What Job Seekers Can Learn From Susan Boyle

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last week you’ve probably heard of Susan Boyle. The 48 year old Scottish woman stunned the crowd (and the judges) on a recent episode of Britain’s Got Talent.

In case you missed it…

I’ve watched this video a number of times and I get goosebumps every time I do. It is such a great underdog story.

But what I find really interesting is the job hunting lesson we can take out of it.

When you first walk into an interview, you have about five seconds to make a positive first impression. If you don’t, you face a serious uphill battle that you are unlikely to over come. (Note: Read Blink by Malcolm Gladwell for some great analysis of the psychology behind first impressions).

Think about it in terms of Susan Boyle and your first impression of her. When you first see her walk on stage, you write her off almost immediately. After enduring too many seasons of shows like American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance (among many other knockoffs), it’s easy to become cynical when it comes to judging contestants. The online media were also quick to pick up on our need to judge others who have the courage (or stupidity in some cases) to put themselves on television. Take a look at this initial assessment by Chris Matyszczyk at CNET News:

She has the eyebrows of a Roman Emperor. She has the square shoulders of one of his centurions. And she walks like a bouncer who had one too many years in the NFL.

However, once she started to sing, she immidiately went from being the “Never Been Married, Never Been Kissed” Lady to someone who has wowed audiences with an amazing rendition of a beautiful song.

What is so amazing about this story is that she is able to overcome a negative first impression and make people fall in love with her. It is our collective surprise that has driven her initial popularity, but it is her talent that will take her places.

So what does this mean for you and your job search?

Most importantly, it outlines the importance of making a good first impression. I know that this sounds odd as I have been talking about how she overcame her bad first impression, but hear me out.

When you get to an interview, you have a number of factors that are within your control. Your clothes, body language, eye contact, hair style, handshake, greeting, and confidence each play a roll and are all elements of the Impression Equation. It is critical that you do everything in your power to use these elements to your advantage, because once the interview starts, the interviewer has all of the control. From that point on, your ability to change their first impression is limited as you have to answer their questions and follow their lead. It’s not impossible, but it can be very tricky.

Susan Boyle, on the other hand, was able to overcome a terrible first impression because she was in control. They may have told her to sing, but she chose the song and was able to play to the crowd. You don’t necessarily have that option.

If you think about it, Susan Boyle would not have become an overnight sensation if she was stunningly beautiful and could sing. She would have just been another attractive contestant on another reality show. It was the fact that she overcame this initial perception barrier that caused her to become an overnight celebrity. She used the first impression to her advantage (albeit unknowingly).

Overcoming this obstacle made her a celebrity, but it also gives you great cause to ensure you make a positive first impression. Use this great first impression to ensure your message is properly received. Landing the job you want may depend on it.