Dogs amaze me. Dogs love unconditionally. Despite the stresses of the day you’ve had, a dog will welcome you as if it were a first meeting. Dogs just want to be with you…in your presence. Dogs are loyal. They just want to please. Over time, dog lovers develop an incredible bond with their canine companions. The bond is based upon trust, dependability, consistency and appreciation.
I’ve always been fascinated, not only by the sense of devotion, but also the biological capabilities that dogs have. The olfactory abilities (sense of smell) of dogs have been utilized by many organizations to assist in their work. Some examples include search and rescue, identification of individuals, location of cadavers, detection of drugs, fire accelerants, explosives, in conservation work to assess population size, and most recently, to detect illness in humans.
One aspect of the dog's behavior which has been extensively used is its ability to track individuals by following a trail. Dogs are able to pick up on minute scents and track those scents over vast distances and over time. Although widely used, there has been little scientific study of this tracking behavior and the mechanisms underlying it. It’s suspected, however, that a dog can smell 100,000 times better than a human.
It makes me wonder why dogs spend so much time laying at our feet, but that’s an entirely different topic.
There is a great career lesson to be learned by observing dogs. Once they latch onto a scent, dogs are determined to find what they’re seeking, and will not rest until they accomplish their goal. Dogs are equipped with advanced abilities to aid them in their search, and they are relentless. So, too, are great candidates.
Great candidates have a focused objective with additional, targeted goals. Great candidates are resilient and self-motivated. Great candidates study the industry for which they work. Great candidates reflect upon experience and value relationships. Great candidates navigate with what I call, “Humble Persistence.” They are personable, friendly, inquisitive, respectful and driven. But, like a dog on a trail, they do not give up until the information sought is received.
