Resumes, Portfolios, and the Getting a Job in the NBA Journey

Getting a job in the NBA

While the vast majority of feedback and comments I receive on my articles are positive, there are the trickle of negative ones that come in. I usually sense frustration on the other end of a negative comment. Someone has yet to receive the opportunity they’ve been looking towards and likely feel qualified (if not overqualified for) and so they want to throw the whole process out.

Often what I hear on the other end is, “Why try? The game (of getting hired in the NBA) is fixed.” To be honest, some of it is. Nepotism, check. Ex-player, check. Right color, wrong color, right gender, wrong gender, too short, not tall enough, too old, not old enough… HR violations be damned. Any job you’re looking for, you’re going to be up against resistance. Things are rarely fair and equitable. Which is why there are always going to be certain things you hear from me, one in particular that I always tell everyone…

You have to be in it for the journey itself. Enjoy the process. Enjoy the people you meet along the way. There are no guarantees on the other end. Learn to find contentment in wherever you are. And continue to count the cost as you move forward. It’s okay for your priorities to shift or change. It’s okay to keep chasing your dreams. It’s okay to call a timeout. It’s okay to move on.

I remember multiple times I had to pass over particular candidates because they weren’t tall enough. It was frustrating on my end because I knew these candidates were more than qualified and would be great assets to our team and franchise. But this is where staying in the process matters for you… even if I couldn’t hire them, I passed on their resumes to other teams (and some have even outlasted me in the League!). Everyone in the League is connected. If you’re not a right fit for one team, you may be the right fit for another. Many of those who I had to pass over did indeed land jobs and internships with other teams.

This article stemmed from a comment on my LinkedIn, “Who in the NBA is getting hired based on submitted resumes?” The answer is, plenty of people. I was hired from submitting a resume. I’ve helped hire many interns from receiving a resume. And I’ve passed on resumes to other teams. It’s always important to keep your resumes and portfolios up to date.

Your resume is a 1-2 pager and your portfolio is a collection of your work samples and documentation that showcase your skills, accomplishments, and experiences.

When working with Coaches on their portfolio, we would make Video edits of some of their best plays, games they had filled in as the Head Coach, their work in practice, etc… and we are talking about those looking to be Head Coaches in the National Basketball Association STILL working on their portfolios!

For those looking to be a GM, we would have samples of the team’s draft history, free agent signings, and all the comparisons relative to the rest of the League. Again, and this was for those wanting to be General Manager’s in the National Basketball Association!

I know many people think that a resume or portfolio is outdated. And maybe it is if you are the Owner’s son, or if you played in the League, or if you are 7 foot tall but I am guessing 99% of you reading this aren’t. And therefore, you are in the group where it is important to stay on top of and in the process. You’re going to have ups and downs. But embrace the relationships you get to build along way and make sure to enjoy the journey.

GITG101’s next on-line course is Jan 29, Feb 5, Feb 6. This is our NBA Trade Deadline Course where you get to select the team you will be the GM of and make trades amongst classmates. This will be in tandem with sessions to hear from NBA personnel about what happens inside the NBA Trade Deadline and feedback on your trades. Classes are from 5-7p PT / 8-10p ET and are recorded. Trades and dialogue will take place on Slack throughout the week. We are running a $50 off special in December with Promo Code: CHRISTMAS which makes the course $99.99. If you haven’t yet, put it on your Christmas list, we’d love to have you in class! E-mail us with any ?’s at info@getinthegame101.com (First come, first serve on the team you are the GM of!)