By Debra Auerbach

This weekend, the New England Patriots will take on the New York Giants in
what is sure to be an exciting game. As the game edges closer, there's been tons
of coverage analyzing the two teams, their strengths and weaknesses and the odds
for and against each team winning.

Also being compared are the two quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Eli Manning, so
we thought it would be interesting to see how their qualities would help them in
a job search. To assist, I enlisted Ben Finfer, producer and on-air host at
670-AM The Score in Chicago, who provided insight into both players' strengths
and weaknesses.

A strong resume not only speaks to the success of a candidate but it also
quantifies his success. Brady has many quantifiable results to share, including
winning three NFL championships and two championship MVPs, as well as holding
the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a single regular season. Manning, on
the other hand, could play up his championship win in the 2007 season against
the previously undefeated New England Patriots, showing that he can tackle even
the toughest of challenges. Manning could also highlight his championship MVP
win.

Both Brady and Manning have won numerous accolades and broken several
records. So they would both need to be careful that their resumes don't just
turn into a long list of accomplishments, but instead highlight the
accomplishments that pertain to the specific jobs for which they are
applying.

Cover letters are the place where candidates can expand on both their hard
and soft skills and give their "pitch" on why they are the best candidate for
the job. Both Brady and Manning could use the cover letter to speak to their
leadership experience, since quarterbacks are often seen as their team's
leaders. They can also reference how they are good in the clutch, meaning, they
can turn things around in the fourth quarter to win a game. Giving specific
examples of how they've done this will help paint a picture for prospective
employers.

Some people are more naturally articulate than others and can handle
high-pressure situations without appearing nervous, while others hone their
speaking and performance skills through practice and experience. While Brady's
charisma may make him more of a natural at giving media interviews, both have
had plenty of experience talking to reporters, since, as Finfer points out,
quarterbacks are often their team's spokesperson. Brady and Manning have
represented their teams well in both the good times and bad, experiences that
would help them in a job interview, where it's important to appear calm and
confident.

Sure, it's easy to speak to your day-to-day tasks and accomplishments during
an interview, but the true test comes when asked tougher interview questions.
Both the way you answer the question and the answer itself are important. Here,
some potential questions Brady and Manning could get asked during a job
interview, and how they could answer them successfully.

Loyalty/commitment to a company: Brady was drafted

by the New England Patriots in 2000 and hasn't left the team since, and although

Manning was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, he was immediately traded to the

New York Giants, his current team. So both Brady and Manning could speak to

their commitment and loyalty, having only worked for one organization. That's

something that is very rare in today's workforce and could help them stand out

in an interview.

Flexibility: Flexibility is a quality that many employers

look for in a candidate given today's up-and-down economy. Employers want

someone who can easily adapt to changing situations and is open to taking on a

variety of tasks, even if outside his main responsibilities. Finfer notes that

both Brady and Manning receive scrutiny, being two of the most high-profile

players in the league, so they've learned to roll with the punches. In addition,

Finfer notes that they've both handled frequent roster changes well -- something

that could easily shake up a team -- and have been able to sustain

success.

Overcoming adversity: Employers also like to hear examples of how a

candidate handled a difficult situation and persevered. Manning could speak to

how he comes from a family of famous football players, so he's had to prove his

own worth and come out from under his successful family's shadow. Brady could

reference his knee injury -- how he dealt with it without letting it get him

down and eventually led his team to another national championship

game.

Learning from mistakes: According to Finfer, some people believe

Manning has made mistakes on the field, but instead of letting it faze him, he's

been able to learn from them and move on. Everyone makes mistakes on the job

once in a while, so job seekers shouldn't be afraid to address those errors.

What employers want to see is what lesson the candidate took away and how it

made him a better employee.

Networking And References

Networking is a key part of the job-search process, because it helps you
establish relationships with contacts that could potentially lead to a job
opportunity. Manning already has an established network, given his family
connections, but it would still be helpful for him to go out on his own and meet
new people so he can build relationships that are his alone. When seeking job
references, you want to enlist people with whom you've worked closely, so they
can speak to your specific skills and accomplishments. Finfer notes that Brady
has a great relationship with his boss, head coach Bill Belichick, so that would
be a good reference pick for him.

Both Brady and Manning have the qualities of a star quarterback, so either
one could lead his team to victory this Sunday. And hey, if football doesn't
work out, at least we know they've got what it takes to conduct a successful job
search.