The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics took place on Friday, August 5 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with different countries, individuals, and cultures uniting around the world for this historic, international event that occurs every four years.
The Opening Ceremony tradition dates all the way back 776 B.C., when the Ancient Olympic Games were held in Greece. And yet, even today, there’s still so much everyone can learn from the ceremonies, including prospective employers who are looking to hire top-notch applicants.
- How to Make People Feel Welcomed. The idea of the Opening Games is to celebrate everyone’s talents and contributions, and that’s just what employers should do when they welcome prospective job candidates into their offices. After all, the prospective employees aren’t the only ones trying to impress; the prospective employers should be, too. The Olympics roll out the red carpet for their participants, so to speak, and so should firms when it comes to inspiring their contenders.
- Extending an Olive Branch. At the Ancient Olympic Games, winners won an olive wreath. Typically, olive wreaths or branches signify peace, so employers should want to make sure they present a winning culture that is accepting of differences. New and fresh ideas are the backbone to any company’s future success.
- Carry the Torch. In the Olympic Games opening ceremony, typically the end-goal is to light the final torch, an objective that has been going on for the weeks leading up to the event. As an employer, it’s important for prospective employees to know exactly what’s expected of them, what their goals might be for the company, and what they need to do to carry the torch to success.
There’s a lot of training that goes into being an Olympian, and the Opening Ceremonies celebrate these world-class athletes and what they’ve done to get where they are. Employers should treat prospective employees with the same dignity, respect, and transparency as the Olympic ceremonies do. Just as this tradition breeds top-level talent, it can do the same for the workplace.
Bernie Reifkind is the CEO and founder of Premier Search, Inc. a nationwide executive search and placement firm. In addition, Bernie provides career guidance and strategic interviewing techniques to professionals at all levels. P: 1(800) 801-1400 or email at ceo@premiersearch.com.