Hustle: Why Every Hiring Team Needs a Stanley Sugarman

Netflix’s summer basketball flick Hustle was an instant favorite among viewers and critics. The movie features a convincing performance from Adam Sandler as Stanley Sugarman, a worn-out NBA scout working for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Sugarman travels from country to country, attempting to discover the NBA’s next international stars. When Sugarman finds Bo Cruz, a six-foot-nine-inch Spaniard with a monster seven-foot wingspan, he does everything he can to tap the potential.

For most businesses, recruiters can’t just walk into random office spaces and observe potential hires at work. Still, there are other ways to take inspiration from Stanley Sugarman’s eye for talent. Instead of waiting for top-tier players to find you, utilize a head count forecast strategy, integrate modern hiring tools, and be assertive with your recruitment process.

A LinkedIn study found that 89% of workers would accept a job offer faster if a manager or hiring representative were to reach out. So, the answer is obvious: Adopt a proactive hiring strategy and you might just end up with the next Bo Cruz.