Just the way every winning team is backed by a great coach; every successful venture starts with the right recruiting.
The job of every recruiter is no different from that of a coach who finds talented players, hones them, and maximizes their chances of success. With 2017 bringing in some really good opportunities for job seekers, the competition among companies looking to hire talent is going to get fierce. Below are 5 sports strategies that you can apply to successfully attract, engage, recruit and retain the best. 

1. A Strong Starting Lineup = Higher Chances of Success

A victorious team is a perfect mix of talented players with a passion to perform and that is why every coach is always in search of a sports star that can turn the tables. In order to bring the best player on the team, a coach uses his personal and professional networks, alumni groups, adverts, monetary benefits and sponsorships.
 
As a recruiter, it is your job to find prospects with a sense of passion and the dedication to perform because they are the ones who can impact your bottom line. Today every role has to contribute to the company’s ROI and this is only possible with the right people. Look for prospects that can align their careers goals with your business goals. For this you need to pay close attention to what drives them – paychecks, work-life balance, growth opportunities, challenges, position, or autonomy and use it strategically to build a strong starting lineup that leads your company to sustainable success.

2. Recruit for a Marathon; Not a Sprint = Think Long-term Hiring 

Whether it is an athlete or an accountant, their career marathon cannot be treated as a sprint. This is why college sports have several strategies to keep their athletes excited and interested throughout their tenure. They take efforts to learn about their player’s personal aspirations, passion and priorities and use them to help them progress. This is what keeps the players fully engaged and productive all the way through.
As a company recruiter, this practice can help you attract candidates and keep them interested to work with you. With skilled talent constantly switching jobs in search of better prospects, you need to ensure that your offer accompanies a meaningful career ladder, an attractive monetary compensation and complete job satisfaction if you want your top talent to stay for long.

3. The Outcome Matters; Efforts Don’t = Focus on Performance & Not Qualifications

Sports have no place for impressive qualifications because every single athlete has to perform on the field. Only if they can compete with the best of breed and perform at the top level, do they make it to the Olympics. So, recruiters should not get influenced and impressed by a candidate’s previous performance or outstanding achievements, as rarely does a promising resume coincide with real-life productivity. The candidate may not bring to the table what he has to offer on paper. Just like a coach uses trials, a recruiter can employ task-based tests to assess the skill-set, knowledge and aptitude needed for the required position. Top candidates will prove their potential with ease.

4. There is No Place for “I” in a Sports Team = Look for Dynamic A Players  

Team dynamics play a crucial role both in the victory of a sports team and in the success of a business venture. The ability of an athlete to perform efficiently as a team member is gauged during team practices, social hours, and sports events. For both the coach and the hiring manager, this experience sheds light on who is a culture fit, who can contribute to the success of the team, who can lead efficiently, and who can perform under pressure.
 
Recruiters can invite prospective candidates to shadow an existing team member for a day or two and see how it works. You can also host a happy hour party or a networking event where your potential employees can interact with the existing staff to see if they will make a perfect addition to your existing mix and add value.

5. The Ability to Overcome Every Challenge = Switching Outdated Techniques with Automation

Every athlete who competes in the Olympics has a strong sense of purpose and dedication which goes way beyond monetary benefits and social fame. They are the ones who have the ability to overcome every odd in life to achieve what they aspire for. The same can be the case with your employees. Imagine if an athlete with a double amputee can complete with able-bodied counterparts, what an impact would those employees make who are filled with the passion for succeeding. But bringing them onboard requires you to compete with rivals in your niche and for this you too need to overcome every hurdle that might get in your way - right from your time-consuming manual approach to outdated tools and techniques.
 
Whether it is athletics or recruitment, your game plan has to be well-planned and executed in order to be successful because a good team will still deliver results without a coach but even an excellent coach cannot do wonders with passive players. As a modern day recruiter you can use an applicant tracking system to automate all your monotonous and time-consuming tasks and stay focused on searching the right fit that can add value. A cloud-based recruitment software is designed to do everything right from posting jobs on multiple platforms and screening candidates to scheduling interviews and tracking them at every stage. So save your time and effort to go that extra mile and stay on top of your game.
 
Author Bio: Kelly Barcelos is a progressive digital marketing manager specializing in HR and is responsible for leading Jobsoid’s content and social media team. When Kelly is not building campaigns, she is busy creating content and preparing PR topics. She started with Jobsoid as a social media strategist and eventually took over the entire digital marketing team with her innovative approach and technical expertise.