American Idol is back! Though the hype is not as great as previous years, it is still a good watch. It is not just about witnessing some talented people singing their hearts out to the world. For me, I personally enjoy watching the comments made by the judges more than the singing itself. Those that had made it to the top 12 are decent singers – no question about that! But why some got eliminated so early and why some got to stay. Look at the past seasons and you would be surprised that it’s usually not the best singer that win the competition or stay in the top 5 – Taylor Hicks, Blake Lewis and Chris Daughtry – they are definitely not the best singers compare to their peers but they managed to garner so many votes. Why? Simon Cowell would probably said it’s because they got the “It” factor. What is this “It” factor?

Do you have the “It” factor as a job seeker? If you are currently attending an interview for a better job - what makes you stand out from the short listed pack?

It’s all about differentiation

Aristotle taught that all things in relationship to one another are either the same or they are different. No two things can be both the same and different…there are only two kinds of differences: differences in kind and differences in degree. He also distinguished between real differences and perceived differences. If you have a shovel and a rake, you have a difference in kind. If you have a small shovel and a big shovel, then you have a difference in degree. If you have a silver-colored shovel and a rusty shovel, you have a difference in kind when comparing the colors and a difference in degree when perceiving their relative age. However, you can perceive the rusty shovel to be older than the silver shovel, and it may not be true. It is only your perception. When you perceive one to be silver and the other to be rusty, it is a true difference in kind because the proof of the different color is in the seeing. You cannot, however, see the difference in age; you can only infer it. Thus it is perceived, and can be real or not real. If customers do not perceive a difference in kind or degree, then you are the same. This is the key point. If customers do not see the difference, you are the same (whether there is a real difference or not) (excerpts from the book “Killer Brands”, by Frank Lane) Though this book is about creating a power killer brand for corporations, it can be applied to individuals, much so during interviews when you were given that limited time to prove you have it and the rest don’t. Blake Lewis was a good example from last Idol season. He was a decent singer but not a great one. He can however, beat-box whereas no one in the pack could and thus, he stands out immediately. His “differentiation” took him all the way to the Finale. Voters remembered him at the end of each show.

Can interviewers still remember you after 6-8 interviews with others? Can you make an impact and stay memorable? In other words, “branding” yourself – “selling your compelling strengths that makes the difference” is if not more important than having all the right skills and experience for the job. When all things being equal, the key decision point may just boils down to this one thing - the “difference” you have that others don’t.

Week after week, it is interesting to see the contestants pitting against each other to win the hearts of the million voters in America and at this stage, it is no more about getting the notes right anymore. Simon Cowell once said to Kristy Lee Cook after her performance that she is forgettable – what’s wrong with her? And what is so special about David Archuleta?

Photo: Fox

Well, if you have not been watching “American Idol”, perhaps you should switch it on now. Hey, it’s definitely not just a talent show!