The JobSync Blog
Let NBA Players Help You Get a New Job
November 28, 2011
With news that the National Basketball Association (NBA) and its players have finally come to an agreement, the professional basketball season appears set to begin after months of stalemate. While most of the league’s wealthy athletes differ from everyday jobseekers, there is nonetheless a great deal that job hunters can learn from them with respect to how they handled the prospect of long-term unemployment. Here are the top four lessons from the halt of the NBA season that jobseekers can apply to their own job search:
1. Expand your geographic range for potential jobs. Many NBA players looked to European leagues for opportunities and found them. While Europe may be a bit of an extreme relocation for most American job seekers, moving to another city or state should be a consideration for serious job seekers.
2. Reinvent yourself. If you simply can’t find a job in your field after a prolonged period, it may be time for a significant career change. Los Angeles Lakers star Ron Artest tried his hand at stand-up comedy and even appeared on “Dancing with the Stars.” While such opportunities are not readily available to most Americans, it shouldn’t, for example, discourage a lawyer from considering a career as a high-level administrator at a university given how a lawyer’s skills could easily transfer to such a position.
3. Volunteer to keep your skills sharp and enhance your visibility. During the stoppage this season, several foreign players represented their home countries for free in various international league tournaments, which allowed their nation’s teams to qualify for the upcoming Summer Olympics. Jobseekers can similarly apply their skills for various organizations to stay in the game.
4. Improve your education. A few NBA players who left college early to turn professional went back to school to finish their degrees. Others who did get their degrees went back to college to build on their prior education. By expanding your knowledge base, you can also help increase your employability.
It is said that misfortune is just another word for opportunity. By making the most out of job seeking as some NBA players have, you may eventually find the ball bouncing your way.
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