Last week, I shared some of my favorite tips for hiring new talent; hire a specialist, don’t just hire more coaches, and don’t underestimate the power of a rising star.
Today, I want to approach hiring from a different angle, and instead focus on how to land your dream coaching job.
Whether you’ve always wanted to work for a small coaching business or a huge organization, these tips will help you navigate the often stressful hiring process and ensure that you put your best foot forward.
Let’s dive in.
Follow Up/Thank You
My first tip is one that’s often thought to not be that important by the applicant - follow up and say thank you for the interview.
I’ve hired dozens of people over the years and interviewed hundreds; I’m consistently shocked at how many applicants don’t take this simple step seriously.
If I look back on the hiring processes I’ve been a part of, about 25% of the people interviewed actually took the time to follow up, chase the opportunity, and showcase how passionate they were about landing the role.
This seems like such a simple step to take, yet there are plenty of people who actually don’t do it. Sending a quick note is such an easy way to differentiate yourself from the crowd.
The hiring process is long and stressful for both the applicant and the company hiring, so acknowledging your appreciation for their time and effort is usually very impactful and much appreciated.
A simple “thank you” by email after your interview conveys not only your interest in the role but also reinforces the thoughtfulness and professionalism that you’ll bring to the role if hired.
Additionally, you can add a bit more to the email, reiterating your strengths and including anything important that you forgot to mention during the interview.
Something as simple as a follow-up email could be the very thing that secures the role for you over somebody else.
Utilize Various Resources
Ready for another easy-to-implement tip when looking for your dream coaching job?
Don’t just send a resume.
Find other ways to showcase your skills and passion for coaching. Resumes can be great, but they don’t offer a fully comprehensive look at who you are as a person and as a coach.
Additional resources could be:
-A link to videos that you’ve created
-Your social media channels
-A portfolio of athletes you’ve coached (and their stories)
If you’re reading this, you’re likely using CoachNow, which is also a great addition to your resume. Showcasing how you use it would be really beneficial in landing your next coaching gig as well.
Being able to show prospective businesses that you use all of CoachNow’s features to train your athletes reflects that you’re proactive, and up-to-date on cutting-edge technology, and that you want the very best for your athletes.
The Power of Innovation
I love to talk about the power of being an “intrapreneur” rather than an “entrepreneur”.
You may not have everything together to start your own business, and you may not want to.
But at the very least, the majority of coaching businesses want people who are motivated to be innovative within their company aka treating it as if it was your own.
No matter what industry you’re entering, every company wants to know how you’ll help take ownership of the bottom line - increasing their sales, reducing their costs, and generally improving the business as a whole.
Let’s face it - not everyone has the chops or the risk tolerance to be an entrepreneur.
Regardless, it’s imperative that you bring that innovative mindset into your application process as well as when you get hired and are actually working there.
Everybody brings various strengths to their different roles within a company; in my opinion, embracing those differences is what makes a business truly successful.
No matter what specific title you aspire to have or what responsibilities you hope to have, you need to remember the importance of innovation.
After conducting your research on the company, come prepared to the interview with some new ideas that you’d be excited to implement upon being hired.
A healthy company will value individuals who bring fresh, cutting-edge ideas to the table and are eager to watch the company thrive and play a role in it’s growth.
Choose A Role With Longevity
Finally, I want to discuss something that’s very prevalent in this industry - there’s a LOT of turnover in coaching.
When you’re choosing your next role, ask yourself a few questions (this list isn’t all-inclusive, but is a good place to start):
-Will I be able to grow in this role?
-Am I excited about the opportunities it could provide?
-Can I envision myself there for the long haul?
If you can only see yourself in this coaching role for the short term, it’s not the right choice for you.
By selecting multiple short-term coaching stints instead of long-term jobs, over time, your resume will look super spotty (a huge red flag) and people will be afraid to bring you on.
Obviously, there are certain aspects of a job that you simply can’t know about until you’ve been hired and are working there every day.
But even so, really take the time when job hunting to ensure to the best of your ability that you'll be happy in this role for a long time. Hopefully, it'll be a great fit and. you won't even be interested in a new job down the road. But if you do end up searching for a new role, your resume will be so much stronger.