Not everyone enjoys college basketball, but the NCAA’s March Madness tournament is an exciting thing to watch. I, personally, get hooked on the enthusiasm of the fans. I also love those last-minute game-winning shots, especially when the home crowd rushes the court to celebrate.

In stark contrast to the spirit of March Madness, your average job search is rarely a celebratory affair. The experience is intense, but for many, it’s more like torture than a basketball tournament.

That said, the interview process does have some things in common with a basketball tournament. Each candidate is scrutinized for strengths, weaknesses, and potential competitiveness. Those who make it through each round of the interview process will eventually emerge victorious above all competitors.

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Unfortunately, few candidates really understand their value.

My clients never seem to understand their full potential until I’ve worked closely with them to flesh it all out.

1. Get Some Early Wins

In March Madness, the losers go home with no second chance. Similarly, when no one notices your unique abilities, you have no shot at landing your dream job.

You win when your achievements meet the employer’s needs. How can you score some early wins to really show off your skills? Schedule some informational interviews. Find employees at your target companies and network. Get that first request for an interview.

Read 8 Ways to Foster Effective Job Interview Conversations

2. Get Your Team Involved

It’s rare for an individual to carry their whole team all the way to the championship. Making it that far takes everyone doing their part.

You, similarly, need a job search team. Career coaches, references, supportive network contacts, and even the people who watch your kids while you go on interviews – they are your team. You must keep all of your teammates engaged and enthusiastic in order to succeed.

3. Out-Compete Other Candidates

You need to compete to land the job. You need to impress the potential employer more than anyone else does.

To do this, you need to know what your competitors are doing and how they are winning over employers. The point is not to copy your competitors. On the contrary, you will need to do better than they do; you will need to exceed the employer’s expectations.

4. Use Your Timeouts Wisely

During March Madness, coaches wait to use their timeouts until doing so is critical. Similarly, the use of timeouts at the right moments is crucial to your job search success and your well-being. Take timeouts wisely. Give your body and mind time to re-energize when need be.

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5. Finish Strong

Even if your interview went well, you must accept your competition might do better. The little things matter. Thank-you notes, follow-up calls, and how you treat the people with whom you come in contact make all the difference. Your best bet is to connect with interviewers and potential referrers on social media and through personal contact. Keep the relationships warm.

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Those of us who watch the NCAA tournament understand the enthusiasm, drama, and unpredictability of March Madness. The competitive spirit makes it exciting for us fans.

Many job seekers enter “Job Search Madness” knowing others are doing the same, but few understand the competitiveness needed to win over employers. Just as you expect a team to compete in order to win the tournament, you should expect to put in the same kind of effort to position yourself as the best candidate.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers," career consultant, job seeker advocate, career writer, and founder of this award-winning blog. I help the employed, unemployed, underemployed, and under-appreciated find jobs using job search strategies to navigate the new job market. I aim to give a safe place online to those with different needs, cultures, and ethnicities to find their voice in the job market. Thousands have read my career advice throughout the web as I write about everything from job search strategies to the mobile job search. I have published more than 400 articles on this blog and some of the largest career sites such as Recruiter.com, YouTern, and Come Recommended. I've been quoted in major online publications such as Monster, TIME/Money, Fortune, Business Insider and MSN. FlexJobs, JobMonkey, Aerotek, Career Pivot, and CareerSherpa listed my podcast as one of the top podcasts to help your job search. Love for you to sign up for the weekly newsletter. I share the latest articles I've written, new podcast episodes, and answer any questions you may have. The new job search is scary and if you need help, I am here for it!

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