About three times a week I get an email from someone in the recruiting world that says something like "I'm looking for a Rock Star flash designer" or "I'm looking for a Rock Star copywriter." They then go on to ask me if I know anyone.
Here's what strikes me as odd.
No one is really looking for a rock star. Rock stars--at least the cliche versions thereof--most often lead dissolute lifestyles. They show up late. Ingest things they shouldn't ingest. Sleep with things they shouldn't sleep with. They smoke and drink and whore. And they're demanding.
Of course, to go along with all their peccadilloes, or to counter-balance them, rock stars are usually extraordinary talents.
Agencies who say they are looking for Rock Stars supposedly want their talent. I'm sure they don't want their peccadilloes. Which means they don't really get Rock Stars because Rock Stars don't come without peccadilloes.
Here's the point.
If you want the gain you have to deal with the pain.
Most companies however want it all.
But what they get instead is shit.
6 comments:
I'm a rock star copywriter. I'm addicted to heroin. I never show up where I say I'm going to be. And I'll be bangin' all the young women in the office. and because of the recession you can have me for only $350K.
not rock star. rock solid.
Dictionary
rock 1 |räk|
noun
1 the solid mineral material forming part of the surface of the earth and other similar planets, exposed on the surface or underlying the soil or oceans.
• Geology any natural material, hard or soft (e.g., clay), having a distinctive mineral composition.
• ( the Rock) Gibraltar.
• ( the Rock) informal name for Newfoundland 1 .
2 a large piece of such material that has become detached from a cliff or mountain; a boulder : the stream flowed through a jumble of rocks.
• a stone of any size, esp. one small enough to be picked up and used as a projectile.
• Brit. a kind of hard confectionery in the form of cylindrical peppermint-flavored sticks.
• informal a precious stone, esp. a diamond.
• informal a small piece of crack cocaine.
• ( rocks) vulgar slang testicles.
3 used in similes and metaphors to refer to someone or something that is extremely strong, reliable, or hard : imagining himself as the last rock of civilization being swept over by a wave of barbarism.
• (usu. rocks) (esp. with allusion to shipwrecks) a source of danger or destruction : the new system is heading for the rocks.
4 ( rocks) informal dated money.
Most recruiters don't know how to recruit. I don't know if you are working or not, but if you are working, you know the call, it goes something like this: "Hi, Geo, we don't know each other, but I have the perfect job for you." When I ran an agency, I still got those calls, but the phrase got turned into, "I hear you are looking for someone, I have the perfect candidate". The worst part is that both candidates and companies put up with that kind of nonesense. Paul S. Gumbinner, www.viewfrommadisonave.blogspot.com and www.gumbinnercompany.com
No worries, Geo: Rock Star is approaching its expiration date. The new term of choice, according to the Wall Street Journal? Ninja.
So, you can look forward to copywriters who'll toss powdered glass in your eyes, designers carrying katanas down the hallway, and web geeks stalking you from the tree next to your office. (Not much extra expense for a new wardrobe, since creatives already like wearing black.)
Don't say I didn't warn ya.
I used to be a rock star creative, too. Now I'm hoping Dr. Drew will let me into rehab.
I used to be a rock star creative, too. Now I'm hoping Dr. Drew will let me into rehab.
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