Finding a Job thru Playing Business Golf

Unfortunately, with how things in the business community are going the most common questions I am asked today is…

Know anyone who is hiring?

Never before have I known so many people who are out of work.  The sad thing is all of these people I have met and played golf with have something constructive to offer the business world.  These are REAL People who really do know how to get things done.  The hope I have is they all find a place to go to work soon.  The reality is, they may have to make a change in what they are experts in and become an expert in something else.  Plus, all of them will have to change how they go about finding the jobs they want.

It is natural for these people feel a little anxious in the need to find employment right away.  My advice is to be patient and get to know the ‘3 W’s’ (Who, What and Where) of the next place they go to work for or they could be right back out here in a few months after that business goes under.

It could be time for many of these people to reinvent themselves.  They may have to find another line of work or a total different profession.  You hear about people being let go from the wheeling and dealing positions in business to take on making more money doing something totally opposite from what they were doing before.  This is the kind of open mindedness people who are unemployed now need to develop. 

However, just being open to doing something different is not the key to finding a job.  The key is how people unemployed go about finding work.

I run into a lot of unemployed people everyday.  Most of the time when I ask them to go play golf or ask if they have been out playing business golf with other business people I get the usual…

Are you kidding?…I need to be out finding a job..not jacking around out on the golf course.

I did mention that most of these people have built up a tremendous about of anxiety didn’t I?  These remarks and outburst of emotion is to be expected.  I take what they dish out knowing how they feel since I was there in their shoes not too long ago.  I know exactly what they are going through.  That is why I counter back with asking that they at least take a moment to listen to why I feel they should put forth an effort to play golf as part of their job search.

Get The Message Out

Now, you have heard me talk about trust before and you will continue to hear me talk more about this issue of trust being important in the business community.   Trusting someone or something has become harder and harder to do after what some of the untrustworthy people in the business community, not political arena, have caused this economic mess we all are in.  Gaining trust and finding trust in someone is going to be what everyone should be doing, especially in those millions who are out looking for work.

Gaining trust and displaying trustworthiness plays right into what GOLF is all about.  It is the perfect screen or firewall for finding out who can be trusted and who cannot.  If you can’t be trusted on the golf course you probably will not be able to be trusted in the workplace.  Playing golf with a potential employer or with a potential employee is going to be more relevant than ever before.

But you say..

How the heck would I be able to play golf with the person I am applying for a job..they won’t even give me an interview?

That is a good question and is what is to be expected when someone trudges down the cold calling, applications filling, drop off resume way of job search.   Getting to the person who says yes or no to hiring you is where patience is paramount.

There are also situations where playing golf is not possible, but overall, playing golf with different people you meet does a number of things that will, over time, build up to helping get the message out to those people who are looking for someone to fill a position.  Eventually, the message that you are available for filling a position will get to the right person.

Here is the way golf can help in employment searches.

Working the Network

You can go to Business Networking and Job Fairs and hand out business cards and resumes all day long, and that is a good start.  However, getting someone who may not even be necessarily someone who would be hiring you to play a round of golf with you will provide one more person in the Network who knows you better than before.  This person will then be in a much better position to recommend you to someone who maybe looking for someone to fit in a position.

Remember: there are a lot of businesses out there who are in a position to hire people but are afraid to open the position to the market because of that TRUST factor I mentioned.  There are so many people out there unemployed for other reasons than being downsized out.  These businesses do not want to waste their time or resources on interviewing or possibly making a mistake and hiring someone that was not who they said they where.

The power of the second and even third tier connections made from business networking becomes even more powerful when someone has played golf with someone else who is looking for a job.  This may sound complicated but what playing golf with business people will develop is getting the message you are available out to people who now trust you and now know you.   The power of who you know and who knows someone who is looking to fill a position only develops once trust is demonstrated all along the line of the business golf network.

So, each time someone goes out to play golf with someone else they are presenting him or herself for review of their trustworthiness…the key that opens the door to that very valuable job interview.  The person looking for job shows his trustworthiness and the person who is looking for someone to fill a position gets to see first hand the true character of a person.  Both parties are on review.

Eliminates the Posers

There is no faking in golf.  So if someone is wanting to act the part of trustworthiness and are not golf will reveal the imposter.  Usually their act is broken when the natural characteristics of the person are shown during the round of golf.  Thus, is one of the reasons so many people do not play golf and in many cases will hate golf because they cannot hide their personal weaknesses and negative traits.  So, be aware of people who just blatantly go around talking negative of golf…and who also say they are unemployed…that could indicate why they hate golf and are unemployed.

The Power of Business Golf

I encourage people who are unemployed to take the opportunity to play golf with other business people.  You never know who the person you are playing golf with may know that could be looking for a person to fill a position.   Keep that positive attitude that you would have if you were working with or for the person you are playing golf with and that will be the message that gets back to the community of people who hold the jobs you may be considering.

Sometimes it takes reinventing your attitude towards something, like playing business golf, to make the change in the opportunities that exist and open some doors that are hidden from view.  So, get out there and play some business golf and find that job you are looking for…

Let me know how I can help.