5 tips from sports psychology to manage the recruiting process

Navigating the recruiting problem can be challenging, whether it’s an executive or an MBA student. As we have now entered college recruiting season, I thought I would seek advice from a former professional athlete and MBA student on how to use sports psychology tactics to overcome the challenges of recruiting.

Kelly Okun is the founder and CEO of Fairway to Green, a former professional golfer and MBA student at the Darden School of Business (UVA). Below, Okun explains how working as a professional athlete is similar to the challenges of recruiting and gives five tips from sports psychology to help you get there.

Similarities Between Recruitment and Professional Competition

Okun believes that “the recruiting process is similar to that of a professional athlete.” It is a highly competitive environment where only some aspects are within your control; However, these “controllable factors” can be game-changers.”

Okun says that one of her “biggest takeaways from golf is that acceptance is the key to success. Practicing acceptance in MBA internship recruiting can lead to a more positive experience.”

Tip #1: Divide the controllable and uncontrollable factors

Okun explains: “When you are on the golf course, you can control the amount of training you do, the strategy you have prepared and your attitude. What you can’t control, however, are your opponents, the weather or your outcome.

The same idea applies to recruiting, where the results of your interviewers are one of the uncontrollable factors. It’s important to note from the start that you can’t control who makes you a job offer.

While it might be easy to blame a missed opportunity on a poor connection with an interviewer, the truth is that you have a greater chance of success when you rely on what you can control. Going into the process with a positive attitude will not only turn failures into opportunities, but this will also shine through when networking with potential employers.

The key is to have a game plan. Who would you like to talk to first? Have you thoroughly researched your priority goals? How do you want to reach them? And when you network, what is the goal of the discussion and the agenda? By going into the process with a plan, you’ll have clear criteria for what you’re looking for and can quickly filter out some opportunities that aren’t a great fit and would just take up more of your precious time. You can control how prepared you are.”

Tip #2: Be process-oriented, not results-oriented

Okun emphasizes the importance of “trusting the process” and relying on the power of routine. “It’s important to create a routine – or process – that helps you feel prepared before every networking session or interview. Maybe it’s a checklist of specific tasks that boosts your confidence.

Whatever it is, take time after each interview to assess how well you stuck to your routine. If you followed it, you can consider this recruitment opportunity a success and celebrate this victory. If you get off track, make note of where you can improve and try again next time.

If you’ve gotten off track for a good reason, it’s okay to be open to adjusting your routine so that you have more success. However, constant switching proves to be inefficient and leaves you with no routine – or sense of achievement.

Building on the first tip, your process is controllable, but the result is uncontrollable. Make the most of your routine and you will feel confident in both your interviews and your time management.”

Tip #3: Give yourself a time limit to let your emotions flow (privately)

Interestingly, Okun points out that “in golf, we give ourselves 10 seconds to react to the outcome of our shot, and then we have to accept it and move on to the next one.”

Remember that you are human and need time to process and recharge. Whether you go for a walk or chat with friends for an hour, during this stressful time it’s important that you take the time to regulate your emotions and feel like yourself – that authentic self will get you the job.

When you undoubtedly receive rejection, remember that feelings are valid, but they don’t have to dictate our actions. You may feel like giving up on the recruiting process after a few too many hits, but remember that motivation comes from discipline and your routine can get you back in action in a flash.”

Tip #4: Express gratitude for all acceptances and rejections

As a former professional athlete, Okun says that “grace in defeat says a lot about character and can lead to opportunities for the future.” Let’s say your summer internship wasn’t what you hoped for – you might want to look at some of the earlier ones Use the recruiting contacts you made, but did you leave them with a positive image of yourself?

Regardless of how these conversations ended, be punctual and polite in all follow-up conversations and be polite in your thank you notes.

Not only will gratitude be beneficial in the long run, but research suggests it can also change how your brain perceives the recruiting process and even your physical health. You are much more likely to reduce stress and overcome challenges more smoothly when you focus on the positive.”

Tip #5: Create a trigger to help you refocus

Okun suggests that creating a trigger can help refocus effort and attention. “Have you ever noticed that athletes seem to have superstitions? Maybe they dribble the basketball three times before every foul shot, or they take a deep breath before making a putt.

So they get back into their routine and focus on the next shot, regardless of what just happened before.

You can do the same in your recruiting journey. Create a trigger word or action that reminds you to start your preparation process again. It could be as simple as saying, “On to the next one!” or opening a new page of your notebook to signal a new beginning.

No matter what you choose, if you repeat it often enough and believe in the intention, the trigger will become second nature and you will find it easier to accept the past and move more quickly toward the future.”

As Okun suggests, professional athletes constantly train their brains to accept the results and move forward. There’s no reason people can’t do the same in the recruiting process.

Join the discussion: @KimWhitler