Those of you who have read my past blogs are aware that I have a serious passion for sports. As I prepare to watch the Super Bowl this week, I am considering the keys that helped both teams advance to this year’s big game and how using those same keys can be applied to job searching.
The first thing that comes to mind is great planning. The best teams do a great job of planning for all of the major details. They plan such things as what players to sign and what schemes will best benefit their players.
Proper planning is vital to any job search and will pay huge dividends in landing a job sooner. One excellent planning strategy is to set a daily agenda of how many resumes will be forwarded to prospective employers. Other good strategies might be planning how many job fairs to attend weekly or how many follow up phone calls to make each day.
Good football teams also align themselves with good people. They make smart decisions in what players to draft; and they hire good coaches and management to lead the organization. Job seekers can follow the same model by making smart networking decisions. A smart tactic would be attending business functions such as chamber mixers and leadership forums. These events usually are packed with people who are already working and can possibly offer solid leads. Don’t forget to call upon former colleagues who have progressed though the ranks over the years.
Good football teams also have well-defined agendas. The Indianapolis Colts were recently criticized because of their decision to bypass a chance to achieve a perfect season to rest their star players down the stretch of the season. Needless to say, the decision paid off handsomely and ultimately placed the team on the precipice of another championship.
Job seekers should similarly be focused about their own personal goals. This would include being clear cut about targeting the right employers and industries. Many a wasted hour has occurred from chasing down an employer who “doesn’t have the ball.”
Finally, good football teams excel at maintaining excellent physical conditioning. All athletes are born with exceptional talent, but often the difference in winning and losing comes down to one team doing a little bit more in crunch time to get the win. Let’s face it, job searching is tough business and can become a frustrating and tireless endeavor. Keeping yourself in the best possible physical condition will do wonders in helping you maintain the focus you need to land that next job.
Good luck with your job search and remember to take some time to enjoy the big game.
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