HAWKS Basketball and Job Search: a Fresh Perspective!
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Last month, I watched my first, live basketball game - the Atlanta Hawks in Philips Arena. They had a 17-0 winning streak during the month of January.



As I watched the game, I noticed many similarities between a great basketball game and a successful job-search.



We were invited to the game, by a friend was is an NBA referee. We had amazing seats with unobstructed sight lines! Our friend was working during the game and analyzing the other referees. He narrated the play by play calls and explained the merits of various strategies. This was an amazing and enlightening experience, especially for a basketball novice. At the end of the game, the two guys who'd sat behind us said "we learned more by eavesdropping on your conversations during the game than in all the years of being fans!"



What I learned. How attending a basketball game can teach you lessons about job search.




#1 Defense is as important as offense. Know your opponent. Think about how to make points and how to deflect your opponents' points. Conduct a SWOT analysis of your competition. What are the strengths, weakness', opportunities and threats that your competition brings to the game? What are yours? What areas can you shore up?




#2 You need to be prepared for any and every eventuality. GO HAWKS! Hope for a sweep, but be prepared for a squeaker. You will need all of your strength, both emotional and physical, for the battle ahead. Use a full-court press.Second place is not good enough in a game or in a job search. Once you're hired, no one ever asks if it was a close decision or asks the 'score.' Once you're hired you're the winner.



#3 When Opportunity Meets Preparation. All of the players on the professional sports teams are athletically gifted to a genius -level in their sport. They are in the top, top, top percentiles of the bell curve compared to the general, population. They are selected for their athleticism, visual/spatial skills and manual dexterity. Similarly, once you are in the final round of interview the competitors who are left are all excellent. They are all capable of winning the job and excelling in the job. You will need both opportunity (lots of job leads) and excellent preparation to excel.




#4 Strategy, What strategy? Sitting next to an NBA referee we heard his views about the teams' strategies the way the other referees were scoring and the merits of various plays. Play to your strengths and maximize the opposition's weak points. For job-searching, you will need a career action plan. If you don’t have a plan, guaranteed the other players will.



#5 You'll need lots of fans! Phillips arena was quite full and this provided emotional support to the players. The home-court advantage is real and cannot be underestimated. That's why, I try to arrange on-campus interviews as often as I can for my students. A home court/campus advantage diminishes stress and provides both intangible and intangible support. The job search is a stressful endeavor, so utilize the support of your family and friends.



#6 Learn the rules of the game from a professional. Attending a live game, was exciting but quite overwhelming. I found my self watching the action but not really understanding a lot of the nuances. The same applies to a job search, learn the best methods (not just the easiest), refine your game. Clients seek me out since they know I've helped thousands of job seekers over the past 10 years.



#7 Play to the end. Knowing you can’t win every-game. Sometimes, no matter what you do you may lose to a lesser competitor. While disheartening, this isn't the end. It's your overall, cumulative effort that is more important than any single win or loss. Keep on going...



#8 Get your mind in the game. Hope is not a strategy! Don’t do things half-way. Don't self-sabotage yourself thinking about the strengths of your opponent. Try to clear the emotional baggage from previous losses and from previous experiences which weren't positive.





#9 Game Day! I coach all of my job seekers individually and also provide workshops on the key aspects of the job-search. My role is exactly like that of an athletic coach. On game day, I'm on the side-lines offering support and last minute tips about interview strategies. But, it is up to the players to implement what they've learned. When it's game day or interview day, you'd better bring your best moves and skills. Strategy and tactics without execution will fall flat.




#10 The game goes on...
Each game is a fresh start and getting mentally prepared is as important as getting physically prepared. There were ups and downs in the basketball game we attended. Similarly your job search will often seem like an emotional rollercoaster. The wait for employer call-backs may seem endless at times, so you must be patient. Carry on with your search and don't rely on any one job-lead to save you. It's a numbers game. Sometimes you'll be up, other times flat and sometimes down. It's essential to keep on persevering and having a positive outlook.



By the way the HAWKS won the game!