Unlock Your Potential with The Power of Preparation

As a former professional hockey player turned recruiter, I have seen firsthand the power of preparation in both sports and professional careers. It's not just about feeling confident, it's about taking the necessary steps to truly unlock your full potential. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, the importance of preparation cannot be overstated. From job interviews to big presentations, being prepared can make the difference between success and failure. So, sit back, relax, lets talk about how you can take your career to the next level.

The mental grind of preparation may not be at the forefront of everyone's priorities. Often in life, the things we prepare for are not. I, for instance, I spent 15 years of my life preparing for an opportunity to play Division 1 college hockey. I was focused, but truly never could say with confidence this opportunity would come. We are all in chase of dreams/level of success but are truly never certain these opportunities will present themselves. The only thing we can do is make sure we are ready. What is remarkable is that we're all willing to invest so much heart and soul into something that may not happen. Imagine if we dedicated the same level of preparation and commitment to pursuing our professional passions? The results could be extraordinary.

By being thoroughly prepared, we position ourselves to take advantage of those rare opportunities for greatness that come our way. These chances may be few and far between, but when they do arise, they can have a transformative impact on our lives. The key is to be able to recognize what these opportunities look like and to be prepared to seize them

Benefits & Power of Preparation

At every stage of life, preparation plays a crucial role in achieving success. Whether it's preparing for a job interview, studying for an exam, or planning for retirement, preparation is key. When you're prepared, you're more confident, more focused, and more likely to succeed. Preparation helps you anticipate challenges, minimize risks, and seize opportunities. It allows you to take control of your life and career, rather than simply reacting to circumstances.

It is a mindset that can help you perform at your best every day. When you take the time to prepare, you can expect to see better job performance and productivity. If you approach anything in life with a mindset of continually learning & improvement, you will witness firsthand the power of preparation.

The Risks of Not Being Prepared

Looking at the opposite side of things can be a scary thought, as it may result in missed opportunities, lost time, and even failure. Regret is the single worst thought to overcome, especially when it stems from being unprepared for an opportunity that could have made a significant impact on your life. Although it can be a learning experience at times, you can never truly know how much potential that one missed opportunity had.

Being unprepared can result in mistakes, missed details, and poor decisions, which can have a negative impact on both your career and personal life. It may lead to missed deadlines, lost clients, and damaged relationships. This ties into my previous newsletter about anxiety and excitement in your career. Anxiety often stems from being unprepared for the unknown. Imagine the benefits of spending just 20-30 minutes every day preparing for various situations and having a continuous learning mindset. You can become an untouchable source and easily capitalize on any situation that arises.

Six Strategies for Preparation

Preparing for any task requires a thoughtful approach, and the same goes for preparing for a job interview. There are several strategies you can use to help you prepare and increase your chances of success but here a few:

Winning Strategies for Interview Success: How to Prepare, Research, and Impress 

As much as you think you have it you don’t!

Walking into an interview without preparation is an easy way to be passed over by your competition. In today's job market, having a flashy resume and experience is not enough to land you a job. It's all about how you present yourself in the interview. Merely showing up is not enough; you must do more than your competition. You need to have a competitive mindset when entering an interview, as 99% of the time, you will not be the only candidate the company is considering. So, how do you prepare? The simple answer is practice.

• Practice the way you answer basic interview questions.

• Practice the way you introduce yourself.

• Practice the way you will sell your skill & experience to interviewer with confidence.

• Practice the questions you will ask. (Based on your research)

• Research The Position

• Research The Company

• Research The Interviewer

Go Into the Interview with This Mindset

Be confident in the skills you bring to the table. Do not over explain or talk to compensate for areas that you feel like you lack in.

Be knowledgeable, In today's digital world information is endless. Do not walk into a interview blind, Research the company, position, & interviewer. Your main goal is to turn the interview into a conversation. The only way you are able to accomplish this is finding talking points to bring up during your interview.

Be Humble, you do not know everything so do not try to convince the interviewer that you do. Go into the interview with a open mind and willingness to learn & grow in a new environment.

Be Featured in The Talent Talk

I'd be delighted to showcase success stories or humorous stories related to your job search or interview process in every newsletter. These stories will always be kept completely anonymous. You can submit your story by responding to the newsletter or sending me a message on LinkedIn. Your story might resonate with someone in a similar situation or bring a smile to their face in an already stressful situation!

Like always if I can help in anyway, please do not hesitate to connect with me on LinkedIn.