I can't imagine anyone has not noticed the push to describe top candidates as rockstars lately: "Rockstar DBA wanted", "Only Rockstars need apply", etc. And for the most part I understand this to be kitschy and a way to market your req, but in the end, do the companies we work for/with really need/want rockstars?

Gene Simmons IS NOT the Model Employee
Now who doesn't love Gene? He's witty, he's edgy, he's fun to be around, and he is really cool. Heck his life is so interesting that they have a reality tv show around him. But even he didn't make it as a finalist on Celebrity Apprentice. He was too unpredictable, he requires a great deal of attention, and in the end he let his hubris get him fired. He made an awful apprentice despite making an iconic rockstar.

Rockstars Aren't Team Players
By nature, rockstars crave individual recognition, to be in the spotlight, to shine above all others. We always hope that their talent will make everyone better, but that just isn't their nature: Diana Ross moved beyond the Supremes, Justin Timberlake out grew INSYNC, Phil Collins left Genesis, Sting left The Police (not the best list, but you get the picture). Rockstar candidates are the same way: they are concerned with their career path not the company's growth; they market themselves not their team (and we encourage them to do so by the way). The best way to kill the productivity of a team is to have one person on the team focused on who gets the credit or more worried about a promotion than the job at hand.

A Voice in Many
So what's my argument for choir boys wanted? Well, that is who I want working with me: one that is able to adapt his/her individuality to the needs of the many to create a product greater than the individual contribution, someone that can take a solo at the right time and then move into support when it is someone else's turn to step-up; someone that understands their performance is critical to help make everyone achieve; someone that can lead through example and helps others stay on pitch or task; someone that can take direction from a director and doesn't over-sing to the detriment of the group. Anyone that has seen a true performance choir (I'm not talking about the "everyone can participate" Sunday morning choir) knows that everyone in the group is good on their own, but made better by the group. I want to recruit candidates wanting to be a part of that group. The Real Group.