Use Olympian Strategy to Organize Your Job Search

Olympic athletes need to stay organized to meet their training goals and do well during competitions. Using strategies these elite athletes employ is a great way to keep your job search on track. Here are a few organization tips from top athletes to keep you moving toward your goals.

Create a Job Search Regimen

Even sprinters need to have a regular training regimen, and a job search is hardly a sprint. One important organization tip is to keep your typical workday hours reserved for your job search, and create a schedule of activities to support that search. Schedule time to search for new opportunities in the mornings, and make followup and networking calls in the afternoon. Add in time for tweaking your resumes and crafting new cover letters. Set up folders to keep your resumes, cover letters, and prospective employers organized. This helps reduce confusion when a hiring manager calls so you can focus on verbalizing your talents instead of finding the paperwork you need.

Schedule Time for Recovery

Olympians perform better when they schedule time for recovery. Schedule recovery periods during your job search. Occasionally engage in activities that help you relax and reduce stress. Have coffee with a friend once a week, or take a daily walk in the park. Spend quality time with your family and friends to prevent feelings of isolation during long periods of unemployment.

Target the Most Important Competitions

Olympic athletes have many opportunities to compete, but they reserve their energy for the top competitions. Make sure that you are targeting the jobs that you are qualified for and really want. This keeps your motivation level high and your enthusiasm up. Interviewers prefer candidates who show honest enthusiasm about the prospective job. Also, it is a waste of time to send resumes and cover letters to companies you don't want to work for or organizations that don't need someone with your qualifications.

Overcome Challenges

Every athlete occasionally hits a road block while training. A combination of motivation and problem solving skills helps the best players break through the road blocks and move onto the top levels of competition. If you're struggling during your job search, use your problem solving skills to improve your game. If your skills are out of date, sign up for a course to improve them. If you can't find good job leads, join a professional organization and attend its events.

Use your time wisely, keep your materials organized and target the right organizations to increase your chance of landing a "gold medal" job. During the job search process, stay true to yourself, as Olympic athletes only compete in sports best suited to them. Consider your aptitudes, skills and temperament when applying for positions to ensure the job you accept satisfies you and rewards your employer.

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