When heading into a job interview you might think that you need to start your performance with the person interviewing you. However, as the Wall Street Journal points out, everyone ranging from the security guard to the receptionist is watching you.
When heading into a job interview you might think that you need to start your performance with the person interviewing you. However, as the Wall Street Journal points out, everyone ranging from the security guard to the receptionist is watching you. A big part of your job interview is figuring out if you'll fit in with the culture of the workplace, and often a receptionist will watch your demeanor as you wait for an interview or when you're dropping off a resume. In some cases, the chain of information goes even further. The Wall Street Journal explains:
Administrative assistants aren't the only ones watching. Sometimes crucial impressions are formed even earlier than the first meeting, if an applicant has been communicating with administrative staff to make logistical arrangements for, say, an in-person meeting or a videoconference.
"Smart recruiters ask for feedback from the travel agent, the driver from the car service that picked you up at the airport, and the admin that walked you around all day," says Rusty Rueff, who once headed HR at PepsiCo and Electronic Arts and now is a board director at workplace-review site Glassdoor.com.
The point is that whether you're dropping off a resume, or heading to an interview, make sure you're presenting yourself well to everyone involved in the process. This might be as simple as politely chatting with a security guard, or giving the receptionist a strong handshake.
The Receptionist Is Watching You | The Wall Street Journal
Photo by Anders Sandberg.
