Never Underestimate the Person Who Greets You at an Interview
A client arrived early for an interview and spent 20 minutes talking to the receptionist. That conversation changed everything. Here's the lesson no career coach puts on the list.
Never Underestimate the Person Who Greets You at an Interview
Never underestimate the person who greets you for your interview.
Once, one of my clients was telling me about an interview where he arrived early and was waiting in the reception area.
He chose to use the time to talk with the receptionist and had begun a great conversation about the organization.
Her knowledge and information made time fly, and he realized he was late for his interview when the interviewer popped his head out. The interviewer then asked the receptionist if she knew when she would be finished speaking with the candidate.
It was a bit of an odd conversation and didn't quite make sense at the time.
My client and the receptionist finished quickly after that, and the interviewer came and took him back for the interview.
The interviewer explained that the reception area was short-staffed and the VP of HR was the one he had been chatting with.
Needless to say, he aced his interview. And the job offer followed.
How you choose to treat those who appear to have no influence on your goal is the true reveal of your character.
In job searching, and honestly in life, you never know who will open doors for you in this season or the next.
Be kind to everyone. Hold the door open for those who walk in behind you.
That's the Candidate of Choice™ in action, not just a strategy, but a way of showing up. For the full framework, read the Theory of Hireability™ manifesto.
Ready to become the candidate people remember? Start here.
