A boxer expects to leave a match having taken a few hits. And, if you’re in the job search, you can expect to face a few rejections.

Inspired by my friend and ex-colleague who just finished a series on leadership using sports analogies, this week I started thinking about how your job search and boxing have more in common than you might expect…

So what makes a successful boxer? Overall, it's athlete who doesn’t give up.

If you want to find and land a role you love, don’t give up after a few hits. Switch your strategy, put ice on that bruise and keep going.

Here are 6 boxing tips to help your job search this month… #4 is a great one!

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​1️⃣ Master the Fundamentals

Many people approach their job search in a fragmented way instead of taking time upfront to get clear on the fundamentals and their job search strategy.

Before you press send on any application, make sure you’re clear on what role you want next and why, the skills and experiences you have that will make you a star candidate, and your story.

When you start with clarity, your job search gets much easier. You’ll know when to say yes and when to say no without second guessing yourself.

Keep coming back to these fundamentals throughout your job search. Especially when you get positive or negative feedback from the market.

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​2️⃣Maintain Eye Contact

Eye contact means focus. Show up consistently to your job search. Invest in building the right connections at the organizations you want to work for.

You can have the best job search strategy in the world, but if you don’t consistently work it by creating new leads and investing in relationships, you won’t be ready for THE opportunity when it does arrive. It's the consistent work behind the scenes that makes you ready.

There’s no time like the present to get consistent.

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​3️⃣Fight Low

Maintain humility when you’re job hunting.

Now, humility is different from confidence.

Confidence is knowing you have the right skills and experiences to land your next role. It’s showing up to every networking conversation and interview with articulate examples of your past successes and a plan for how you’ll approach the role you’re interviewing for.

Humility, on the other hand, allows you to accept and apply constructive criticism from the market. It empowers you to maintain perspective and holds up your options when you get hit with a “We’re going with the other candidate” conversation.

Humility is such an endearing quality in a candidate, it’ll open doors for you that you never thought were possible.

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4️⃣ Pick Your Spots, Be Mindful of Energy Expenditure and Don’t Waste Your Power

Unlike the “spray and pray” strategy that so many job seekers use, the top candidate is strategic about which jobs they apply to.

Paired with an effective networking strategy, they let employee referrals open the door to hiring managers at top companies and make the person who referred them look amazing in the process.

Don’t spread yourself too thin. Use your time wisely and invest in building relationships so you have advocates on the inside.

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5️⃣ Get Enough Sleep Before Training Day

Take care of your body while you’re on the job search. Stop staying up until 2AM binge watching Netflix and expect your mind and emotions to be sharp the next day.

Show up with respect to your job search. Put the work in and watch the results come compounding back to you. Let me tell you, a good night’s sleep cures most things (like the acute feelings of rejection and discouragement) and helps maintain perspective.

6️⃣ Make Friends at the Gym

Don’t go at your job search alone. You won’t make it. It’s too lonely and you need input from people you trust when you’re in the midst of a round. Whether it’s a coach like myself, a trusted friend or a mentor, find people who will be there in the trenches when it matters the most.

You wouldn’t train alone as a boxer and expect top notch results, would you? Why do you think your job search is any different?

🤗 Celebrate with our community

This week I'm celebrating with Tanya who started her new role as the Director of Partnerships at a scale-up owner by Mastercard!

After five years in strategy consulting, Tanya knew it was time for a new career chapter, but wasn't sure how to approach her job search. Check out her video to learn how coaching helped her move to this exciting new step in her career.

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So thrilled for you, Tanya!

🥳 Celebrate with me

This week I presented a brand new masterclass called The Cover Letter Masterclass (original, I know!), and shared my best tips to create a high-converting cover letter. Thanks to everyone who joined! It was so much fun to engage with you in the comments.

I'm also heads down preparing for our next masterclass, The Job Search Masterclass on Dec 20th, where I'll break down my best strategies to get your job search set up the right way.

It's been so much fun putting these presentations together for you! Keep the feedback coming!

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When you’re ready, here are some ways I can support you:

​NEW Book FREE 1:1 Career Strategy call with me I'm holding my 2023 pricing until Dec 31st. If you were considering joining a one-on-one coaching program I recommend locking in your spot now before prices go up.

​Join The Job Search Masterclass on Wednesday, December 20 at 12PM ET to get your job search plan and start landing interviews, the easy way (replay link included).