#1. Top Ten Interviewing Mistakes: Silently Standing in Line

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Remember the last time you went to a recruiting event? Chances are you found yourself standing behind the Recruiter Hog. However, being the Recruiter Hog is not the number one mistake students make. The number one mistake that students make is to stand silently in line to wait to talk to the recruiter.

Waiting in line is a big waste of time!

During my recruitment season, I went to every recruiting event and met absolutely everyone. During a particular career fair, I approached a firm with a big line and started chatting to some of the students waiting in line. As we were chatting, one of the firm’s representatives shouted my name to catch my attention and motioned for me to come to the front of the line. Just like that, I moved from the back of the line immediately to the front and took the person who I was talking to with me. The company representative pulled me to the front of the line because we had previously met and she wanted to introduce me to her colleague. I introduced my new friend who I met in line and we instantly engaged in an intimate conversation. I not only made a connection with a new professional, but I also made a new and very grateful friend who I introduced to two company representatives.

Standing silently in line does two things

1. It lowers your value: People want to be around people who are liked. Think about it, you naturally want to be around people who are popular. This same rule applies during recruitment events. Recruiters will notice and want to talk to you if everyone is talking to you.

2. You miss out on making some great connection: Everyone at a recruitment event is worth meeting. You can potentially find someone who you can practice interviewing with or a great connection into a company. Standing in line is the perfect time to look over at the person next to you and initiate a conversation.

Rejoice that recruiter hogs exist. They annoy recruiters with commonly asked questions that recruiters get bombarded with time and time again. This is a good thing for you because you will be the person that brightens up their day. You will be the passionate and confident student who is interested in getting to know the recruiter as a person.

Suck it up and do it.

The number one fear in society is public speaking. Well, I’m not telling you to go out and make a speech. I’m telling you to just talk to one person. Lean over and ask the person next to you, “So how is recruitment treating you?” Trust me, it works like a charm.

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