By Hayley Miller, News Staff

‘Stop looking for a job and start looking for a person,’ author Ellen Gordon Reeves, told a packed audience at the Egan Research Center Wednesday.
Reeves’ book, ‘Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?’ is’ geared toward young people getting ready to approach the work force. Readers can find answers to common, but frequently unanswered questions such as ‘what if I have to pee during an interview?’ or ‘what if I have to scratch myself?’
‘Every question in the book is a real question a student has asked me,’ Reeves said.
Reeves is the first author in this fall’s Meet the Author series, sponsored by Snell Library, Career Services and the Northeastern Bookstore. Faculty and students from Northeastern and surrounding universities made up an audience to which Reeves lectured about topics ranging from how to find a job to buffing up resumes. On the topic of nose rings, Reeves said it’s ok to ask the interviewer beforehand if you may sport it on the big day, but said what you really have to ask yourself is ‘what’s more important, my nose ring or my job?’
‘ Following the lecture, Reeves signed copies of her featured book and conducted mock interviews later that day at the Stearns Center.
During the lecture, Reeves stressed the importance of networking when on the job hunt and the concept that it’s not about what you know, but who you know. Throughout the speech, she paused to let audience members introduce themselves to one another, stressing the value of strong communication and networking skills, and to practice good handshakes.
Reeves provided insight on creating an impressive resume stating that it should never be more than a page long and advised withholding GPAs unless required.
‘Every single piece of resume real estate is important,’ she said.
When interviewing, Reeves shared many key tips and urged interviewees to ‘become a master of the anecdote.’
‘Take control in an interview,’ she said.
Reeves, a Harvard alumna whose featured book is a Business Week bestseller and has appeared on National Public radio’s Morning Edition, earned her Master’s in writing from Northeastern in 1992.
With Northeastern’s co-op program making its 100th anniversary this academic year, Emily Sabo, the Library’s Marketing and Events Assistant, said picking Reeves was easy.
‘This is definitely an event that has a pretty practical focus in terms of helping students find the type of jobs they want,’ Sabo said. ‘Our aim is to stir dialogue and foster a space where different types of people can share [their ideas].’
‘I thought she was very resourceful,’ said Ashley Pira, a sophomore biochemistry major. ‘I’m going to go home and restructure my resume right now.’
Freshman behavioral neuroscience major Hunyh Vo said she enjoyed learning about situations that involve ‘nightmare’ questions, or those dreaded questions you just can’t seem to come up with an answer for on the spot.
‘That really impressed me. It’s all about how you prepare for it,’ she said.
The next event in the Meet the Author series will feature author, Dahlma Lianos-Figuerao of the novel ‘Daughers of the Stone’ Oct. 15 in the Snell Library. For more information on upcoming Library events check out the Facebook page Northeastern University Libraries.
Copies of ‘Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?’ are available at the NU Bookstore for $10.