A few months ago I started Zwifting. For those of you unfamiliar with it, zwift is basically an
online platform where you can ride (or run) in a virtual world. It’s like a video game for exercise
bikes. You can join virtual races, workouts, or just ride or run around in different virtual
environments while interacting with other users.
I love biking and was excited at the idea of riding with others around the world who were at a
similar riding level as me. Although, I did have concerns that there would be very few bike
riders in their 50’s who could keep up with my pace and stamina.
Zwift has new riders take an initial riding test so the program can put people into similar activity
level groups – so Group A for the highest riders, all the way down to Group D for the lowest
riders. When my rating came back as Group D, I was certain that there was a major bug in the
program. Anywho, I brushed off my rating and in the following weeks I did a lot of self-directed
workouts.
I then started participating in some Group D rides that were targeted for about an hour and for
approximately 20 miles. During the D group rides, I immediately noticed that I was struggling to
complete each ride. What the heck is going on? I’ve done plenty of 1 hour rides in my lifetime
but now I’m finding difficulty in this virtual world. Each subsequent group ride, I found that I was
struggling more and more to the point where I could barely finish the hour-long ride.
After about 1 month of this struggle (must be a different software issue), what I did next was
what I should have done right away – I did not quit if that is what you are thinking. I started
analyzing each ride; what my mph was for each 10 minute increment, my wattage/power
throughout the ride, what time markers I started falling behind the group, my pace up and down
hills, etc. After 3 more group rides, I started understanding my issues. The core of my issues
were that I began each ride using way too much energy, I was using too much power going
uphills, and I did not take advantage of drafting, unlike most other riders in the group.
This story could be complete if the goal was to highlight my biking ego. But, as I’m a recruiter,
the macro point I’m sharing is to apply strong analysis and dissection to one’s recruiting
process, especially if it is not going as desired.
When I hear people say “I can’t win any job I apply for”, my immediate question to them is
“where are you failing in the process?” My follow-up questions are also very direct – what
response rate are you getting on submitting resumes, how many phone screens do you get,
how many in-person interviews do you get following the phone screen, how many rounds of
interviews do you complete, etc.
The responses, and data, I hear back point to where the individual probably needs to focus on
fixing an issue. If someone submits 100 resumes and only gets 2 replies, possible issues may be related to the resume contents, the overall market, or the method of how the person is applying. Identifying this core issue helps me understand potential fixes.
Likewise, if a person consistently makes it through to office interviews but never gets the final
interviews or offer phase, the individual probably has a preparation and/or interviewing issue.
The good news is that each of the areas can be fixed – but you have to know what you are fixing
first.
Hire Thought– In my biking story, if I continued to struggle in each group ride, there is a possibility that I would quit group rides or zwift altogether. The frustration would become overwhelming and my head
trash would reinforce that I’m just not good enough. But rather than wallowing in muck, just be
curious about your process and assess where you need to improve things. Don’t judge your
past, just work to fix it. And don’t let your ego get in your way!
