By: Iwalani De Los Santos
In the coming weeks the World Cup will bring competition into the global spotlight and has us considering how individual coordination, energy, and teamwork can yield victory when it comes to a job search. Candidates come to us for résumé development, interview preparation, and ultimately how to score their desired career opportunity. How can you be positioned ahead of the pack to score that goal?
Pre-Season Conditioning: Enhance Your Skills
Players expecting to make the cut for their nation’s World Cup team can’t take a break in their off-season. Top competitors continue to hone their skills, advance their moves, and stay in peak physical condition. Why shouldn’t you do the same? How are you enhancing your skills? How are you staying in peak condition? Have you ever considered that you are in a very unique situation when searching for that next opportunity? You may ask “how is that unique?” quite simply; YOU are the product that is being marketed. As such, how are you enhancing yourself and your value? Have you strengthened your resume, sharpened your interviewing skills, enrolled in continuing education or licensing courses? Have you differentiated yourself by volunteering in the community? These are simply a few suggestions that will help condition you to be the star-player when it’s time to compete.
Play Offense: You Have the Ball
Historically speaking, summer time is usually a slower period when it comes to interviewing and hiring. Many companies bring on new hires in the spring or fall and most have already filled their openings with new college graduates before summer. Don’t let this deter you from applying or sending your resume to a hiring authority. In fact, you can get a jump on the competition while there are fewer contenders in the game. Be proactive by submitting your resume, use social media to remain well connected, and work alongside an industry insider, when necessary. After years of the ‘Great Recession’ hiring drought, employers are identifying and hiring great candidates, sometimes before posting roles on their career board. If a hiring manager is looking for talent, make your moves count and be on offense.
Be a Midfielder: Expand Your Chances to Score a Goal
Soccer players always keep an eye out for any opportunity to score a goal. They must capitalize on a variety of vantage points on the field for success. Likewise, approach your job search with an open-mind, continuously update your perspective, and modernize your target job. Have you considered widening your scope of possible relocation regions, exploring a lateral opportunity to broaden your skills and qualifications, or taking a calculated risk to go for that next position on the corporate ladder? We believe it’s important to remember that you aren’t looking for a ‘job’; you are looking for the right career opportunity for your skill set and experience. You never know, taking a shot from an unlikely angle could lead you to score a life changing opportunity for you and your family.
Teamwork: Strategize Your Strengths & Weaknesses
Every great team has their rising stars, veterans, support staff, and coaches. Each part of the team must work together to develop their individual talents and provide support in areas that need improvement. How each team handles their unique combination of strengths and weaknesses will determine their success. From our perspective as recruiters, it’s essentially the same game plan: a candidate who seeks a new role should know their individual strengths, find out how to limit their weaknesses, network with “veterans” in your area of interest, and rely on “coaches” like Coleman Search Group (CSG) to help you navigate the field.
Set yourself apart from the pack and attract prospective companies by taking an assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. There are many resources and methods to assess your strengths and learn about your personal attributes. Knowing how to advance a player’s strengths and how to reduce weakness creates a healthy balance for any winning team. Once you assess your abilities, seek out professionals with a solid reputation in your business – they will provide sound advice to help you advance in your field. Next, you may consider using a “coach” to help you prepare and provide strategies for your job search. Coaching makes a difference and the right “coach” can help you succeed and give you a personalized training plan. Last, but not least, lean on your family and friends as you consider new responsibilities, relocation options and your career dreams. Carefully consider their feedback because they know you well and can be some of your biggest fans!