Are “Ideal” candidates even a thing? Would an EMPLOYER even recognize this “Ideal” if it hit em in the face? Is there a test for Idealism and company fit? Flip it to the Job Seeker… Like how do you know you’re IDEAL? Is a feeling or a hunch?    Do people call you up and say… “Hey … you’re Ideal” or “Seriously… DUDE you’re IDEAL”! I think the term Employers are looking for is ROCK STAR!

Listen we get it… Workplace Culture is a BIG DEAL!  Employers are hungrier NOW more than ever to fill their staff room with “ROCK STARS”!   They have a rapidly changing world of goods and services to deliver to and require a team of emotionally intelligent, bright, curious, problem solving ROCK STARS!  Here is the hard part… they have to keep these ROCK STARS… or RETAIN them.  It’s a competitive world out there and ALL STAR companies know how to poach this talent.  Employers need to keep ROCK STARS well paid and satiated, mentored, challenged and ohh soo sharp!  For what ever reason… there is always a shift in the labour market and ROCK STARS leave… the employer is faced with the big challenge of filling those Goliath shoes. Enter the unrealistic “IDEAL” or “ROCK STAR” or “SUPER STAR” term!

Employers have labour needs all the time! They result from predicted and un-predicted growth and production opportunities ( temporary problems) to solve everyday!  These problems usually create a shift in work load and job creation is born, resulting in the need for new problem solvers (AKA employee’s).   So the employer puts the “CASTING CALL” out.  First; to their most famous ROCK-STARS on their existing team…. they know talent hangs with talent… so they ask… “HEY… if you know of anyone…” second, they do their best to put the call out via job posting…  traditional, boring, time consuming and not an  “IDEAL” to attract Talent. 

So let us all agree that a Job postings is simply a Wish List for a ROCK STAR…  and the IDEAL candidate may be a ROCK STAR waiting to be discovered.   Interviewing candidates is a skill and a talent very few people have, and we are not evce sure its the best way to attract or invite this elusive talent pool. It can be a case of  the right(ish) person, right time, sometimes showy smooth talking person not right time, and sometimes you get the  over selling and under delivering MILLI-  VANILLI version of a ROCK STAR. Our favorite… when employers are looking for a 4 headed Unicorn dressed as the Jolly Green Giant in a field of Lucky Charms while Repairing their NASA flight ship!

We are really just asking for Employers and Job Seekers… to have authentic and realistic conversations about the workload ,workplace culture, organizational fit, their skills and needs for both remuneration and performance.  Let the deliverables of both the Employer and Employee be of Value and Above & Beyond All Expectations! May Employers find their own ROCK STAR qualities… perhaps these people will form a memorable union!