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 [the next] show, but I know the 4 people who will definitely be staying.
By, Louise Fletcher and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.
