Michael, Pam, Oscar, and Darryl go to a high school job fair to find some summer interns. Meanwhile, Jim takes a potential client on a golf match. Dwight tries to exert some authority.
Tropes
- Brilliant, but Lazy: Jim refuses to give up on the potential sale, but the only reason he's putting in so much effort is because of the events of the previous episode.Jim: Ryan put me on probation...so I am going to do something very bold with this job that I've never done before: try.
- Character Development: At the end of the episode, Pam is shown to have approached a graphic design company at the job fair and gotten advice on how to pursue her craft.
- Death Glare: Having failed to attract anyone to come work at Dunder Mifflin, Michael takes a microphone and starts talking about how all the other jobs are terrible, even the US Air Force...until the recruiter glares at him and he sheepishly admits "Air Force is cool."
- Determinator: Jim is so determined to get the sale that he blocks the client from leaving the golf course until he finally caves.
- Discontinuity Nod: Pam mentions she faked PMS to get out of playing volleyball. As of "Company Picnic," we find out she's a volleyball whiz.
- Early-Bird Cameo: Although it might be unintentional, Jim asks the client if he still gets his paper from "PPC." In Season Five, Michael and Dwight will sabotage the Prince Paper Company.
- Hidden Depths: In a deleted scene, Jim reveals that bringing Kevin and Andy along was part of a carefully-calculated ploy in his sales pitch. The client likes a little action while playing golf, so he brought a gambler, and he hates Cornell, so they can bond on Andy being stupid. This shows just how well Jim is capable of doing his job.
- Idiot Ball: Michael especially grabs hold of it, as he manages to drive away the only student who shows any interest in joining.
- Hypocritical Humor: When Michael is explaining the career fair:Michael: Darryl will hire some kids for the warehouse. We don't have to worry about internships with them, because they definitely ain't going to college.
Darryl: What college did you go to Mike?
Michael: Let's go! - Never My Fault:
- Michael blames Pam for there only being one piece of paper at the booth, even though he told her to only bring one.
- He also manages to scare away the one student who was interested in coming to Dunder Mifflin because he "was funny looking."
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Everyone except Dwight and Angela leaves the office due to Michael (plus Pam and Oscar) and Jim's (plus Andy and Kevin) absence.
- Shout-Out: Michael says "And don't call me Shirley" again, though Pam doesn't provide the setup of "Surely you can't be serious."
- Took a Level in Jerkass: Michael is a colossal prick in this episode: Abusing his power towards Pam, being rude to a potential intern, being dismissive of Dwight's phone call, and being a genuine creeper when Jim and Pam kiss at the end.
- Truth in Television: All of the golf betting games Kevin rattles off after the client proposes they gamble while playing are real. Skins, for example, is a game where the player who scores the lowest on a hole wins the money.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Oscar is completely stunned that Michael would never say to Pam's face that "she's a wonderful person and gifted artist."
