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Article:

7 Job Search Tips You Can Learn from Pro Athletes

Job Hunt Like a Superstar Athlete to Get Ahead

7. Jeremy Lin, Professional Basketball Player

Lesson Learned: The first step to success is getting your foot in the door.

Most NBA players have spent much of their lives as highly touted prospects, but Jeremy Lin was a non-scholarship player who went undrafted out of Harvard University. He started 2011 as a third-string point guard for the New York Knicks, Lin, if he was known for anything, was known for spending more time on the bench than on the court.

On the verge of being cut for the third time, coaches allowed him to play for the first time on February 4, 2012. The team was struggling big-time, so why not? He earned 25 points, and and the opportunity to start in the next game. Lin went on to make NBA history by scoring 136 points in five starts and went from sleeping on teammate’s couches to becoming a household name.

Just like the frustrated but talented job seeker, Lin proves getting your foot in the door and capitalizing on opportunities that present themselves can give you the chance to show your stuff. 

 

  • Dawn Dugan

    Dawn Dugan specializes in writing books, articles, white papers, reports and special communications for the human resources industry. She is the co-author of Effective Executive Compensation, which was published by AMACOM in 2008. Read more...