American Idol Redux

I have to say that this is a topic that just keeps going and going. Like the annoying Eveready Bunny, it just keeps intruding. Maybe because it says too much about our real lives??

That includes the dreaded job interview.

Update: my original "American Idol and Your Job Interview" story of a few weeks ago found its way to the front page of CNN.com last Tuesday. It was on Yahoo!'s home page April 3rd and was featured on MSN's homepage on March 27th creating huge interest and more than 2500 new subscribers. Not that this was a particularly great article in itself but that this is a subject we all have a connection with.

Well, it's happened again. Time Magazine has a featured article by their resident critic, James Poniewozik, in their latest issue April 16th, that parallels American Idol with so much of our 'real' life experience.

The writer make an interesting point, though, and it can further crystallize the job interview process for the reality that it is.

Here is a key point he makes: AI judges like to stress the point that this is a singing competition, yet "anyone who wants to win it needs to learn quickly that this is a huge lie." Yes, singing might be the price of admission but that only takes you so far. As Poniwwozik correctly notes, "You get on Idol by singing; you win Idol by telling a story".

So what does this have to do with the job interviewing process? Glad you asked.

There is a real parallel here to the Idol experience. We've seen it already this season as more talented singers have already fallen by the wayside. What's going on? Well, along with the differentiation, there is the opportunity for a story to unfold during the course of the season. With Idol, the story is about which singer could best capture the audience's attention week after week as they evolve and successfully 'expose' something more real about themselves. I'm talking more than just Haley's legs. It could be about their parent in jail, their single-mom dedication, or the fact that they work in a bank just like you, maybe. The most compelling story wins.

Same thing is true about the job interview, except you only have about 20 minutes to accomplish this. Remember my article stressing the importance of telling YOUR stories while at your interview? This is the real meat. As singing is to an Idol contestant, think of your job skills and abilities as your price of admission to the interview. Once there, you need more. A lot more. You need to answer these questions:

1. Why are you here? Like AI, you have to taste victory. We already know poor Phil is history, blathering about how "blessed" he is to make it this far. Bad move. Don't be like Phil. Find out why you are interviewing with that particular company and sell it to the rooftops. If you don't know much about them, you better find out in a hurry. This is your chance to flatter them. Don't disappoint them.

2. Will you fit in? We don't like conceited prima donnas in our Idol contestants. We like a little bit of humility and we like people who can take advice and mentoring. (Say goodbye to Lakisha). At the interview, you need to walk a balance between showing what a superstar you are without upsetting their system. Remember, you are a team player. Have your stories ready to demonstrate this trait. Cite successes but take care to share the credit.

3. Will you go the extra mile? Here's the kicker that separates the winners from the also-rans. What makes you special from every other candidate? Here's your chance to tell your best stories, the narratives that tell about those past projects that bordered on imminent failure. Those crises that you had to overcome to accomplish the mission. Those failures that you endured but learned hard lessons from to come back another day to fight a better battle.

Like American Idol, the job interview is not merely a platform to show off your basic skills. The interviewers want much more. To win the job, use this stage to act out a role and address the above three questions. At the end of the day, the winner will most often be judged as the one with the most memorable, believable stories who answered those questions.

Comments

[Libbey Coghlan]

Joe,

You inspire me! Thank you for generously sharing your hard won lessons with us. I have already put your information to use and will continue to do so.

Thanks again,

Libbey