Switching Teams?

Picture this…

You are Michael Phelps

Canada has an opening on their Olympic Swim Team, and for some reason, you want to switch teams and win Gold Medals for Canada instead.  (Assume for the sake of argument that there are no limitations as to citizenship etc.)

Although Canada is very interested in winning Gold Medals, when the initial shock and awe of Michael Phelps walking into their Aquatic Centre wears off, they are probably going to wonder about your motivations.  WHY does Michael Phelps really want to join OUR team???? 

Our Team is a proud bunch, and we want to win our Medals with people who truly want to be sporting a Maple Leaf, and drinking Maple Syrup from the jug.  So Michael, you have some convincing to do...

When pushed, you come out with a more realistic answer:

“I love swimming for the US, but I am marrying a Canadian, and we are moving to Toronto, so I can’t swim for the US anymore…”

Even though this is a logical answer, and any team would be empathetic to your situation (heck! A man’s gotta swim!), Canada will struggle to feel good about the reason, as you haven’t really said why you WANT to join Team Canada. 

(and if you're still wearing your "stars and stripes" to the meeting, they'll never see you as a Team Canada athlete!)

Yes… this is a ludicrous example, because obviously this blog is about finding a job.  The illustration is important though.  If you are currently interviewing for a new job, you have to convince the new Team that you want to work for them, no matter how logical the reasons are for you needing to.  They want to feel that you are buying into their company, that you like the products / services /culture, etc. and believe that this company is the best one for you.  Still being respectful of your current company, you need to sell them on why you PREFER their team to your current one.  (bragging about your previous company's "stars and stripes" in the interview is probably going to dissuade a new Team to pick you up... not encourage them to. )

The team is going to want to know that you are interested in them, and are passionate about their business.  THIS is what get’s you hired.  NOT just the coincidence that you happen to live in the town they operate in.

Switch teams for the right reasons, and make sure that the new team feels the love!