
A guide to the selection process:
The word career has a number of possible origins, one of which is the French word for horse race ‘carriere’. But if a career is a horse race, what kind of event would it be? Over the summer we have watched a range of equestrian events: cross country, show jumping, dressage, team and individual.
There are also flat races, steeplechases and point to points.
A cross-country career would involve lots of twists and turns, different gradients and a series of challenges, some more unexpected than others. A dressage career would be one where perfection would matter, a slow and precise exercise after years of training and practice. It might be a career that is one of the exercises of consummate skill. A show jumper learns simple jumps and keeps on progressing to higher and higher jumps. Horse racing is more of a career of tactic, at what point in the race do you go flat out? Where do you position the horse on
Going over the jumps in a steeplechase adds an extra challenge, and unlike show jumping
Careers are not really horse races, but there are some things to be learnt by considering the parallels. And in another respect
When it comes to applying for jobs and going through a selection process, you could do worse than think of it as an equestrian event; but more of a three-day event than a dressage or show jumping.
You need the right breeding, i.e. background of education, skills and aptitudes; and then you need the preparation and practice. Just as a jockey or rider walks the course and tests the ground, you need to familiarise yourself with the territory and plan out how you are going to win the race – because in selection there is only one winner. It is
Since it is
One of the lessons we have learned from the fantastic sporting summer is that every athlete needs their trainer or coach. If you want to excel at any sport or in any selection event, get yourself a coach. Someone who understands what it takes, who will give you great feedback, who will correct your faults and give you all the encouragement and confidence building you need.
So remember, applying for a job is a steeplechase, so get around the course, get past the post first… and do it better with a coach!