In any job search, most of the applicants end up in the big pile.
If 200 applications are received by the school, chances are 70% do not have the specific qualifications for the job. We are down to 60 applicants.
The big pile may have 50 applications but the small pile only 10.
The question is this: How do you get placed in the small pile in the first place.
1. Your qualifications are crucial as it is determined which pile you belong in. If you A. Meet the qualifications, and B. Your experience and background have been successful and impressive, chances are you'll be placed in the small pile.
2. If you have a connection between a contact in your network and the person doing the hiring, that can get you into the coveted small pile.
3. If you have a personal connection to a decision maker in the process of hiring a coach, that may be enough.
4. If your Babe Ruth calls and is able to A. Get you moved to the small pile, or B. Get you an interview for the job, of C. Get you the job!
Too many applicants think by sending in their resume and cover letter that is enough.
I recommend that all applicants do this: Pretend you are the AD, head coach, or college President that is vetting out all of the applicants. They get to your application. How would you evaluate your application. Do you feel his qualifications meet the requirements for the job? Does his experience and success at similar schools and levels match your expectations? Do you see this applicant in the very top of all the applicants for this job? Does this applicant seem like a really good fit for the job, people, culture, and university? Would you feel like you did your job if you offered an interview to this candidate, one of just 3 interviews. If you can change roles and do this exercise, you will find out with humility that you are not the kind of quality candidate they are looking for. But, the good news is that you can take this lesson and apply it to all future applications and I promise you it will make a difference. Give it a try.
The last thought is that applicants never know who else is applying. I've asked frustrated applicants many times, "I realize you are confused about not hearing back on the job you applied for.....tell me, do you know who some of the top candidates are; maybe the top 10? The answer is always the same; "I have no idea who else applied." That is exactly my point. You may feel good about yourself and what you've accomplished but you may be way down the list as compared to other who have also applied. You are a good candidate, yes, but you are about 75 of 110 candidates, so things need to change.
One possible change is applying for jobs that you are better qualified for and are a better fit in the eyes of the school administrators. You will find that your chances will be greatly improved. Instead of pulling your hair out by "waiting to hear back" from the Athletic Director, focus on those positions that you will most likely be in the short pile to start with. This change will yield positive results and you will be much happier with the results with this change.
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Lesson 55:
Shifting from the big resume pile to the small one
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This course is the most detailed and time tested system available to all coaches in all sports. The primary focus is to learn a system that has worked for over 100 coaches to reach positions in high school, AAU, Prep School, Junior College, College NCAA all levels, and the NBA. The course is the culmination of over 30 years of networking successfully and at time, unsuccessfully. My mistakes are...
