The new American Idol season is well underway and I’m back watching the tube. One friend argues that it doesn’t get interesting until the contestants have been whittled down to the 12 finalists, but for me, the auditions are fascinating. Not because I need to see anxious wannabes burst into tears at rejection, or even because the sheer awfulness of some of the voices is beyond belief, but because those few moments spent in front of the judges is really just a 30-second job interview and the world of employment is my own reality show.
Columnist Joe Turner of MSN Careers, who writes the Internet’s Job Search Guy Blog, wrote about how important it is to differentiate yourself from the candidate pack in his own Idol analogy awhile back. Writes Joe, “As a job seeker, you must define your strengths and have a message (your unique selling proposition). This is called branding. Branding is a process that clearly defines who you are and what clear benefit you bring to an employer.”
This process starts the minute the contestant (candidate) walks into the room and meets the judges (the interviewers). Some hopefuls try extreme branding via outrageous clothing, a wacky persona or unique singing styles. True, they are memorable and they might make it on screen for a few minutes of glory, but they are not Idol material. As a viewing audience, we know what the judges are looking for and it’s really no different than what most employers want in their hiring process:
• Skill Competency – The ability to do the job based on experience, qualifications, education and talent.
• Personality – An understanding of who you are based on how you present your goals, values and personal behavior.
• Communication – Verbal skills and body language that connect with others in a positive way.
• Personal Appearance – A combination of wardrobe, hygiene and overall look that is attractively packaged so that the company feels comfortable having you represent their product or service.
If you want the “golden ticket to Hollywood” or to make the next move on the interview food chain, do your homework. Anticipate questions and be ready with great answers. Nervousness aside, how can a contestant or a candidate not have a response to questions such as:
• Tell me about yourself.
• Why are you here?
• What makes you the right person for this opportunity?
Project likeability and make eye contact. The first impression an interviewer has of you is critical. It encompasses posture, handshake, grooming and voice quality, and I don’t mean singing—I refer to being monotone versus enthusiastic—and let’s not forget volume.
What’s your unique selling proposition? For example, there’s a difference between “I’m here to be your next Marketing Director” versus “I’m your next Marketing Director because my specialty is consumer products and I have the know-how to drive traffic to your website to increase online sales.” Get their attention upfront. Watch a few minutes of Idol and you’ll see who captures the judges’ eye.
Of course, don’t forget the bottom line is that even with great packaging you still need the talent and skills to back up your brand. For as Simon Cowell said to one hopeful, “If your lifeguard duties were as good as your singing, a lot of people would be drowning.”
This column originally ran in January 2008.
Nancy Schuman is a vice president at Lloyd Staffing, headquartered in Melville, and is the author of eight how-to books on career guidance and job-search techniques. Lloyd Staffing offers temporary, contract and full-time employment services on a regional and national basis. Send your career-related questions to [email protected].