Will You Be the Next Cliff Lee?

Posted By: Mark Anderson
Filed Under: executive recruiters, mark anderson, job search, network, cliff lee, world series, baseball, free agency, texas rangers, résumé

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So far, October baseball has been filled with excitement and controversy, from Roy Halladay's no-hitter to several blown calls by the umpires. This time of year always seems to bring out the best in ball players. The defense is crisper, the fundamentals are executed more consistently, and the intensity is far greater than the regular season.

Regardless of who ultimately wins the 2010 World Series, many of the players participating in this year's playoffs have another goal in mind — free agency, which begins almost immediately after the last ball has been caught. This post-season's prime free agent to be is Cliff Lee of the Texas Rangers, who has a great opportunity to impress his potential employers on the strength of his performance over the coming days and weeks.

I've often been envious of baseball players like Cliff Lee. Not because I want to play professional baseball, but because Mr. Lee has a unique opportunity to conduct his job search solely on his talents and abilities, because his potential employers can follow his successes (and failures) through television, newspapers and scouting reports. He doesn't have to write a résumé, expand his network or develop an "elevator speech" to get the word out that he is looking for a new job. Everyone in his industry knows who he is and how his talents and skills would fit in their organization. And every organization that can afford him will be bidding for him as soon as free agency begins.

Wouldn't it be great to be Cliff Lee? I'll let you in on a secret: You are Cliff Lee. You're not the average ball player. Your value is unique. Your contribution to your company based on your on-field performance is the asset top players in your industry need and organizations consistently look for. Maybe the only difference between you and Cliff Lee is visibility. Your story may not be coming across, at least not to the right people. If top recruiters are scouting in one place, but you're in a different ballpark, you probably won't get the call.

Batter up!

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Mark Anderson 's avatar Mark Anderson
Mark Anderson is ExecuNet's president and chief economist. An Arjay Miller Scholar, Mark received his MBA from Stanford University and a BA in economics from Yale University. He joined ExecuNet in 1993, with extensive marketing and new product and business development experience, having served as president and founder of A&M Associates, an investment management firm. Mark's corporate leadership experience includes several senior marketing and financial positions with RCA Global Communications (a GE subsidiary) and American Can Company.