"As long as there are games to play, it is never over"

As those who know me know, I am a massive Manchester United fan. This announcement is usually met with a sigh or groan. I could talk about Man United and football in general all day. However, rest assured, this isn't the subject of this article.??

The title - "as long as there are games to play, it is never over", is from one of my all-time heroes and Britain's most successful manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. This quote has particular pertinence as the end of the calendar year (and Christmas) approaches. I'm sure many will agree that the final quarter is a strange, uncertain time for business, and recruitment is no different.??

There's still time to achieve your goals...??

We have regular internal chats about current processes and general ongoings and discuss future planning. However, it is easy to make excuses and rest on your laurels in life and in the workplace. After all – complacency is human nature. At the time of writing, we have just over a month before things officially slow down for the festive season. When you think about it, that's a long time. To put it into context, imagine your reaction if you were told your boiler couldn't be fixed for a month? You'd be rightfully angry as it's a significant length of time.

Staying motivated...??

Trying to keep yourself constantly motivated is tough, even more so, when you have a lot going on in and out of work. Working from home has its advantages, and as somehow who largely works remotely, keeping to a tight routine/schedule is crucial, especially with a World Cup looming. Whilst it may seem cringy, reading quotes like the one above and googling advice from inspirational figures is a massive help to me.???

Aside from his numerous achievements, one thing that makes Sir Alex unique is that he bridges the polarising nature of football, as nearly all fans respect him. He came from virtually nothing, and like many people with a "rags to riches" story, he is genuinely interesting and inspiring. Growing up, I watched him overturn many deficits during games at the last minute and come from behind in title races to win premier leagues.?However, it wasn't always plain sailing, and the way he dealt with setbacks and adversity was as impressive as his successes.

There are numerous highs and lows in recruitment, so resilience is a key trait for recruiters. Anyone can deal well with success- who can't? It's how you deal with the hiccups in between and the inevitable lows that dictate your success. This can be made harder when working from home, as you may lack someone to vent to across the desk and risk overthinking and/or dwelling on things. However, keeping grounded, and remembering quotes like the one above really help when we experience lows.???

Tips for success...

Our internal meetings at Sonder are largely informal and jovial; however, we did have a serious chat about the above earlier in the week, hence the article. It stuck with me, and since then, I've been thinking of ways to improve. Self-awareness and personal development are key if you want to be truly successful in any pursuit. Going back to football, how often do we see young players burst onto the scene, be rewarded with a six-figure contract and then disappear into the abyss? Compare that with your Messi's, Ronaldo's and Rooney's.???

Some tips I have observed from those who have achieved hugely successful, long-standing careers include:???

??1.?????? Set a schedule, stay consistent and disciplined. Often the days when we aren't feeling our best yet achieve all our objectives are the most satisfying?days.

2.?????? Stay grounded and look at the big picture by listing your long-term goals. We all have good days and bad days, that's life. But, if we end up having more good days than bad, it probably means we're on the right track.

3.?????? Take personal responsibility. If something isn't working, reach out to a manager or a colleague. Some people may see reaching out for help/advice as a weakness, that couldn't be further from the truth, it shows self-awareness and a willingness to better yourself. Look at your day-to-day activities and see what you can tweak. It may even be something in your personal life, maybe up your daily exercise, adapt your diet, read and have some downtime.??

?Set your sights high in Q4! ?

From a recruitment perspective, we are still incredibly busy at Sonder across all three offices. There can be a misconception that Q4 isn't a good time to look. Whilst candidates rarely begin a role in December, three of my Q1 2022 placements came from conversations with candidates in November/December 2021. Rest assured, firms will still interview top candidates, and processes will continue. In fact, if anything, you are at an advantage putting yourself ahead of others who may wait until January/February to begin their search, thus limiting competition.??