Lessons for your job search from March Madness -

Lessons for your job search from March Madness - If youve been preoccupied by the NCAAs March Madness, youre not alone. What lessons can job seekers take from the basketball tournament? Lessons for Job Search from the Tournament Do your research. Everyone seems to have a story about someone who knows nothing about college basketball who wins his or her NCAA pool. No doubt, anyone can get lucky and succeed based on uneducated choices. While you may randomly win the jackpot in your basketball pool, dont count on this approach to help you land a job. Its important to research organizations where you want to work and identify the most applicable and appropriate positions at companies that are most likely to hire someone with your skills and expertise. How can you find the best information? There are many online sources, but sometimes, your best bet is to actually speak to people who work where you want to land a job. Ask questions about the companys biggest challenges, and about what skills and accomplishments the organization values. Embrace the Cinderella story. Just as there always seems to be a story in these tournaments of a breakthrough team that outreaches expectations, its possible for you to succeed by applying to a job that seems beyond your reach. Successful teams can outpace statistically better ones by staying on their games and playing well at the most important moments. Similarly, your best chance to land a job that is beyond your qualifications is to outperform in every respect of your application process. Overcome a long drought. The University of Michigan Wolverines havent had a Final Four berth since 1993. Keep in mind, if you didnt get the job yesterday or you lost out at an interview last week, it doesnt mean you wont succeed tomorrow or the next day. Age doesnt always matter. Michigans starters include many freshmen and sophomores. Many doubted their ability to make it as far as they have. If youre worried that youre too young or old to land the job you want, stop to take stock of what you have to offer and the best ways to demonstrate youre a match to the hiring manager. If you give up and throw in the towel, youll never know what you could have accomplished. Overcome adversity. Anyone who watched Louisville guard Kevin Ware break his leg on the court in the Duke match up was stunned. Ware, however, was yelling, Win the game, win the game, even as his bone was sticking out of his leg. What are you doing to overcome the challenges you face as a job seeker? Read the whole post on my U.S. News World Report column. photo by iDream_in_Infrared