No Kane, No Gain

With 2.7 million football fans set to travel to Germany to watch the Euros over the next few weeks, there is much anticipation to see which team will come out on top.

And just as Southgate has spent time scouting and selecting the best talent for his squad at the Euros, companies must focus on identifying and recruiting the very best talent to come out on top and hold their trophies against their competitors.

So, what makes a winning England squad? And what can hiring managers learn from the decisions being made for the Euros?

Let's Explore.

Don’t assess candidates on past experiences alone

For avid football supporters reading this, you will remember the unfortunate turn of events that the England team experienced during the 2020 Euros.

During the final penalty shootouts in their match against Italy, Bukayo Saka, unfortunately, missed his penalty shot which resulted in the team's painful defeat to Italy.

Although Saka had played well during the rest of the Euros, this one event resulted in the player being racially abused and strewn across the press. However, it hasn't stopped him from reaching new heights and going from strength to strength.

Now, as we prepare for the 2024 Euros to begin, Bukayo has been picked to join the England team and is ready to change history.

Similarly in recruitment, an individual's past should not dictate or hinder what success they can achieve in the future. Look at what they may achieve in the future with the right tools, guidance and support.

Team formation matters

4-2-3-1.

It's a formation that a lot of the top international teams use.

It provides a strong, staggered defense with a direct line of attack... But its biggest advantage lies in its flexibility.

The formation can be easily adapted and altered - 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 - to suit the situation in which the team finds itself during the match.

This same approach should be used in business.

Where you focus your hiring efforts within a business and how you form your teams matter; It will directly impact how much money your business can generate... and how much you spend!

Just as how football formations are one of the key factors that control and dictate how a game plays, strategically planning your hiring so that you have the right people in the right positions should always be at the top of your operations list.

Talent over experience

Years of experience aren’t always good a predictor of job performance.

But by default, hiring managers can be quick to judge.

Jude Bellingham is one of the youngest footballers on the England team at 20 years old... but is one of the footballing sensations in Europe today!

His success in his role isn't based on his years in the game compared to his peers, but due to his passion, drive and perspective to succeed.

When growing a team, hiring managers need to go beyond the number of years of experience on a CV, and instead offer candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. To engage in initial conversations that expose the characteristics of a candidate and then allow them the opportunity to showcase these.

So.. here's to the Euros!