My name is Chizoba Okodogbe. I graduated from the University of Oregon in 2014 with majors in Sociology and Psychology. Being a student-athlete at the UO, my main focus definitely wasn't centered on what I was going to do after I graduated and finished with sports. Now that I find myself in this position, I'm taking the time to actively explore what I would like to do with my life. I have a vague idea of the bigger goals I want to achieve within the next three years, but before I commit a lot of time and money (to attend graduate school) to attaining those goals, I want to be as certain as possible that I am going for things that I actually want.

One of my dreams in life is to find a way to make an impact on people’s lives. My life has been a relatively smooth ride up until now, so I feel as if I owe it the world to help those who have had more challenging times in their life. And as with most people, money is part of what success means to me. But for now, I am simply enjoying the exploration of life outside of athletics and academics.

The Job Search Process and The Hunger Games

I recently came to the conclusion that the job search process is loosely the real world equivalent of the Hunger Games. Ultimately, it boils down to multiple applicants (tributes) trying to beat out other competitors to attain a coveted position. That being said, my first “Hunger Games” left me with some valuable lessons:

1) Put in many applications for various jobs. 

You never know when your name will be reaped. If you’re adamant about working for a specific company, put multiple applications in for different positions; just make sure each application is tailored for the individual position you’re applying for. Or, if the company has more than one opening for the same position, perhaps in different locations, apply for them all. Getting your foot in the door is the first step. It’s about gaining experience and growing your skills.

2) When you finally get called for an interview, employ your own team of Cinnas. 

The majority of applicants will be nervous going into an interview, so looking the part, and dressed professionally is a great way to gain confidence when the time approaches. Recently while waiting for my interview, I noticed that I was dressed more professionally than the other tributes, and that actually increased my confidence in the moment.

3) Anticipate fireballs the game makers will throw at you. 

The fireball came at me mid-interview. My interviewer asked me a question and I'm pretty sure the blankness in my head was revealed in my eyes. The silence went on too long, so I blurted the first thing that came to mind. In hindsight, telling the interviewer that I would “do it all myself” probably wasn't the correct answer for a corporation that emphasizes “working together” and teamwork. To minimize the risk of a situation like this, it is absolutely key to do your research on the company beforehand and incorporate what you've learned into your interview. Take time to think about what a question is really asking. Each answer is an opportunity to prove that you know what that company stands for and why you would be a good fit. Present your previous experience to highlight your relevant skills and show that you connect with the company's values. In addition, it's usually best not to blurt out the first thing that pops into your head.

4) Finally, listen to advice from your sponsors and past and current tributes. 

Probably the most important thing you can do is to network with people who have previously been in your shoes or work for the company you want to be a part of. Everyone has heard the saying, “It's not what you know, but who you know.” It took this recent experience for me to truly understand this. If not for the people I knew, I may not even have been called for an interview. Furthermore, my contacts gave me so much helpful information and insight that I otherwise would not have had access to, if I didn’t know anyone within the organization.. When you have an idea of what to expect, it makes the interviewing and job search process a little less stressful.

I'm sure that there are many other real life lessons that can be taken from the Hunger Games, but these are a few that really stuck out to me. Overall, take each interview as an educational experience. No matter how good or bad the interview goes, there's always a lesson (and sometimes a funny story) that can be learned from it. And unlike the Hunger Games, everyone survives.

Chizoba