Hire from the Bench
Yes, that bench. The sports one.
As we enter summer, tens of thousands of recent grads are combing LinkedIn in search their first “real” job.
Hiring managers will be flooded with applications for entry level roles, each touting one striking accomplishment after the other. With each passing year, I’m more impressed with the breadth and depth of experience recent grads have.
But.
There’s something special about a bench player. Maybe they’ve had injuries. Maybe they’re just a bit less talented than your first string (hey, we can’t all be Caitlin or Angel). Whatever the case, they put in the work – they get up at the same ungodly hour, run the same countless laps, and take the same uncomfortable bus rides.
They don’t get the glory though. They aren’t typically making the game-winning shot, their faces aren’t on billboards, they have small to non-existent scholarships, and arenas don’t chant their names.
These are the people that have the traits your entry level roles need: intrinsic motivation, discipline, coachability, grit.
Intrinsic motivation - most new hires are used to getting good grades. When they enter the working world though, they don’t get that weekly formal reinforcement of their skills. You want a bench player who wants to learn and grow because they find it rewarding, not because they want you to tell them they are doing a good job (which you should do, however!).
Discipline – bench players aren’t relying on their sport to carry them to their professional career, so they need a well-rounded collegiate experience (good grades, extracurriculars, a semblance of a social life). But they have a part-time job’s worth of practice, travel, and games each week. Now, that is a kid that can manage their time.
Coachability – your new hire is going to make mistakes. Probably a bunch of them. What you want are different mistakes though. Bench players crave feedback – good, bad, and ugly (ahem, critical). They reflect and strive to execute.
Grit – the passion and perseverance for long-term goals. Not talent; not luck; not fleeting interest. The bench player has demonstrated that they can put the time in for something they care about. Make sure they care about the work they’re doing, and you’ve got a foundation for a strong employee.
As you peruse those resumes and chat with countless accomplished young people, poke at the ones who maybe weren’t the A-team, hear what they’ve learned. Chances are these bench players have something to contribute.
Thanks for reading,
Shannon
P.S. If you read this thinking, “bench player” could be replaced with “student from a marginalized group, or who went to a less selective college, or who had to work through school,” you got the point. Happy hiring!