Behind the Article: Name Dropping on Your Resume & in Interviews

Getting a job in the NBA

I didn’t realize it at the time but when I got hired by the Portland Trail Blazers, my lack of connections in the industry was a bonus.

When dealing with confidentiality, sometimes knowing less people is a plus.  Because everyone you know is part of the same organization.  Obviously, over time, your connections grow and expand but by then, you’ve been coached by your organization in how they want you to operate, trade information, share intel, etc. 

One of our Interns had a connection with a ‘Twitter cap guy’ that probably all of you know.  That guy had helped our Intern in the past and was using that connection to get information privy to NBA teams.  Eventually, the NBA tracked down where the information was coming from and that Intern was fired and never worked in the NBA again.  His connection is what doomed him.