Little over a month ago there were 20 candidates beginning their journey, a rigorous process has produced 4 teams with impressive CV’s. Although there are candidates with arguably stronger CV’s that haven’t made it through the process, these 4 performed best in their interviews and now their goal is within touching distance. You might be asking yourself how the Rugby World Cup can be connected with the Recruitment industry. As I finish my 2^nd coffee of the day slumped at my desk, how can I compare myself to Julian Savea? As a rugby player myself there are certainly some comparisons.

Competitive Industries

The Rugby World Cup, like recruitment, is highly competitive and I know that I will be judged on my results. Sometimes things might not go the way I had intended, maybe a candidate had a change of heart or a scrum half decided to venture down the blind side and score the match winning try. Preparation and organisation is essential, knowing my candidate’s & clients’ needs at all times often means spending that extra hour in the office preparing myself for tomorrow or that extra hour on the training field.

A Team Game for Individuals

Rugby is a team game, but that team consists of individuals striving to be the best players (recruiters) they can be for their own gain. Seeing my team mate score 3 tries in one game is great and I’m happy for him as it contributed towards our teams’ success but deep down I want to be the best recruiter on the team making the most deals on a monthly basis. A rugby team doesn’t just consist of 23 players; it is the people assisting those individuals, much like in recruitment. You might have 50 consultants on your floor bringing in the money but they were trained by individuals who deserve credit for their success as well as the various support staff.

Going the Extra Mile

On Saturday 31^st October the Rugby World Cup will draw to a close and there’ll be one team that can call themselves the best. The many hours of hard work would have all been worth it and financial reward is an added bonus for them. I hope I don’t look back in a couple of weeks time wishing I had made that extra phone call or spent that extra hour with a candidate because if I don’t, that first beer will be richly deserved. Whether it be on the rugby field or at your desk, always make sure you go that extra mile to be the best recruiter or player you can be. If you want to go the extra mile and accelerate your career, browse our job board and get in touch here.

Tim Salmon