5 NBA Meanings of “We are on a Hiring Freeze”

Getting a job in the NBA

When an NBA team tells you they are on a hiring freeze, it could mean one of many things.  Here’s 5.

1 – They’re just not interested

NBA personnel aren’t always the best at communicating with you.  Don’t blame the person you’re interviewing with, as often, they’re having trouble getting information from above them.  I was thanked over and over by prospective Interns for letting them know that we weren’t hiring them.  For some reason, this wasn’t commonplace as many would be left in limbo.  If you’re in limbo, they’re probably just not interested.  Because if they are, they’ll find a way to hire you, hiring freeze or not. 

2 – The organization is on a ‘freeze’

If you follow the NBA closely, I assume you do, you know that there are always transitions happening at high levels.  From coaching staffs to front offices, to Presidents and business operations.  All of this to say, there are multiple spaces that could be on a freeze.  But a business freeze doesn’t mean a basketball freeze.  And even if it does, if they’re interested in you, they’ll find a way to hire you.

3 – The GM doesn’t want to hire anybody yet

Sometimes, the GM simply isn’t ready to add another hire.  The basketball operations staff proceeds with interviews but they don’t actually know if they will be able to hire someone or not, but they want to be ready if the GM gives them the green light to hire another Intern.  The GM may be dealing with HR or the business side regarding how many Interns they’re able to hire.  But if they like you, they’ll find a way to hire you.

4 – They don’t know how to communicate to you that they’re not interested

It’s an easy out for some who don’t know how to communicate to you that they don’t want to hire you.  So if you’re not getting proper feedback, simply move on.  If they say they’re on a freeze and aren’t giving you any follow up, they probably just don’t want to hire you because if they do, they’ll find a way.

5 – The actual hiring freeze

The only time I’ve seen a real hiring freeze is during lockouts.  Hiring freezes get talked about all of the time.  Everyone is always over-budget.  But as soon as someone needs some cheap work to be done, all of a sudden, an intern is needed, hiring freeze or not. 

Moral of the story: if they are interested you, they will find a way to hire you.