The Parallels Of Surfing And Job Search

First, let’s get something straight. I am not a surfer. Oh, I’ve tried. Long board or short board, I am a miserable surfer.

But as a creative person in the midst of a job search last year, I was always looking for analogies (ways to understand and cope with what I was going through). I thought this was especially helpful in job search since it is an irregular experience for most of us. One of my hopes is that this blog will, among other things, help you to successfully cope with the ups and downs of the search.

So, how is job search similar to surfing, you say? I see five similarities:

1. Skill – Surfing requires real skill and dedication. A skill that comes naturally to some and painfully to others. If you are good, it is obvious to other surfers. When you are not, you could be shunned or banned from the beach. The skills for job search include strategy, communications, humility and assertiveness. Without these skills you may not be banned but you will have limited support from your network.

2. Balance – It seems pretty obvious that standing on a board perched on a fast moving wave requires significant balance. For the job seeker, balance comes in a number of ways. You have to decide where to spend your time between networking lunches, job search boards, e-mail marketing, informational interviews, etc. Being out of balance means you are spending time doing the wrong things.

3. Experience – Surfers know the water, the beach and the weather. Over the years, they learn the patterns of the surf. Job search also requires knowledge of the landscape and it is painfully obvious if you are without this experience. Smart job seekers look for help from key folks in the job community – people such as recruiters, career coaches and other mentors.

4. Patience – While sitting on their boards, surfers are a patient bunch. They know the ocean and understand that waves come in “sets” – three or four at a time and then nothing for a period of time. In my experience, job opportunities reflect a similar pattern. During my 5 month search last year, I experienced a “set” about every four weeks. Coincidence? Maybe.

5. Decisiveness – Because a set comes along infrequently, a surfer has to be decisive. If you don’t catch one in the set, you are left waiting for the next one. If you believe in the analogy for job search, another set will come and you can rest easy knowing it is out there – forming. If you have a strong sense of what you are looking for in your next job, the wave to catch will be obvious. Do not hesitate.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this analogy. Dead on or trying too hard?

Do you have an analogy that you think works better? Let me know . . .

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