The Phillies Won a Baseball Game Without Hitting the Ball — And It’s a Perfect Job Search Lesson

A few weeks ago, I went to a Boston vs. Phillies game, which went into a tenth inning.

The Phillies had the bases loaded, and then — something totally crazy happened.

The Red Sox catcher reached out ahead of the swing and caught the ball. A catcher’s interference — and it meant the batter walked to first.

With the bases already loaded, that walk brought the winning run home.
It was the first time since the 1970s a win happened this way.

This unexpected event reminded me of job searching.

You can prepare for the “standard plays” — tailoring your resume, practicing interview questions, researching the company — but sometimes a curveball comes out of nowhere:

• A surprise interviewer joins the panel.

• The role changes mid-process.

• They ask a question you’ve never heard before.

• The recruiter calls with an offer… but for a different role than you applied for.

In those moments, the win often goes to the person who can think on their feet and adjust accordingly.

Because in job searching — just like in baseball — it’s not always the big swing that wins the game.

Sometimes it’s the unexpected play that gets you to home plate.

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Kelley Joyce is a career development coach who is dedicated to helping people discover their career path and land their dream jobs. She has served hundreds of professionals across the U.S., U.K., and Australia since 2012 to radically change their relationship with work. Follow her on LinkedIn for career and business tips.