Interview Tips and Life Skilles for Coaches

Final Four appearances and NCAA Championships are not the result for all colleges when March Madness concludes. For some schools, coaches, and crazed fans, the unquenchable thirst for success will lead to the lesser known Madness, a coaching carousel ride.

With all the new people lining up for the recently extended unemployment benefits, SportsThat takes on the task of an interview skills online workshop.

1) Think Positive: When going on a job interview, you should talk positively of your previous employer. Don't tell any of the horrible things they did to you or didn't do for you.

• Do Example: Look at Lane's focus on the positives of being at UT (despite the negatives). He tells people how much he loves them and that USC is "the only job" that would have made him leave the 'garbage truck driving' fan base.
  
  


• Don't Example: As this coach fails, don't bash the people that once paid you or supported you. Just because they don't love you now, doesn't mean you shouldn't show them the love.
  

2) Preparation: Have stories to give examples of your success in various topics and projects.

• Do Example: Coach Cal delivers an excellent, gracious speech focusing on the positives of his previous employers and giving great examples of how he succeeded. I wouldn't advise setting the bar as low as Cal has done here, but one you get the job - go ahead. Set the bar low - then even if you stink at the new job, you look better than expected.
  
  


• Don't Example: John L not only bashes his team he then recounts and bashes his coaching staff. We need positive thoughts, not negative. Always focus on the positive.
  

3) Dress Appropriately: What you wear says as much about you as your resume does.

Do Example: A nice pin-stripe is fine with the alternating colors on the collar and tie.Don't Example: Yellow on Yellow? This is not the prom. Besides, look at that shirt, you aren't in the mob (see above for mob).
4) Set facebook/myspace to private:

• Do Example: None... there is not a good picture of you on Facebook.

• Don't Example: Sure, go out, have fun, hook-up with co-eds and use your new found fame for more than just Kroger ads. Get a little action off the court as well - fine. But make sure you go around the room and remove those pictures from the cameras after your finished.

So Coaches, as you're on your way to making the millions of dollars, rather it's at St. Johns, Auburn, Houston or any of the schools coaches leave to take these vacancies, remember, delete those pictures that the Co-Eds take of you at the bar - and - just because the people around you thought the suit was pretty, it doesn't mean it is.