My dogs and I are certified Pet Partners, which is part of the reason Canadian Headhunter calls me the Dog Lady.  To be certified Pet Partners, you and your pet must know how to communicate very well, and you must maintain control over your animal while demonstrating a mutual partnership.  And, of course, you have to pass a skills test as a team.

When preparing for the skills test, the instructors tell you right away that the examination starts well before they say, “Go.”  The examiners watch you as you arrive in your car.  They observe how you and your pet exit the vehicle, and they closely monitor your interactions as you enter the testing facility and prepare for the exam.  The test is “on” the entire time, whether you realize it or not.

And the same is true with interviewing.  Your behavior and interactions with a potential employer - in and out of the formal interview setting – all culminate into a final evaluation.  At some companies, I know the receptionist and other non-recruiters and non- interviewers are trained to observe you and report back to the hiring teams.

Your expected good conduct extends well beyond just how you act in the lobby.  This also includes ensuring you write professional (and spell-checked) emails, keep and arrive on time for scheduled appointments (by phone or in-person), and answer in earnest when a recruiter asks for additional information.  Professionalism (and even a little kissing up) is necessary every step of the way.

gretchen