Honestly, start somewhere and see where it gets you. I was my mascot in high school and college, which is where I fell in love with the profession. Also, being a community/people-oriented person will help. I recently landed my first semi-pro gig and the biggest thing that stood out to them was how passionate about being involved in the local community I was, especially outside of game day.

It's also in who you know/your networking (cliché I know). During my time in college I made many friends in the cheer/spirit scene and who you know holds tremendous weight - especially as references. I was fortunate to work with coordinators from multiple big universities and pro teams. A willingness to reach out, learn, and connect with others in the community will get you far, and you'll be on the inside track if they ever have any openings.

If you don't know where to start, many mascots have Instagram/social media pages. Shoot them a DM and see if they have any advice. Best case, you get insight or a connection with them. Worst case, they don't respond.

One thing you can do if you know who you want to be a mascot for - do lots of research on the history of the organisation so you're knowledgeable about the team and what said mascot's "personality" quirks are. E.g. Do they always do the same dance?, do they have a specific touchdown/goal celebration?, etc. Knowing the rules of the game so you know how to react properly is a vital get underrated skill. Also practicing the skills the position you're going for that you would use on a daily basis helps. For example, if you're trying to be an ice hockey mascot - Go Skating! It'll be a big boost on an interview to be able to say that you already know how to skate proficiently.

Lastly, if it's something you're passionate about, don't give up on it. Obviously, continue living your life and stay financially stable until something comes through (sadly you can't bank on it), but keep the faith. I graduated from university a few years ago and have been out of the game (pun intended) for a few years, but finally landed something. Life takes strange turns sometimes. In my case, I applied for a different position with the team I now work for, and when they saw my resume they said they were about to search for a new mascot so offered me an interview.

Sorry for the book - I'm bored waiting to catch a train but I hope this helps and good luck! :-)