Despite my formidable powers of positive thinking, whenever I tee up a golf ball, a tiny voice in the back of my mind whispers: Where the heck is this ball going to land? I think I have a rough idea (pun intended), but in truth, it’s out of my hands. All I can do is give it my best shot.
That same voice of doubt has nagged me whenever I’ve answered a help-wanted ad: Where the heck is this resume going to land? Will it drop gently into the top basket of the hiring manager – or bounce out of bounds into the corporate round file? Again, all I can do is give it my best shot.
To me, it seems there are many parallels between chasing par and pursuing employment. Maybe I play too much golf – or read too many job-search articles. For whatever reason, the similarities have helped me better understand my quest for the green in both games.
Let’s put the analogy to the test. Whether playing golf or looking for work, it’s important to:
Take time to get in the swing of things. If you haven’t picked up a club for a few years, it probably is going to take several weeks for you to regain your touch. The same is true in your job search, unless you have already done some of the legwork ahead of time – like updating your resume, compiling a target list of employers, and contacting your network. Even then, mastering the job search, like improving your golf game, is going to require patience.
Visualize success. Many athletes mentally rehearse their routines before a competition. Just before I start my golf swing, I imagine myself making a perfect shot. That act of visualization seems to trigger a better performance. The same technique can help you maintain a positive outlook and perform better when you’re shooting for a new job. Visualize an excited hiring manager reading your resume, and you’ll probably write a better resume. The same holds true when it comes to rehearsing for an interview. Imagine winning a job offer, and ask yourself, what will make the manager eager to hire me?
Keep your eye on the ball. In golf, that’s pretty obvious. It should be the same in your job search. But the truth is it’s easy to get distracted – that home improvement project beckons, or your volunteering is starting to border on full time, or you’d rather go out and play. Just remember that the Tiger Woods’ of this world got where they are through dedication and discipline.
Follow through. Whether they are hitting from the rough or putting on the green, golfers are constantly reminded by their instructors – follow through! This admonition is equally vital in your job search. Too many applicants send a cover letter and resume, then wait passively for a phone call. Employment counselors constantly advise jobseekers to take the initiative – make that phone call and convince the powers that be to schedule an interview with you. Most firms will be impressed with your persistence.
Follow the rules of etiquette. Among the first things a fledgling golfer learns is the etiquette of the game. Unfortunately, even experienced jobseekers often ignore the etiquette of the hiring game. If you are serious about wanting the job, you should send a thank-you note after each interview. Some have found that a thank you via email is particularly effective since it has the potential for opening up more dialogue with the hiring manager. Whether on paper or online, a written thank-you will set you apart from the competition, since studies show so few applicants bother.
Relax your grip. If you have a stranglehold on your golf club when you swing, your wrists will lock and blunt the power of the shot. Instructors recommend a relaxed touch. The same advice can be applied to job interviews. Don’t crush the hiring manager’s hand. Don’t be stiff during the interview – it will merely blunt the power of your personality.
Use spin to your advantage. Forward spin or backspin can give you better control of your ball when it lands on the green. Spin can also give you control when you land an interview. When someone asks what your biggest weakness is, for example, you can tell them you tend to obsess about a project until it is completed. Yes, you have admitted a slight problem – but you have also indicated that you get things done.
Choose a coach carefully. Without question, professional assistance can be invaluable, whether you’re trying to hit the ball farther or take your career to a higher level. The problem is, not all coaches are created equal. Someone who helped a friend may not be the best choice for you. After several hits and misses, I have learned to seek out someone I can identify with and who can relate to me. That leaves out 20-year-olds who can swing like Tiger. It also excludes a coach who does not value my accomplishments.
Forget the competition. Recently, I played golf with a young man who pounded the ball 300 yards down the fairway, something I will never be able to match. But when we got to the green, he couldn’t find the hole. In your job search, you may not have the most impressive credentials, but maybe you have a better employment record or work ethic. Focus on your strengths, and you might outscore the guy who, at first, looked like a stronger candidate.
Develop a thick skin. Is there a more humiliating sport than golf? A more humbling experience than looking for work? Early on, you have to decide to play through the embarrassment. Everyone has hits and misses over the course of a job search. What separates the champions from the duffers is the ability to put aside the miss-hits and play on.
Never quit. Like a round of golf, looking for work can seem like a source of endless frustration. But just when I’m ready to chuck my clubs, I score a birdie. Similarly, just when I have wanted to give up my job search, the phone rings and I score a job interview. Neither would have happened if I hadn’t stayed in the game.
Concentrate. Finally, whenever I am golfing or looking for work, I think of nothing else. My attention is focused solely on the task at hand. How do I blast out of this sand trap? How should I rewrite that cover letter? During my days on the job-search course, I used golf as an escape valve. The only way I could forget the frustration of blowing a job interview or the embarrassment of misspelling a manager’s name was to head for the links.
Because when I am standing over that four-foot putt, I stop worrying about when I will have a stroke of luck on my job search. I know, as long as I stay in the game, it’ll happen.