Embrace Your Pick Me Era

You may have heard of this new category of people known as the "Pick Mes". It's based on the concept that some people want to belong so badly that they are willing to adjust their mood, attitude, and sometimes even personal beliefs to be accepted. Basically, they want to be PICKED (see how that comes together and makes sense now?) as part of the group.

Okay, so what does this have to do with business? Well, look at it objectively, what is the real premise of applying and interviewing for jobs? It's you making an all-out attempt at presenting all the reasons someone should like YOU. It's really not even about the skill you bring to the table, well, boardroom; semantics. We can all play along with the song and dance of 'picking the best candidate' or, better yet, noting that the "best" candidate is 'overqualified' for the role. Ooh, and a personal favorite - 'not sure you're a cultural fit'. Let's be real, if hiring were based purely on skills, interviews would look VERY different.

Hence, the need to enter your Pick Me era. This isn't a phase, it's a state of being. We put on a persona to become 'the chosen one' to get the call back, or better yet, get the job. Downside? Now you have to maintain who you presented yourself to be. At some point, you realize the interview process isn’t a truth serum. Everyone’s performing. The company is selling you stability, growth, and “culture,” while quietly hoping you’ll solve problems they haven’t fully defined. And you? You’re packaging years of experience into digestible, likable soundbites.

If you sold them the always-spirited, endlessly agreeable version of you… be prepared to maintain it. Deviate from the routine and guess who's getting voted off the island. The goal is to be chosen because you made it undeniably clear that you solve problems and can be trusted to do it consistently. There’s power in knowing the difference. The real win isn’t getting the job by becoming someone else. What one person appreciates may be what makes you someone else’s target.

Be Chosen - Not Picked

Tip 1: Don’t perform personality. Perform proof.

Nobody is out here just looking for “a great team player.” Yeah, that's what they want, but what they NEED is someone who can solve something they can’t.

🛑 Stop trying to be liked.

✅ Start making your impact undeniable.

If they have to remember anything about you after tons of resumes and interviews, make sure it's what you’ve done, not how agreeable you were.

Tip 2: Speak to their problem, not your potential

Your resume talks about what you can do. Be ready to discuss the results, not the potential.

🪞Mirror their pain points

🤝 Match them with your results

You’re not asking to be picked. You’re making a case they can’t ignore.

Tip 3: Adapt strategically, don’t abandon yourself

Play the game, but be sure you don’t lose yourself in it.

🔦Highlight what’s relevant

🎯Keep what’s real

Because if you have to fake it to get in… you’ll have to maintain it to stay.

Reality Check

There is a stigma around 'performing' in interviews, but everyone is performing. The difference?

Insecurity performs to be liked.

Strategy performs to be positioned.

One drains you.

The other advances you.

Play the game. Just don’t trade your integrity for access.

You’re not asking to be picked. You’re demonstrating why choosing you is the smartest decision they can make.