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Job Interview Just As Ella Fitzgerald Improvised

Job Interview Just As Ella Fitzgerald Improvise by Mark Anthony Dyson

We, the performer, speaker, actor, or emcee inhibits our performances by our errors. Job seekers can learn from this because many are afraid of making an error. We want a do over. We can correct resume mistakes, and change our answers to job interview questions if it inadequately serves us. If you have ever performed on stage, you are told while learning this craft that if you make a mistake, keep going. Your audience is often unsuspecting and likely forgiving of any mistake.

Allow me to digress a moment.

In the last few years, I’ve listened to a lot of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Traffic, Blind Faith, Cream, Cannonball Adderley, and Miles Davis lately. I don’t know what it is about these artists (not to mention James Brown) but I tell you, all of these artists are resilient in their own right. We can learn from all of them about getting up from failure or even yet, turn “…plow shares into a swords.” All of them were heavy improvisors.

Ella Fitzgerald did this once, and turned a mental gaffe into gold.

Ella Fitzgerald is called the “queen of jazz vocals.” In a recorded concert in 1960, she was to sing “Mack the Knife,” a pop and jazz standard that everyone in the audience knew. Listen carefully to the recording. You can hear her voice her doubts about knowing the complete song. A job interview is a performance, and the interview success is a result of a great performance. A savvy job candidate is well aware of this.

One job interview is as stressful as a concert performance.

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No matter the diligence of preparation, there are moments that can result in making mistakes. Mistakes do not have to be costly. Any error can be corrected in a way that is unnoticeable. Ella’s performance clearly suggests the same effort will help you deliver expectations the audience desires.

Ella Fitzgerald is called the “queen of jazz vocals”. In a recorded concert in 1960, she was to sing “Mack the Knife,” a pop and jazz standard that everyone in the audience knew. Listen carefully to the recording. You can hear her voice her doubts about knowing the complete song. A job interview is a performance, and the interview success is a result of a great performance. A savvy job candidate is well aware of this.

One job interview is as stressful as a concert performance. No matter the diligence of preparation, there are moments that can result in making mistakes. Mistakes do not have to be costly. Any error can be corrected in a way that is unnoticeable. Ella’s performance clearly suggests the same effort will help you deliver expectations the audience desires.

Preparation, preparation, preparation

Ella attempted to learn the lyrics on the way to the concert on a flight from Stockholm to Berlin. There wasn’t time for a lot of preparation. As stated before, she voiced doubts that she was not confident about the lyrics. We know the downside of the lack of preparation for a job interview, but even the job candidate who is well prepared can forget details or be thrown off by an unexpected question or response. Keep in mind that most interviewers are looking for a misstep, and are looking for disqualifying behavior. It is better to prepare thoroughly than half-heartedly, which you can apply to your job search as a whole.

Practice, practice, practice

Ella did not practice “Mack the knife” much. Perhaps she was over confident in her natural abilities, although you would have thought that the song needed sufficient because:

1) Everyone in the audience knew every word of the song

2) It’s a lengthy song

Most people do not practice the question and answer portion of the job interview when that is the part needed the most. Even those employed should interview a couple of times a year to remain job search ready. What to ensure interview success? Be intentional about practice and receiving quality feedback.

Practicing will help you prepare for the unexpected question. This will challenge you to rely on the preparation efforts, and may exploit weaknesses, if any by not preparing enough.

Make a mistake? Keep going!

It was apparent by the sixth verse of “Mack the Knife” that Ella forgot the words. If you listen to the recording, she not only continues, but also she was just as enthusiastic in delivering the performance as ever. When you are at a job interview, and you make an error, it is not the end of the interview. In fact, you can circle around later and ask to clarify your answer by stating, “I would like to clarify an earlier answer to a question you asked earlier.”

Your talent matters, but performance matters more

By the middle of the song, it was clear Ella completely forgot the words, yet the performance was stellar. Practice has another positive element if done regularly. You learn different ways to express your best attributes and answers. Yes, interviewers care about the right answer, but await to hear a unique perspective. That is your voice, like Ella’s improvisation, never heard before as a memorable performance. Your voice is a powerful one when you ask for any opportunity. The quality is not based on how loud and clear, but how direct and clear. The job interview is the best place to showcase your

voice, the integral part of your brand.

