Wednesday, February 22, 2012


4 Job Search Lessons You Can Learn From...
Lady Gaga?


In the past two years, Lady Gaga has secured her place in mainstream pop culture for many reasons: Her on-stage antics, her incredibly unique style, not to mention the critical and commercial success of her music. We thought a bit about what drove this explosive growth, and find that much of what is attributed to her success is quite applicable to (believe it or not!) the job search. Here are a few key lessons you can learn from her:

1. Be Yourself: No one is truer to his or herself than Lady Gaga. To say she is recognizable for a flamboyant style would be quite an understatement. Her Grammy-nominated album’s title, “Born This Way,” is a testament to that. When looking for a job, your best bet is to follow this same basic tenet. Ask yourself, is this job really right for who I am? Is it really what I want? If the answer is no, you’re better off moving on to another job. In our experience, genuine passion for your career is a tremendous indicator of not only job satisfaction, but overall performance as well.

2. Be Fearless: Sure, sometimes she is downright outlandish, but Lady Gaga is never afraid to push the envelope. She is known for continually experimenting within her field, collaborating in new and imaginative ways. Similarly, in your own career, leaps and long shots could pay off and slingshot you to a place you never thought possible. Of course, risk tolerance will vary from person to person, but don’t let fear hold you back!

3. Be Creative: Gaga’s influences range from David Bowie to Michael Jackson to Madonna to Queen. But there is only one Lady Gaga. She’s made huge waves with her creative choices, outfits, and actions. The point is, people remember her, and would never mistake her for anyone else. Get creative in your job search. What can you do to make recruiters remember you? (Disclaimer: We don't recommend donning any of these outfits to an interview, per se!)


4. Pursue Your Dreams: Despite being enrolled in one of the most prestigious musical theatre programs in the world, Gaga felt that she was more creative than her other classmates. By the second semester of her sophomore year, she withdrew to focus on her musical career. Despite advice against this move, the rest was history. You don’t have to be a musical whiz to have dreams - just make sure you’re following them. At the end of the day, this is what it’s all about: doing what we love to do.

It’s true that she has alienated and angered some critics and audience members--but those were never the people she was trying to connect with anyway. Similarly, in your career, there will be folks that matter and folks that do not. Making a memorable, original, and authentic connection with the folks that do matter to you is what Lady Gaga teaches us.

For more great job search tips, check back with us often at http://www.hrino.com/. In addition, try these other valuable resources:

TheLadders.com career advice: http://www.career-line.com/
Monster.com career tips: http://career-advice.monster.com/
CareerBuilder.com resources: http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Resources/CareerResources.aspx
Job search Blog, Career Hub: http://www.careerhubblog.com/