What Would Simon Cowell Say About Your Job Search?

American Idol is one of my guilty pleasures. It's a bit like chocolate - I know it's not good for me and I'll probably feel a bit sick afterwards, but it just tastes good!

I've been watching for a few years now, and I'm finally able to predict who'll do well from the very beginning. Unlike in the world of normal pop music, the successful contestants aren't always the best looking or the slimmest, or the most current.  But what they all have in common is a clear sense of who they are musically. They are authentically who they are - whether that's a country singer, a southern rock throwback, a soulful balladeer or an R&B 'diva.'. Viewers who also love that music are able to recognize and appreciate their talent within that genre, and that's how they make the emotional connection that results in high vote counts.

In that sense, American Idol really is no different from looking for a new job (although thankfully you don't have Simon Cowell sniping at your interview skills). Successful job seekers know that they have to develop a clear sense of who they are and where they shine, so that they can target and appeal to the very people who will most want to hire them. To do this, they spend time focusing on their core value proposition, and then work on crafting marketing documents that clearly communicate that message. When they attend interviews, they choose stories and anecdotes that support their value proposition. They don't try to switch their marketing message to suit different employers, because they know that won't be effective in the long run.

But most job seekers do that, just as most Idol contestants fail to find their musical voice, so differentiating yourself in this regard pays dividends. I can't predict who's going home on tonight's show, but I know the 4 people who will definitely be staying.

Comments

[Richard Millington]

The problem with the American Idol approach, is the produces actively encourage and exploit backstories and anything else they feel they can use to create emotional connections. Frankly I suspect it's all rigged from the off.

Still, the point is sound and candidates would do well to differentiate themselves in the internet. It should be clear that this isn't be wearing a purple suit or being 'strange', but rather by excelling the expectations in one area, or having an interesting hobby.

Personally, terms like 'determined', 'ambitious' and 'team player' are used too often in job interviews. It would be better ot just pick one key characteristic of the job and illustrate precisely how you excel ahead of the competition in that field - and why that adds value to the firm.

[Brianna]

Louise,
I'm a huge fan of the show too! And like you, I'm finally getting a good grasp on which contestants have the most staying power. But my radar was definitely off with Sanjaya last year!

There are two factors that make up an American Idol: personality and singing ability. There are times when personality can outshine singing ability to make it to the next round, and this applies to job seekers as well. Job seekers can find encouragement from watching American Idol, noticing that sometimes the most qualified person doesn't make it to the top, but they give it their best shot anyway and it can pay off. Just look at Daughtry and Kathrine McPhee. They didn't win the title but they found a way to succeed!

I wrote a blog post on this a few weeks ago that goes a bit more in depth into the topic, so feel free to see what else I have to say (if you're interested!): http://www.pongoresume.com/blogPosts/124/career-advice-brought-to-you-by-american-idol.cfm

[Louise Fletcher]

Thanks - great post Briannea. I read the whole thing and agree with your observations.