Ella, Ella, Ella ended strong

Let’s say Ella felt humiliated by forgetting the words to the most popular song in the world at that time. People still cheered, the critics still raved, and Ella won a Grammy for best vocal performance. People will forget how you began when you finish confidently. Thank you notes for any meeting (hand-written and email) are strong finishers in any meeting bringing you closer to employment such as one-on-one

networking meetings with someone you met online, or someone who went out of his or her way to meet a need as a result of an event, or a panel of interviewers (or an HR person screening you).

Your job search must include a strong job interview strategy to ensure interview success. Practice will challenge you to research and develop a keen awareness of your strengths. Once you do that then interviewing will come naturally and frequently. It is difficult to prepare for that one unexpected question or line of questioning.

If you are unsure, then hope you can tap into your inner Ella, and improvise like she did.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Networking According to James Brown

Networking According to James Brown by Mark Anthony Dyson

Frankie Ajaye was a regular working and mildly popular comedian in the 70′s who once made a joke I’ll never forget on the “Midnight Special” (a 70′s variety show that came on at…ready?…midnight).

He said James Brown used only six words per album — beyond that, the others were saved for the next. If you ever seen a James Brown show on YouTube, then you can understand that a man known for performance and funky grooves stood out much more than his lyrical peers and contenders of the singer/songwriter era of the early 70′s.

James Brown is a member of the Rock ‘N Roll hall of fame primarily because of his performances and songs such as “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)” and over 100 pop and R&B chart appearances.

If you look at James Brown’s career, you can use his “Hardest Working Man in Show Business” philosophy in your networking. Networking is hard and takes a lot of energy and whatever you have in your personality and work ethic to stand out. In James Brown’s case, less words was the best strategy because his live performances spoke volumes. Your goal in networking and interviewing is for the job performances to speak for themselves and the words to be a supplement.

1. Like James Brown, you must “Get Up On The Good Foot”

Potential employers must enjoy components of your work, and the first impression is critical. To receive more introductions to influential people in the hiring process, it cannot be solely based on your saying so or that you “just want a chance”. Ready yourself and showcase what you deliver, and that will likely earn more meetings and opportunities. With job networking, the beginning is as important as the end.

2. Job networking that you must “Get Up, Get Into It…”

James Brown influenced a couple of generations of music in ways he never imagined, especially looking at the groups and people that emulated his dances and music. Like James Brown used his talent to influence, find ways networking will influence a variety of people and vice versa. Blogging is a great way to capture the attention of people who can spread the word about your abilities.

3. “Papa Don’t Take No Mess”

Tact and respect in every aspect of life is critical to your career, even if you are flipping burgers. There are countless stories about people who work for hourly wages making a lasting impression on strangers. But how you treat others matters more than your accomplishments and what it means to an employer and workers. The television show “Undercover Boss” has documented how great service, knowledge, and creativity — combined with hard work — impresses the big boss. And yes, it’s still networking, as everything is networking.

4. “…give the drummer some!”

When James Brown said this, he shared the spotlight with the drummer.

Let’s see…mmm…sharing the spotlight?

Nothing impresses me more than someone who offers his or her success stories seasoned with accrediting others. Not only does this person stand out, but also they demonstrate an acute ability to collaborate and build partnerships. Well, you know, networking with skill and purpose. Band members Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker (check out “Shake Everything You Got” on YouTube) worked for many years apart from James Brown’s band because he called both men’s names so often during performances that they made names for themselves.

5. “Get Up Offa That Thang”

James Brown performed up to 250 times a year in the 70′s and 80′s. Although for most people to attend job networking events like this is unrealistic, it is hard work to stand out in a field where many are jockeying for position. The combination of points 1-4 would provide enough for anyone to be considered “hard-working” without bragging. You have to “get up…”, network with others, and go where your career sojourn lands.

Back to Frankie Ajaye’s point about words…you don’t need many to convey your message in most cases. You actions will speak when your words cease. What is your job networking challenge? Is networking boring to you? Do you have a James Brown soul when it comes to job networking?