Lessons from Ken Carson

I came across one of the most fun business articles I've read in a long time, "Why Ken Is the New Babe-Magenet in Toyland" written almost a year ago by Matt Townsend for Bloomberg Businessweek. The article talks about Ken's history with the Mattel Brand including his humiliating public breakup with long time girlfriend Barbie and how he has turned it all around made a comeback.

There are some lessons to be learned from this plastic heart-throb and they can be especially helpful for those looking for a new job.


Refresh your image:

Mattel updated Ken's image giving him a softer look and contemporary clothing. You can do the same when going to an interview. Make sure to wear conservative clothing that is clean and simple. Clothing is a large part of non-verbal communication and appearance is always important.

Before applying to any jobs, make sure to edit your resume to reflect the new you. Your resume represents your image on paper. Update any information that has changed and tailor your resume to the jobs that you are applying for.

Take Risks:

Mattel took a big risk with their brand when they gave Pixar the green light to cast Ken in Toy Story 3 without script approval. The risk paid off and Ken was back on top with sales raising to $1.25 billion. The new Ken found a place in the hearts of kids everywhere and even won back his true love, Barbie.

Taking risks is an important part of finding a job. Applying for positions online can land you a job but you are swimming in an ocean full of applications. If you really want the job, you need to find a way to make yourself stand out from everyone else that is applying for the position.


Build your Online Influence:

After his debut in Toy Story 3, Mattel's publicity department gave Ken his very own Facebook Page and Twitter Account to create buzz within the online community. He even had his very own reality show on Hulu.com called Genuine Ken: The Search for the Great American Boyfriend. 

Employers often search Facebook and Twitter to find out more about their applicants. Maintaining a professional image on social networking sites is important when searching for jobs. If you are applying for jobs within a certain field, try creating a twitter feed or blog with information and insight into that industry. This will help you become an influential source for news in your industry and allow you network with people that work in the field.


Ken's plastic life has been full of its ups and downs much like our human lives are. If he can rebound and find himself in the spotlight, it cannot hurt to try out his approach to success.