Today is the 11th stage in the 96th annual Tour de France, the racers have either just finished up or are close to 
finishing up the leg of the race that takes them from Vatan, France to Saint – Fargeau, France. Running from Saturday July 4th to Sunday July 26th 2009, the Tour de France consists of 21 stages where participants ride a total distance of 3,500 kilometers or 2174.799 miles through mountains and flat land. The racers participating in the Tour de France did not just wake up in the morning and decide that they were going to go on a 2,174 mile bike ride; no they spent endless hours preparing and training for the race. To them racing and biking is their career. The time they spend conditioning themselves is just part of the job that prepares them achieve their ultimate goal of standing at the top of the podium and waving the coveted “Yellow Jersey” over their head.
Those in the job market can learn a lesson or two from the contenders of the Tour de France. Your job search is like pre-race conditioning and preparation to reach your ultimate goal of getting a job. Let’s take a look at some of the steps these racers take and see how they can help you as a job seeker to reach the top of the podium so you can wave your “Yellow Jersey”.
What’s at the finish line –
It’s a given that the goal of the bikers is to win the Tour de France title, but as a job seeker what is your ultimate goal? What do you want to get out of your job search? Take some time to define your goal upfront. This allows you to know the next steps to take in order to achieve it.
Know your strengths –
Since the terrain throughout the Tour de France varies the racers need to know where they can use their strengths to get the most out of each stage.
In your job search you need to know your strengths so you can either improve on the weaker ones or know how to strategize your search to highlight your selling points.
Find respectable coaches and colleagues to go to for advice –
The riders in the race have a set of coaches helping them along the way. After each stage in the race there is someone there to help them out and advise them on ways to improve.
In the job hunt it might be wise to find a recruiter or headhunter to lead you on the right path. They know the market and what specific companies are looking for. They will put you on a path that will be most beneficial for you and your career.
Find a team that you can trust –
In the Tour de France a good team becomes extremely important when the race gets close. The racers rely on their team to protect them from other riders, act as a wind blocker so the rider uses less energy and keeps the head rider nourished through food and water throughout the race.
It is important to surround yourself with positive and trustworthy people during your search. They can act as a crutch when things aren’t going as planned, give you’re a different perspective on how to do things and be another set of ears in the marketplace.
Your equipment can make or break you –
Having the right tires, bike frame and riding gear make a huge difference to the racers. With the most up to date and state of the art tools the racers can achieve a competitive advantage.
In your job search your equipment and tools are your resume and skills. Make sure you keep your resume up to date with buzz words appropriate to the job you are going after and that it portrays your past experience accurately. Take refresher courses for the skills you have or take a class to learn a popular new technology.
Keep up with the times –
Cyclers are constantly testing new methods and ways to reach their goal. If they work they work if they don’t they don’t.
Social media is what is popular today. Test out different social networking sites and cater them to you needs, if one doesn’t work out try another, and another, and another, and another. In tough times you need to put your thinking cap on and be creative with your networking. Think of ways you can stand out that no one else is doing.
Understand the climate –
Racers must think one step ahead of Mother Nature. They need to anticipate rain, sleet, wind or snow and know the right way to maneuver around in it.
Know what is going on in the economy or your market, when things are tough you need to adjust your ways and do what is right for the time. Always be prepared for anything that may come your way.
Know your competition –
A number of teams participate in the Tour de France and each team needs to know how their competitors run their race to properly setup their strategy.
As a job seeker you need to know your competition as well. By networking with others in your market you will get a better idea of who you will be going up against in your hunt. It allows you to adjust your equipment and setup your search so you can stand out.
Take calculated risks –
To win the Tour de France the riders have to be risk takers, they have to know when to make their move to pass their competition and know when to stay behind to conserve energy. These risks are only taken if the racer will benefit from it.
Think of ways your career will benefit by taking risks. Are you working for a large company and thinking of moving to smaller one? That is a huge risk and if you are willing to make it you should prepare yourself. Be aware of the hazards that might arise and compare them to the benefits you will receive.
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