Company Takes Job Hunt for PR Spin

I recently suggested to a growing Seattle company the idea of holding an American Idol-like competition for one job, open to  2009 college graduates. The company was looking for ideas on how to quickly increase visibility regionally. My idea was to offer a six-month paid marketing internship to the lucky winner. Contestants would have five minutes to present their idea before a panel of judges and the best idea wins. I thought this concept could easily generate positive PR for the company, thinking the line of contestants/job hunters would run out the door and around the block, possibly garnering live TV coverage.

Not surprisingly, it turns out other companies are thinking creatively, too. One great example is the Murphy-Goode Winery, of Healdsburg, CA. They are holding a “Really Goode Job” video contest where the winner receives  a six-month job paying $10,000 a month plus accommodations. Essentially the job is to be the social media (blogger) correspondant for the company. According to the company’s press release, the search has been covered by LA Times, CNN, FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS and in hundreds of major daily papers and newscasts from London to India.

As of today they have more than 500 video applicants. The deadline for submission is today, and the winner will be announced July 21. Here’s one example of an video applicant, David Sauvion, from Seattle.