Some Thoughts on Recruiting, Hiring, and Job Searching

Recruiting is the life blood of college athletics. Effective hiring is the equivalent to recruiting in business.  And, happiness and fulfillment are directly related to the relationships we develop over our lifetime.    

Who we surround ourselves with is mission critical. We must be intentional about the teams we build and join. This requires doing a deep dive into understanding who we are as individuals and as an organization. 

Recruiting and Hiring:
When looking to add members to a team, the majority of people seek individuals for what they do; a need that can be filled.  For example:

1. Sports: Recruiting for a particular skill set.  “We need a catcher, outfielder, middle infielder, and two pitchers.” Coaches then search for student-athletes that fit the profile.
2. Business: The job ad focuses on what competency they desire.  “We are looking for an accountant, machinist, or business analyst.”  The organization hopes their search produces candidates that can meet the companies immediate need. 
3. Friends: People seek out others who have similar interests: sports, music, art or those who have the ability to increase their social status. 

I believe it is more effective to approach team formation in a different manner.  Consider the following questions:

1. Sports: Does the student-athlete align with the core principles of the program? How’s their competitive spirit?  Have they demonstrated the ability to persevere and overcome obstacles?
2. Business: Are they a cultural fit? How’s their emotional intelligence? What’s their relationship with growth and development?  Can they work in a team?
3. Friends: Do the core values align? Can they live authentically?

A Lesson from Coach Schembechler:
“Well, if you really want a guy and don’t get him that’s ok. He’ll only beat you once a year.  On the other hand, if you get the wrong guy on your team he’ll beat you every day.”  Bo Schembechler. 

Over my career, the majority of our recruiting mistakes have been when we rushed.  We made a decision on the premise that the person could fill an immediate void.  That approach rarely works. 

There’s nothing more important than getting the right team members on board.  Doing the self-reflective work on the front end, ensures less headaches (and less money spent) in the long-run.  Making decisions on fit and feel instead of a particular skill set is more effective. 

Searching and Aligning:
The chances of living a fulfilled life are enhanced if we join tremendous teams. This starts with being an agent of our own life. We often fail to perform the hard work necessary to understand ourselves. Our values are blurry.  Because of this, we search for opportunities with external validations.  For example, in the world that I’m involved with most, athletics, kids frequently say they are looking for:

1. Immediate playing time
2. Division 1 level
3. Fancy facilities
4. Swag- sweet uniforms and gear.

I’m not judging those wishes, but they are typically societal answers- they aren’t what the student-athlete needs to have an enjoyable experience.

I  suggest:

1. Examining the school’s culture.
2. The leadership of the program.
3. If there is alignment throughout the team (coaches, players, student managers, etc.)

This same logic follows in job searches.  The focus is on the salary and title.  I suggest examining the organizational culture, your boss, and growth possibilities. 

Instead of seeking a set of physical characteristics (hair, eye color, height) in a partner be more invested in knowing the things you value. 

I’ve seen many student-athletes super excited because they made a college decision and a few years later they are miserable.  They made the decision without careful reflection and settled for other’s dreams. 

I’ve seen people pumped for their new, well-paying job soon be disenchanted because they can’t stand the organizational values. 

The life-hack is to do the work upfront.  We should know our values and look to align with others who are on a similar path. 

Final Thought:
How intentional are you about your recruiting/hiring process?  Can you demonstrate the courage to stand out from others in your industry and do things differently?  Are you willing to take a short-term loss for long-term advantage?  Remember Coach Bo: losing out is tough but the wrong selection can be disastrous. 

When looking for your next opportunity, are you willing to invest in understanding what you value?  Are there relationships you can cultivate for future opportunities?  Are you willing to take less salary for higher growth opportunities? 

There is nothing more important than the teams we join and develop. Most people rely on luck.  Our mission is to be intentional about the teams we build and the forces we join. Our happiness depends upon it.