The Olympics are an exciting opportunity to witness the incredible abilities of athletes from all over the world. We are in awe of not only the Olympians’ physical abilities, but also their unwavering commitment to their sport. Our team has noticed many special traits that make someone an Olympian and how these important factors translate to job seekers:
1. Don’t give up
Job seeking can sometimes be an exhausting and deflating process. If you’re currently employed it may be tempting to throw in the towel and remain discontented in your current role. Our Olympians have taught us not to give up—if you’ve had a bad interview, received a rejection letter or didn’t hear back from your dream employer, dust yourself off and move on to the next opportunity.
2. Find your passion
There is a reason that Olympians get up at the crack of dawn and train nearly 365 days a year – they are passionate. Their love for their chosen sport drives them to push themselves and put in countless hours to become champions. Seek out job opportunities that align with your personal passions, interests and values. You will be more satisfied in your job, work harder and have more fun as a result.
3. Set goals
As a job seeker, your ultimate goal is finding an ideal role. That said, there are several milestones that need to happen in order for you to secure the position. Just like Olympians break down their end goal into a series of incremental targets, so should you as a job seeker. It will keep you focused and provide you with a sense of accomplishment as you tick them off. For example: aim to complete your resume within 7 days, apply for a minimum of 2 new jobs per week and contact a recruitment agency.
4. Take pride in what you do
Olympians are immensely proud of their sport and their country, and it shows in the way they present themselves and behave during competitions. As a job seeker, we encourage you to also take pride in yourself—dress well, triple check application letters and resumes, and arrive prepared for interviews.
5. Find a coach or mentor
If you’ve ever seen an interview with an Olympian, they always make mention of their coach and the huge contribution they have made to their success. During your job search process it may be helpful for you to seek out a coach or a mentor; someone to cheer you on, proof your applications and to debrief with after interviews. Reach out to your network or the recruiter you’re working with to gain support and mentorship.
6. You’re not always going to win (and that’s ok)
When an athlete heads to the Olympics they know that they’re going up against the best in the world. They have to get through several heats in order to make it to the finals and, in the end, there are only three medals up for grabs. Statistically, there’s a high chance that they won’t make it to the podium. But that doesn’t change their approach—they still give it their all and are grateful for the opportunity to try. Apply this same ethos to your job search process. Give every application process 110% and be appreciative when a potential employer considers you for their role, even if you don’t land the job.
7. Learn from every attempt
Olympians always speak to what they could have done better and are constantly striving to improve their results. As a job seeker, you can do the same. After each phone screening or in-person interview, take a moment to reflect on what you did well and what you could have improved. Even slight changes to your strategy can have a significant impact on the outcome.
8. Be confident
If you believe in yourself, you will approach every challenge with a positive attitude and this will shine through in everything you do (a trait that employers love). Olympians would not be where they are today if they didn’t have a belief in their ability or hesitated when faced with new obstacles. Apply this same confidence to your job search process; stay committed and know that you will find the right fit.
10. Hard work is rewarded
When all is said and done, the Olympians who win are those who work hard, put in countless training hours, welcome feedback from their coaches, learn from every attempt, set goals and believe in themselves. Success is not handed to them on a silver platter, it is earned. The same applies for your job search process—the work you put in today will be returned to you in the form of a great job!
