There was a time when I believed I could simply show up and be loved by everyone; such was my ego. I thought I had "rock star-like" status that drew admiration; however, I eventually had to admit to myself that I lacked that level of charisma.
When I refer to being a "rock star," I mean being one of those rare individuals who fully embrace their lives, despite their imperfections, who carry themselves with confidence and poise. Rock stars often see themselves as their own heroes, excelling by being authentic rather than conforming to societal expectations and marketing pressures.
Attaining rock star status in any field is anchored on a pivotal attribute: confidence. This encompasses a realistic evaluation of one's capabilities and a firm belief in them. In essence, a rock star is someone who trusts in their own potential. In 2025, self-belief is indispensable—this is not to be confused with entitlement, which can distance employers, or with arrogance, which often leads to rejection. With the advancement of artificial intelligence, automation, and offshoring, which are rapidly shrinking the number of white-collar jobs, having a perceived rock star-like status, at least partially, is becoming increasingly crucial for job search success.
Most job seekers mistakenly think that employers should hire them solely based on their:
- Degrees and certifications
- Years of experience and proven track records
However, they're overlooking a crucial element that would enhance their application: having rock star-like status.
It's possible for a job seeker to be doing everything right, from a traditional point of view, and yet their applications are being ignored. Why? Because in 2025, being 'qualified' is merely the starting point; you need to excel at the basics, and many, if not most, job seekers fall short. What once guaranteed entry into workplaces is now largely irrelevant. To stand out in today's job market, you must demonstrate your exceptional abilities in a nuanced way.
"Being average is the new failure." — Anonymous.
In 2025, you get hired in one of two ways:
- Doing what others won't
- Doing what others can't
You may be familiar with Seth Godin's widely known metaphor of the purple cow. You drive by cows all the time—brown, black, white, spotted—all are a blur, a quick glance to be instantly forgotten. However, if you saw a purple cow, you'd slam on your brakes and stare. You’d take pictures or a video and post them on your social media. You'd tell your friends.
You don't have to be a purple cow to stand out, but you do need to be remarkable; a "rock star," per se, because nobody remembers ordinary, and ordinary won't get you hired.
Before you stress about needing to reinvent yourself as the next Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, or Gary Vaynerchuk, take a breath. Being perceived as a rock star isn't about being flashy; it's about maintaining consistent clarity about who you are and what you do. It's about embracing what makes you unique and leading with that. You don't need to be the next Whitney Wolfe Herd; you need to be unapologetically yourself. You need to amplify what makes you different and, therefore, memorable.
I'm referring to skills and experiences that would be valuable to an employer. Making the fluffiest and creamiest omelets on the planet doesn't count unless you're applying to be a cook at Denny's. Your unique skills might be fluency in languages such as French, Spanish, or Mandarin, or having specialized expertise, along with experience in quantum computing and programming languages like Qiskit or Google's Cirq.
Being "good" with Excel doesn't make you a rock star; having a proven track record of statistical analysis and modelling—expertise in using Excel for advanced statistical techniques, including regression analysis, forecasting, and hypothesis testing, enabling data-driven decision-making—makes you a rock star, though only partially.
I find that most job seekers either fail to understand or refuse to acknowledge, perhaps to protect their narrative, that they’re not to blame for their job search results. In a fiercely competitive job market, where hundreds or even thousands of applicants compete for a single position, offering additional value beyond what the job description requires is a significant competitive advantage that shouldn’t be underestimated. I’ve seen candidates proficient in a second language hired over those with more experience. Once, I hired a trainer with less than three years of corporate training experience, but who was the president of the local Toastmasters club for over five years—a testament to their dedication to developing presentation skills—who outshone all the candidates during a ten-minute presentation she delivered as part of the hiring process, over candidates with many more years of corporate training experience.
Ultimately, what makes someone a rock star isn't just the skills that would increase their value to the position, such as being an Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP). It's also about exceptional charisma and, most importantly, being someone, others want to work with.
When a hiring manager assesses a candidate, they're not just looking for knowledge, skills, and talent. They're also seeking someone who will be enjoyable, even fun, to work with, who will be a great teammate. This is the secret ingredient that makes someone a true rock star.
Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned corporate veteran, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. Send Nick your job search questions to [email protected].
corporate veteran, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. Send Nick your job search questions to [email protected].
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