Outlining Interview Scenarios You Can Expect: Opening and During the Interview

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As the actors find their places on the job-interview scene, all the building blocks of the actor's preparation come together. Lights . . . camera . . . action!

Showstoppers

Chris arrives 10 minutes before show time and makes polite small talk with the receptionist. The receptionist buzzes the interviewer, who comes to the lobby to greet Chris. As they walk through a hallway toward the interviewer's office, Chris breaks the ice by saying nice things about the pictures on the wall.

Once inside the interviewer's office, Chris smiles and returns a firm handshake to the interviewer. Chris's eyes sweep the room, looking for some mutual interest (sports, colleges, or travel mementos) and spots a baseball picture of the Yankees on the wall. Chris doesn't sit until invited.

For a moment, Chris feels jittery. Then Chris thinks about CNN's John Roberts and CBS's Katie Couric, who always seem to have everything under control. Chris takes a deep breath and feels poise return.

The interviewer is distracted with Chris's resume, but to keep the momentum going, asks a few questions. Chris glides right into strong answers — stressing the good fit between his skills and the job's requirements. Chris makes a mental note to repeat that information as soon as the interviewer's full spotlight is away from the resume and on him in the flesh.

Clunkers and bloopers

Cory scrambles into the office wearing a super-trendy outfit topped by hair stiff with mousse. Conservative managers see Cory as being "too much" — "not one of us."

Arriving late after losing the way to the interview, an unsmiling Cory rushes to the receptionist's desk and, without bothering to greet the receptionist, asks for the interviewer. The receptionist hurries Cory to the interviewing office.

The interviewer glances up and calmly asks, Do you know that you're 25 minutes late? Nervously, Cory sits down, uninvited, and mutters, Yeah, sorry. I got stuck in that stupid traffic jam that always happens on the bridge, and then I got totally lost. I guess I should have started earlier.

The interviewer responds, Uh-huh. Well, before we begin, I seem to have misplaced your resume — do you have an extra copy? Flustered, Cory says, Sorry, no. Because you already had a copy, I didn't bring another.

Critic's review

When making your entrance, keep these tips in mind:

• Dress as though you belong where you're interviewing.
• Be friendly to all office staffers — they'll discuss you openly after you leave.
• Wait for the interviewer to initiate a handshake and then make your handshake a firm one.
• Make several copies of your resume in case you're asked for a copy. More likely, you'll be introduced to others who have a say in the hiring decision — leave one with each important person you meet.
• Stand until invited to sit.
• When you feel a sudden case of nerves, learn from the dramatic arts. Think of yourself as a favorite media personality who is cool, calm, collected, and confident.

During the Interview

Research and rehearsal grow confidence in actors and job interviewees. R&R ensures that they know their lines and moves. It turns interviews into fairly predictable auditions.