I think the best professional networking in my field, trying to be a college level basketball coach, will always be face to face meeting and making an impression. In my little experience in coaching, getting jobs and moving up seems to be who you know and how successful you are, and I am not sure which is more important. I have been to a couple events where hundreds of coaches are in the same gym recruiting and I try to talk to as many coaches as I can and get their business card to write them a letter, email, or call them after to try to make a meaningful relationship. I think that is the best way for me to create a network and then keep in touch with these coaches through recruiting, newsletters, and even just running into them on the road during the season. I think that a PWP can help and is not a bad thing to have by any means, but it seems to me that more meaningful relationships are made face to face with a firm handshake and the ability to hold an intelligent conversation with a superior. The other strategy is to work as hard as I can for each head coach I work for as an assistant because they will have a professional network of their own and I can find my way into the head coach's network by working hard.
I agree one hundred percent with your strategy on meeting coaches at different events to network. As we are in the same business, our thoughts pretty much fall in line with each other. Meeting face to face is very powerful in trying to connect and get to know people. Getting ahead in the basketball industry is not an easy thing to do. You have various people thinking along the same line of thoughts, wanting to achieve the same goal.
For instance I went to Las Vegas this past summer and connected with a lot of different coaches in the field. It was interesting to see so many coaches all gathered accordingly conversing among each other. Networking is definitely a powerful tool that is very useful in lot of different ways. More than half of the jobs obtain come through networking and finding opportunities. We should all explore this bedrock of expansion to increase our stock.
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Bill Carpenter
2/8/2015 06:48:58 am
Alex, I would also agree with the meeting face to face strategy.It is a great way to make an impression on other coaches and who knows what type of connections in the field they may have. There is no substitute for working your tail off at the job you are currently in and impressing the head coach and AD with your knowledge, work ethic, time management skills, character traits, etc. With great recommendations from these individuals a lot of doors can be opened.
It's always who you know that matter in almost every profession. It's an easy way to get your foot in the door at a place that you are trying to get employed at. I think once you reach that dream job at a high level, that's where "how successful you are" kicks in the most.
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Leo Balayon
2/8/2015 01:35:44 pm
I totally agree that a career in basketball is made though investing in face to face initiated relationships. I have had some success networking with other coaches online but for the most part, the people we want to work for are from an older generation where a handshake told you more about the person compared to a PWP.
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Matt Bonenfant
2/8/2015 02:57:55 pm
I fully agree that face to face meetings are a top strategy. At the end of the day, you want to know who you are dealing with. I know I feel a connection when I know someone personally, not just through email.
Alex, I agree face to face networking is extremely valuable, however the use of twitter and facebook can help also. I have met a few coaches at different coaches clinics who were familiar with me prior to meeting them face to face because of our social media connections. Are you going to the Nike coaches clinic in Vegas?