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Be careful not to get lipstick or eyeliner on your interviewing uniform when some scout sits you down for a face-painting. You’re getting your 15 minutes of fame—no more—so go through the wartime recruiting ritual. Smile, eye contact (Do 1).

Avoid a group interview. The interview interest is so intense that note-takers and minions of all stripes will attend.

Resist the temptation to disclose anything proprietary. This is not only wrong, but two other factors will undo the deal. Initially, the offeror will be concerned that she’s doing something illegal by discussing the information with you. (This is true even though she asked—they instinctively ask, then reflect and regret.) Then she’ll wonder what you’ll tell some other competitor about their secret sauce.

So use your competitor background for what it is—an instant interviewgetter.

Competitors are frequently located far from your last (or present) employer. If so, the answer is to call. Fax or e-mail won’t work. The instant impact is gone. The competitive offeror will start reflecting, calling an employer lawyer and otherwise losing the intensity of the interest.

Here’s how the call might go:

Operator: Hello, this is Competitive Company.

You: Hi! What’s the name of your director of engineering?

Operator: Louis Lookout.

You: Thank you. Would you transfer me, please?

Operator: Please hold.

Receptionist: Engineering Administration.

You: Hi, Louis Lookout, please.

Receptionist: Who’s calling for Louie?

You: Archie Archrival from Worst Enemy, Inc.

Receptionist: I’m sorry. . .I dropped the phone. Give me a minute to find my upper bridge. Oh good. . .thought I broke it there for a minute. A-h-h-h. That’s better. Now where were we? Oh yes. . .you wanted Louie. Just a minute. He’s in a closed-door design meeting with his senior design staff. I’ll interrupt him.

You: Gee . . . thanks!

Louie (catching his breath): Hi, Archie! How’re things over at Worst Enemy?

You: I left a week ago. It was a RIF (Reduction in Force).

Louie: That’s great . . . I mean awful . . . I mean great! What kind of work did you do?

You: I was the director of technical support and interfaced with the senior design staff. (Note the words senior design. You picked up the words from the receptionist.)

Louie: Where are you calling from?

You: Enemytown. I was one of the few nonvirtual employees.

Louie: Really? We’d like to meet with you. How does tonight sound?

You: Well, considering we’re three hours later than you, it might be a little tight.

Louie: Okay. I’ll get over it. Why don’t I have Harry Handshaker, our Director of HR, call you and arrange a jobjungle ambush . . . er . . . scouting trip.

You: I’ve got other opportunities I’m considering. (A classic take-away close.)

Louie: You want to talk to us first. Just hold tight and I’ll see if Harry can arrange a videoconference.

You: No . . . that won’t be necessary. (Good for you. Get in their face and s-m-i-l-e!)

Louie: Okay you’re hired . . . sorry, I meant “You’re on!” See you in a few days.

You: I’m looking forward to it. Competitive Company has a great product line.

Louie: We’ll have a limo pick you up at the heliport!

Igniting? You’re cookin’!

Do 80: Bonding Instantly with Immigrant Offerors

Instant interviewing is immigrant interviewing.

We instant all over. We deal with what is.

You’ll meet offerors from another country every day. Many are very successful. Many more want born-here U.S. citizens at the front of the business. If you’re one, you qualify.

Successful immigrants know what you know—people like people who are like them. One either whines or one works. That’s the way the workingworld works in any language.

There’s another reason even more compelling—and troubling. Immigrants are not usually treated very well. Those who succeed in spite of language, racial, or custom barriers are extraordinary. They overreact to kindness.

So bond with them like this.