How are you beating the competition?

March Madness has reached the peak of excitement, a great time for college basketball lovers. Teams are competing to become the champion. Fans are competing to have the best bracket predictions. What are you competing for? A full-time job?

Follow our playbook to become a first-round draft pick.

Practice makes perfect 

No good player was made over night.  Players develop their skills by practicing. You are practicing your skills through your internship and class projects. Display your strengths on your résumé and show off your talents.

No one hits the court without warming up first. You should be prepared for your interview.  Practice for your interview by reviewing typical interview questions and rehearsing your answers with a friend, family member or advisor. Practicing will make you a well-rounded player for your dream job.

Listen to your coach, know your team

Coaches inspire people to be their best while guiding them down the right path, same as a mentor. Be sure to seek out a mentor during your internship. Mentors help contribute to professional development. The connections that your mentor has can help you get the full-time job you are looking for. Performing well in front of your mentor also gives them the opportunity to know what you are capable of.

A coach brings a team together. Teams have to work together and form lasting relationships to get to the goal of winning. Focus on building relationships with your coworkers and network with them. Your coworkers also have a network of people that can help you score big; keep them informed of your on-going search progress. Your teammates are there to assist you.

Take a time-out

Time-outs allow for a coach to communicate with their team and help determine strategy or inspire. Don’t you want those things from your mentor? Ask for time to meet with your mentor to get feedback about your performance. Also, take a time-out for yourself. Breathe. Look at all of the things you have accomplished while interning. Make sure to add items to your portfolio.

Know your plays

Create a game plan. Every winning team is backed by a great game plan with good plays. Don’t go into your job search blind. Research the company so you know what you are actually interviewing for and how you fit in with the company’s culture. Doing this lets you know which skills of yours to highlight. Make sure your resume is up to par. If you were blocked from scoring, watch the playback so you know what to change the next time. What can you do better the next time? Form a different strategy if your current play isn’t working. The more time, determination and energy you put into planning and executing, the better your results will be.

This playbook will lead you to drive past the competition and slam-dunk.

Always put your best foot forward, you never know when someone is looking to scout you.