WSJ Article- Jobs are now looking at people's golf swings to help with clients

[Ironman_32]

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/jobs-hiring-golf-business-deals-ec171cde?mod=hp_featst_pos4

 

I remember when they said that golfing with/in the office was a dying thing, looks like its back. Start putting the handicap on the resume and a QR code to the swing videos. 

[MtlJeff]

On 6/13/2024 at 2:37 PM, Ironman_32 said:

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/jobs-hiring-golf-business-deals-ec171cde?mod=hp_featst_pos4

 

I remember when they said that golfing with/in the office was a dying thing, looks like its back. Start putting the handicap on the resume and a QR code to the swing videos. 

 

Interesting, i wouldn't say this is something i've seen in my industry---but being good at golf is generally something that helps overall.

 

When i have told people my handicap in the past in my younger days, i have gotten invites to play with execs i certainly otherwise wouldn't have. 

[aenemated]

Haha At a job many years ago; word got out around the office that I was an alright golfist. I got invited to play a round with a client and after a solid showing, word got to the owner ... and I became the go-to guy send out when needed. 

 

I'd roll into the office in the afternoon and my manager would be all "Where've you been?" "Oh, was playing golf with [insert client.] Check with Paul, it's cool." 😂

[TiScape]

11 minutes ago, aenemated said:

Haha At a job many years ago; word got out around the office that I was an alright golfist. I got invited to play a round with a client and after a solid showing, word got to the owner ... and I became the go-to guy send out when needed. 

 

I'd roll into the office in the afternoon and my manager would be all "Where've you been?" "Oh, was playing golf with [insert client.] Check with Paul, it's cool." 😂

Golfist okay, golfing bad. ✔️ 

I’m figuring it out slowly but surely buddy! 

🤣

[aenemated]

47 minutes ago, TiScape said:

Golfist okay, golfing bad. ✔️ 

I’m figuring it out slowly but surely buddy! 

🤣

 

[smashdn]

Funny how different industries and maybe even levels within industries (or just different cultures I suppose too) view being good at golf differently.

 

The germans I worked for were funny about it.  Almost looked down their noses at me about it.  Sort of, "Why would you waste time getting good at that?" type of vibe.  Had one guy tell me, "Danny, golf is for old men."  They did let me participate in the local chamber of commerce scramble on behalf of the company.

 

We had a league at one place.  It was tolerated, barely.  HR type folks wanted to make sure it was inclusive (hard to get the night shift guys involved though).  We also cut it off when it got into our busy time of year.  It was very much a place where the 12 and 14 hour day was encouraged and almost expected from salary.  I have seen a flip on that mindset almost to the point of it being detrimental or just way too lax.  

 

Every now and again I will get invited to chamber scrambles or events put on by vendors, and they are usually on a Monday.  If I go I always take off work via PTO or vacation.

 

Someone else can maybe chime in who knows way better, but at one time one of the perks of the upper manager level position was that it often came with a club membership.  I suppose that too is industry dependent and based upon whether you need to "entertain." 

[Triple Lindy]

1 hour ago, smashdn said:

Someone else can maybe chime in who knows way better, but at one time one of the perks of the upper manager level position was that it often came with a club membership

I played lots of golf with clients/prospects, at some phenomenal courses, but never had a club membership paid for. Like you say, different industries look at it differently. Towards the latter part of my career, like the last 10 years or so, golf became harder and harder to do because clients had to report it (unlike our Supreme Court 🙂).

 

I don’t have a WSJ subscription so I couldn’t read the article, but from what I gleaned, it says that golf skills are now a boost to job prospects. The subtitle even said people are being hired in hybrid roles to play golf. I find that kinda hard to believe. Sure, the golf course is a great venue for a 4 hour, relaxed “meeting”. But I’d never put a scratch golfer that didn’t understand the business with client senior execs. And even if he/she understood the business, there’s a skill set to conducting the kind of business that happens on the golf course. You don’t put someone in that role just because they can play golf. And even if they possess those skills, golfing ability would never even come up in the hiring process. But I’ve been retired for 7 years, so what do I know?

[TiScape]

Thank goodness I’m not looking! I would never get hired with my swing!! 😬