Research is a highly desired skill in the job world because it can make the difference between being involved in the job and securing it. 

Have you ever sat in the upper decks of a huge arena watching a concert. You are so far away you can't really see the performers just the stage, lights, and noise. It doesn't make for a great musical experience. What if you were in the middle section of seating? You would feel much more involved in the show and you could see the preformers on the stage. The music would be louder, the lights brighter, and you would be more into the show. Let's move even closer and take a seat in a folding chair on the floor. Now you are really close and everything comes to life. You feel the thumping of the bass guitar, louding, screaming guitars and the sweat pouring down the lead singers face. Think of how much more involved you are in the concert now than your original seat. We can take this one more step; backstage. You happen to know a local FM DJ that knows the drummer in the band and has just a few backstage passes. Because of your relationship with him, he offers you an opportunity to watch the show from just off the stage, literally 15 feet from the members of the band. Wow! What an experience. 

So what is the real difference between the upper deck ticket you started with and the backstage pass? People! Relationships! This is the point--Sometimes you are very interested in a job but you don't know the person hiring; the head coach or Athletic Director. You then assume that you don't have a chance because of it and spend no time really working the job. What if you took time and some strategy and identified some people who knew people at this school or even the head coach or Athletic Director. If you called your top 10 contacts, I promise you at least 3 of them would have a tie to the job. One of these connectors may be strong enough to get you an interview.

This is simply called "Research." 

If you don't know the right people at the school, who do you know that does? That's the key! Anyone can research, you just have to be creative, crafty, and know that it is time well spent. 

This email exchange with a client is a good example of research. Take this idea and apply it to any situation you deal with and always know that research will yield an answer.

Andre,
One hint—have you been working on finding connections to a job.
That is done by identifying everyone in the athletic department, and
school administration, as well as department heads. It takes some time
but it can help because all you need is one connection. A coach told
me on Tuesday, that an assistant ticket manager who he knew at a
school he applied at knew the head coach well, and it helped him
get an interview and the job. 
We have to take a creative stance on jobs, because most coaches
email resumes and wait to hear. That does not work——example;
Cornell College, Div III in Mt Vernon, Iowa (an average Div III
job— had 131 Applicants for their job!
The final three candidates all brought something unique to the
interviews, different than anyone else……AND had one connection
to the school/administration/professor/coach of another sport/former
coaches/and current head coach. 
That’s what I mean when I talk about—building your brand and have
one expertise or skill that no one else has. The three that interviewed
were exceptional and are probably Div I caliber based on their resume
and skill set. I hope this helps.

1. Take one of the jobs you’ve applied for and research
a connection and send it to me so I can help you.
2. What was your skill set final # out of 100?

Thanks and keep plugging,
Randy Brown