There’s a C word that job seekers seldom utter: competition. The concept often makes them cringe, perceiving it an ugly practice to pit people against people just to get a job.

But the truth is, job hunting is anything but friendly; in many ways it is a lot like competitive sports, only tougher. For one, the stakes are higher. For another, it’s usually winner-take-all-not even a silver medal for you in consolation for coming in a close second. And while athletes know who their opponents are, your job-hunting competition is often unseen, making you forget you’re in an invisible arena fighting to kick out your hidden adversaries.

Make no mistake about it: Either you acknowledge that you are in competition-and that you need to be competitive-or expect to stay on in the job market for thousands of years. How do you know you’re not being competitive enough? Your applications are falling into a black hole-you hear nothing from the employers, who seem to have migrated to another galaxy.

If you’ve been taking a slapdash approach to your job search, take your cue from top sportspeople and mend your ways starting now. You need to know what to do, train hard for the goal, and nurture the determination to achieve it.

Just like an athlete, you need to get in shape to beat everyone else to the plum prize. Here’s how:

1. Keep in mind that you’re most likely vying with hundreds of other job seekers for the position you’re eyeing.
2. Ensure you have an outstanding resume that shows you’re the best guy for the job.
3. Prep thoroughly on how to prove to the interviewer that you’re the candidate they’re looking for.
4. Take good care of yourself to stay in top fighting condition.
5. Maintain a positive outlook even in the face of rejection so your performance and determination won’t flag.
6. Continue improving all of your job-hunting skills in anticipation of even stiffer competition.