job boards are still one of the best places to look for work in greenkeeping or grounds maintenance, especially for advertised positions at golf clubs and football stadiums. Some of the most active platforms include:
- Turf Market: Our own marketplace for everything from equipment through to literature, but our Careers section is the most active, usually with 70+ jobs (predominantly UK) listed at any time.
- The Groundsman: Our Australian marketplace, with job listings for Australia and elsewhere in the world.
- The IGFH Useful Links page: Here’s where you’ll find links to every single job board we could find, categorised by country. If you want to browse all your available options, this is the page to visit.
You can also check industry groups on Facebook or job boards like Seek (Australia), LinkedIn Job Search, Totaljobs, and Indeed, which often include turf-specific roles.
The only setback of these sites is that they’re not dedicated to jobs in the grounds industry, so you’ll need to filter your search to get relevant results. They’re often also a last port of call for businesses that will use specialist job boards or advertise through word of mouth first.
Speak to People Directly
If you’ve ever wondered why the best jobs in the turf industry never seem to be advertised on job boards, it’s because most of the time, they’re snatched up by people in the know through word of mouth before they even make it online.
Some of the best opportunities come from being proactive, so if you’ve got your eye on a specific venue or facility, get in touch with the course manager or head groundsperson directly. Many of these professionals will be open to hearing from experienced workers or trainees, especially during recruitment seasons or when they’re short on staff.
Write a short, polite message explaining your background and what you’re looking for, and include a link to your CV.
If you’re messaging someone through LinkedIn or email, tailor your note to the person you’re writing to. Ask if they know of any upcoming openings or if they’d consider you for future roles.
Important: This is your opportunity to sell yourself and make a good first impression. So, use good grammar and think about the words you’re using. A rushed message asking if they can get you a job isn’t going to impress the recipient.
Use LinkedIn Properly
LinkedIn is, first and foremost, a place to list your work history and share an online resume for yourself. But don’t stop once you’ve created your profile.
You can use LinkedIn to connect with other people in the industry and let them know you’re looking for work. This is a much better alternative to cold emailing or messaging people on social media, since LinkedIn offers a more professional setting. Think of it like a virtual networking event, as opposed to asking somebody about job opportunities while they’re at the shops or the pub.
There are a few tips we recommend to use LinkedIn to its full potential:
- Update your profile with a clear headline, like “Experienced Greenkeeper Available for Work”
- Post a short update saying you’re looking for a new opportunity
- Use hashtags like #greenkeeper #groundsman #turfcare so other people can find your post
- Connect with people who work in sports turf or golf course maintenance
As we mentioned earlier, you can also search for job posts using the LinkedIn Jobs tab. Many hiring managers post there before listing roles on bigger job boards.
Check Social Media Groups
While social media isn’t always the best place to contact people about work, it can be a good spot for finding jobs. Industry-specific Facebook groups often share jobs that never appear on the main websites. Try groups like:
When you join, check the group rules and introduce yourself briefly. Rather than just posting your CV, focus on becoming an active member of the group and interacting with the existing posts. People are more likely to help when they’ve seen your name before.
You can also contact the group’s admin to ask about any job opportunities they might be aware of.
Use Your Existing Network
You probably know more people in the industry than you think. If you’ve been educated in and worked in grounds management, have a think about whether any of your past colleagues, college tutors, or people you’ve met at events or shows could help with your job search.
These people know you as a person and (providing you made a good impression!) will have a good idea of your suitability for jobs that come their way. Send them a quick message to let them know you’re looking for work. You never know—it might lead to something useful.
You’ll also benefit massively from attending trade shows and demo days whenever you can. This remains the best way to network in-person in our industry. Every casual conversation you have can lead to a job offer or recommendation down the line. Make sure to exchange contact details or add people on LinkedIn so you can stay in touch after these events.
Contact Training Providers and Colleges
If you trained through a college or turf academy, don’t be embarrassed to get back in touch with them, even if it’s been a good few years since you were in education.
Colleges and academies have some of the best links with employers, and (again, as long as you left a good impression) they’ll usually be happy to recommend you to local companies looking for staff. So, contact your old tutors or programme coordinators and let them know you’re looking for work. You never know where it might lead.
Some colleges also post job vacancies on noticeboards or closed online groups, so even if you don’t want to message your tutors directly, you can keep an eye on these to see if there’s anything suitable.
Email Golf Clubs and Sports Facilities
We always recommend contacting people directly on LinkedIn where possible, but if you can’t find information about staff working in certain venues or facilities, your next port of call is to contact these venues directly.
You should be able to find contact details for local golf clubs, football grounds, cricket clubs, or schools with large sports pitches online. Even if they’re not hiring right now, they might keep your details for seasonal or part-time roles, so send them an email introducing yourself and letting them know your interest in working for them.
Keep your email short and professional, mentioning what kind of role you’re after, and attach your CV. Make it easy for them to forward your details to the right person.
Keep Your CV and Details Ready
If you’re following all these steps and networking as much as you can, it’s a good idea to have an up-to-date CV saved on your phone and laptop that you can access whenever you might need to.
It’s also worth keeping a basic email template saved in a Google Doc that you can adjust quickly. That way, if someone replies asking for more details, you’ll be ready to respond straight away.
A few things to include in the email template are:
- A short summary of your experience
- Any relevant qualifications or training
- Previous employers and your duties
- A sentence or two about what kind of job you’re looking for
Be Open to Seasonal and Short-Term Work
If you’re between full-time roles, don’t turn your nose up at casual or seasonal jobs. Obviously, we all want the stability of a permanent job, but working seasonal jobs gets your name out there and gives you experience (often at leading stadiums or golf courses) that’s invaluable on your CV.
Short stints in employment can often turn into a permanent job if you prove yourself and show your commitment to the role.
Final Word: Keep At It
Job hunting can feel like a grind, and it’s easy to burn out. But the good news is that the greenkeeping industry is facing a staff shortage, so as long as you can demonstrate that you’re a desirable asset to a team, you’ve got a good chance of landing the role you’re interested in.
Keep searching, even if you just check job boards once a day or set aside one evening a week to message a few contacts. If you’re still struggling to find work, you might need to reassess how you’re currently selling yourself. Could you be wording your messages better? Do you need more experience (even voluntary) on your CV?
If you need a place to start, submit your profile on our Turf Passport system. You’ll be entered into our global database, putting your CV in front of clubs and organizations seeking qualified turf management professionals for seasonal staff or permanent positions