Career idol - a new approach to teaching job search skills

Key messages

Young people today have to "get up there and perform" if they want an interview panel to choose them over other candidates. In her workshop abstract, Janine Begg says that "modest, laid-back Kiwis of all ages need to get to grips with the realisation that self promotion is here to stay, and that improving these skills will increase their chances of securing work in competitive times".

Many young people are embarrassed and uncomfortable with the job search process, despite growing up in the instant fame society of social media, YouTube videos and reality television.

So what better way to develop job search confidence than to use the ‘idol’ format that many young people know and love? (See the comparisons table below.)

Several role plays at the workshop showed the synergies between the two contests. Judges were selected from the audience to critique two candidates on their performance.

The workshop showed that, regardless of whether a person is auditioning for a show or a job, candidates can vary considerably in their confidence, personality and delivery style. Some useful techniques were demonstrated in role plays to show how a performance coach (or in our case, a career practitioner) can help improve a candidate’s delivery - whether they are auditioning for a show or responding to interview questions.

Workshop attendees practised several techniques for selling their key skills and attributes and answering behavioural questions, before receiving feedback from fellow delegates.

• Teaching Job Search Skills Using American Idol as a Model - download the workbook (PDF- 268KB)

Comparisons between American Idol process and the job search process