Tips from a seven-year old ambassador

I attended a ceremony yesterday afternoon for my son's basketball camp at a local university expecting to walk away with a few pictures and a cheap certificate showing his participation.  Instead I received a reminder about how your behavior and attitude counts so much even when you think no one is looking.

One of the awards was for the player that the coaches agreed would be a great ambassador for the university and especially its basketball program.  When they said my son's name over the loudspeaker for Mr. Bulldog I couldn't believe it.  I asked him later in the evening if he really understood what an honor it was to win that award.  He didn't, so I explained to him that it had a lot less to do with his basketball skills and much more about how he exhibited good qualities as a supportive teammate, a good listener to the coaches, and his overall approach to the game.  He smiled even bigger than if he had been named MVP of the whole camp.

No one told him before the camp started that the coaches would be keeping a watchful eye for the player that would receive the award.  Yet he came each afternoon with a desire to learn, get better on the court, and pick up life lessons along the way. 

Here is the tie-in to the interview process.  Both candidates and clients alike so often fail to remember that the entire recruitment process is oftentimes a lengthy one and they always need to bring their best to the table.  From silly things on social media that can be viewed as inappropriate for a candidate to off-the-cuff comments before and after a formal interview, people seldom can be described as ambassadors for their organizations or their own candidacy.

As a candidate, are you constantly attempting to improve your background to be more appealing to employers?  As an employer are you creating a culture of winning that permeates from the top to the bottom?  With all of the reasons in the world to put on a front when we know others are looking, can we learn from a seven-year old boy trying his best and giving his all at basketball camp even when he has no idea that someone else is watching his every move?