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from the most-positions-do-not-require-guitar-skills dept.
Carina Chocano writes in the NYT that once, a long time ago, a rock star was a free-spirited, convention-flouting artist/rebel/hero/Dionysian fertility god who fronted a world-famous band, sold millions of records and headlined stadium concerts where people were trampled in frenzies of cultlike fervor.
Now 'rock star'' has made a complete about-face and in its new incarnation, it is more likely to refer to a programmer, salesperson, social-media strategist, business-to-business telemarketer, recruiter, management consultant or celebrity pastry chef than to a person in a band. The term has become shorthand for a virtuosity so exalted it borders on genius — only for some repetitive, detail-oriented task.
According to Chocano, posting a listing for a job for which only ''rock stars'' need apply casts an H.R. manager as a kind of corporate Svengali; "That nobody is looking for a front-end developer who is addicted to heroin or who bites the heads off doves in conference rooms goes without saying. Pretty much anyone can be a ''rock star'' these days — except actual rock stars, who are encouraged to think of themselves as brands."
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Zinho on Wednesday August 19 2015, @08:46PM
Pretty much anyone can be a ''rock star'' these days — except actual rock stars, who are encouraged to think of themselves as brands."
How do they expect "rock star" talent without the celebrity that goes with it? Anyone in that category already has brand-name levels of recognition within their field; the difference between Bruce Springsteen and Linus Torvalds is that Bruce has a manager encouraging him to monetize his fame (and give the manager a percentage of the income).
Any hiring manager posting a "Rock Stars Only" ad on Monster.com and honestly hopes to get one is pretty much admitting that they don't already know who the celebrities are.
You'reDoingItWrong.jpg
"Space Exploration is not endless circles in low earth orbit." -Buzz Aldrin
(Score: 2) by mr_mischief on Wednesday August 19 2015, @08:51PM
This is exactly right. If you're in HR you're not in A&R. Current rock stars are either booked on contracts by name. Future rock stars are recognized by people with knowledge of the field and groomed for greatness. Nobody's teaching how to recognize great programming in their human resources programs. Therefore they either need to book existing rock stars or hire recruiters who actually have enough skill in the field to spot new rock-star level talent.
(Score: 2) by skullz on Wednesday August 19 2015, @09:25PM
or hire recruiters who actually have enough skill in the field to spot new rock-star level talent
Hahahahahaha like that will ever happen
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Ethanol-fueled on Wednesday August 19 2015, @10:34PM
Summary:
Being a rockstar is repetitive and detail-oriented even in the musical sense. Going over contracts with lawyers, recording the 15th take of that guitar solo because all the previous takes weren't good enough, knowing where on stage to stand during which parts of which songs so you don't get hit by the stage pyrotechnics, being careful about what to say during interviews, etc.
Being a "rockstar" in the musical sense is a huge pain in the ass even with riches and an entourage of advisors and ass-wipers.