“Outwit Outlast Outplay” and get job offer…
The dynamics of watching complete strangers compete for large cash prizes on reality shows like Survivor Island can be similar to competing for the job opening you really want.
And here’s why:
Immunity Challenge:
The immunity idol in Survivor keeps you in the game. And Interview Rounds dictate whether you move on in the interview process. Every opportunity you have to interview by phone or face to face influences whether you move on to the next round.
Reward Challenge:
During the interview process it could become clear the position you’re interviewing for isn’t necessarily the right fit for you. If you’ve made a good impression on the hiring manager this can still be a good way to build a professional relationship internally within the company. Even if you aren’t the right match, having this new bond will allow you a foot in the door for the next opportunity that comes up. So always send a “thank you” note, even when you don’t get the job. This will help you make a good lasting impression and keep you in top of mind.
Alliances:
Establishing trust, building rapport and adding value in a record time keep Survivor Island players in the game longer and build strong alliances. During the interview process you also have just a short period of time to make an impression on the interviewer. Since the interview will make or break you in the interview process you need to build professional credibility fast. This is a real skill to master, but if you are effective at it, it’s one that will keep you ahead of the curve and keep you in the process.
Tribal Merge:
More than likely you will find yourself interviewing with multiple internal managers. More often than not, job offers aren’t extended on the stop any longer. It’s important to build good professional rapport with each and every one of them of the perspective hiring managers you meet. Your goal is to have everyone recommend you for hire.
Don’t forget to be nice to the receptionist who greets you, smile at those you pass in the hall and don’t do anything publically that might discredit you. You never know who might be observing your behavior and influence a hiring decision so being polite and treating everyone with respect is a good rule of thumb.
Voted Out at Tribal Council:
You have been eliminated from the hiring process. Always try to ask what you could have done different or what the deciding factor was on why you were not selected. Be careful with how you ask and despite disappointment sound positive. Follow up with a correspondence to everyone that you interviewed with and to the recruiter or human resources rep who set it up.
Keep in mind, not everyone will get the job, so don’t take this personally and move on in a positive manner. There are more opportunities waiting for you this won’t be the last one and keeping the momentum going will keep you moving ahead in the career search game.
Million Dollar Cash Prize:
The winner of Survivor gets a million dollar cash price. As an applicant you are competing for the Job Offer. You want to win the job offer complete with salary, bonus, 401K, health benefits and other employment perks. Keeping your focus on what you ultimately want will help you stay focused and on track. Don’t get side tracked with petty stuff like lunch breaks, hours, etc. during the process. You don’t want to come across as nitpicky and lose out on the opportunity. Keep your eye on the prize. As a “reality show” junkie I’m prepared for my next job hunt. Watching different personality types thrown onto desert islands, forced to build rapid relationships has helped tremendously. You are competing with many other contestants (candidates) for the immunity idol (interview rounds). If you can out-interview, out- relationship build and out-perform in the interview rounds you may just win the game (job offer).
What reality show are you planning to play to win?
