Before you go
Choose a few positions that interest you and read the descriptions before arriving. Bring a version of your resume that makes relevant experience easy to find. Prepare a short introduction that names the work you want and one example of what you can contribute.
If you are changing careers, explain the connection. Customer service, recordkeeping, team coordination or mechanical experience can give a recruiter a useful starting point when the example matches the role.
At the table
Begin with a focused question: which opening would make the best use of your experience? Listen closely enough to ask a useful follow-up about duties, schedule, training or the next hiring stage.
Write down the job title and application route. Ask how the employer prefers candidates to follow up. A clear conversation is more useful than collecting a stack of materials without understanding what any of the positions involve.
After you apply
Complete the required application while the conversation is fresh. Keep your notes beside the posting so you can prepare for a later interview. If the recruiter invited further contact, follow those instructions and refer to the specific role you discussed.
The goal is a useful next step: a completed application, a better understanding of the work or a clearer idea of what you need to learn before applying again.
Michigan Hired Job News Magazine, October 2026, In the Hiring Room, printed page 06.
Read the original digital edition ↗Text edition of the magazine feature, reformatted for web reading.