Buffista Hivemind advice needed: I need some pointers on how to sound cheerful and upbeat in an interview. I have one on Thursday and personality will be a big factor. I don't want to sound fake but I tend to go into interviews very serious and businesslike and then get stumped when asked if I have any questions.

I'm going to try to schedule a mock-interview with my temp coach before the real one, but any Buffista suggestions would be immensely appreciated!

Quester, do research on the company so you're better equipped to ask questions. I would also Google for ideas of questions to ask, but don't use anything verbatim, if you can avoid it. They have web search too.

My Vancouver best friend bumped into Colin yesterday, for the first time since Eureka started filming. They only know each other through me, and haven't seen each other more than once, I don't think, like twenty years ago. How he recognized her is beyond me.

Well, definitely make up questions beforehand -- standard ideas include stuff about the office culture, how your success would be evaluated in the position, I forget what else, but you can google that kind of thing.

Generally, I totally feel you -- that definitely used to be my problem with interviews. I was so worried about not coming off well that I spent a long time thinking about my answers, which made me not come off well. I think just try to show your real personality, and don't try to be either more businesslike or more cheerful than you actually are. Be AS cheerful as you actually are, sure, but if you put on a big show at the interview, you'd have to keep doing it if you got the job, no?

Be AS cheerful as you actually are, sure, but if you put on a big show at the interview, you'd have to keep doing it if you got the job, no?

I think fronting a little bit at the interview stage is probably not a bad idea, but yeah, it can be easy to go overboard.

ION, global warming is my fault. I want to sit on the deck, but it's hot out, so I'm sitting on the deck in front of the open door with the ac blasting. Ahhh.

I think fronting a little bit at the interview stage is probably not a bad idea, but yeah, it can be easy to go overboard.

Yeah, that's right. I told my former minion -- who was asked for something in an interview and didn't get it to them by their deadline -- to be as good in the interview process as she would ever be, doing the job.

I think it helps to try to make connections with the interviewers, such as commenting on the pictures in their office, and generally work towards a more of a conversation. Even though the theory of an interview is for them to find out about you, the reality is that people like to talk more than they like to listen.

Even though the theory of an interview is for them to find out about you, the reality is that people like to talk more than they like to listen.

This to infinity.

Plus, it's very informative to learn what the interviewer likes about the company.

When I coach interviewees, I suggest that when the conversation becomes more casual, to ask where the staff likes to eat lunch. From this you learn if they DO eat out, or over their desks. A key quality of life issue.

Huh. Really? If I had an interviewee start asking about lunch choices I think it would strike me as unserious and/or presumptous. The conversation would have to be really casual by that point.

I honestly think I'd be more comfortable asking straight out "how often do you find yourself eating lunch at your desk?"

Meet the interviewer's eyes. Smile when you say hello. Finding something in the office to comment positively on is a great idea. Upbeat doesn't mean acting like someone in a sitcom, it means being friendly, acknowledging the humanity of the person sitting across the table from you and speaking of things in a generally positive light.

Think about what you actually like about the job you are applying for. You don't have to prepare a canned answer, but if you think about all the pluses about your own talents and about the job you are going for, they will be in your mind when you need to come up with an answer.

I like to eat lunch at my desk. The internet isn't going to read itself!