The Office: 4.17 ‘Job Fair’ Recap
Original Air Date: May 8, 2008
We get off to a typically funny “Michael is an idiot” start when, excited to be going to a job fair at Pam’s alma mater Valley View High School, he declares Daryl can hire some students to work in the warehouse and nobody has to worry about giving them internships since they’re definitely not going to college. Daryl’s instant, spot-on comeback is to ask Michael which college he attended. Michael ignores the question, of course, because he didn’t go to college either, presumably.
While Michael lugs Daryl (blue-collar rep), Oscar (accounting rep), and Pam (eye candy) along to the school, Jim hits the golf course with Andy and Kevin to woo potential client Phil Maguire, who uses lots of paper for his company’s direct mail campaigns. Andy has hands covered in blisters from practicing golf all night the day before, and Kevin is determined to turn a few dollars of petty cash into “next month’s rent.” Who doesn’t love a person with that kind of ambition?
Back at the office, Dwight tries to assert his authority now that he’s the default person supposedly in charge by forcing everyone left behind to stay until 5pm, the normal end of the workday. Stanley is the first to walk out, regardless of Dwight’s threat that he’ll tell Michael (when he finally does, Michael agrees with the employees who bail that there’s no reason for them to stay with so many coworkers at the job fair or on the golf course).
Creed, Kelly, Meredith, and Phyllis follow soon afterwards when Dwight is in the bathroom. The fact that Angela is the only person who stays is kind of bittersweet because it shows how she and Dwight are perfect for each other despite their failed romance. Maybe they’ll give it another shot later.
Other good times include Michael sending Pam on a twenty-mile roundtrip back to the office to retrieve one sheet of white Dunder Mifflin paper. The single sheet he instructed her to bring to the fair is allegedly ruined when geeky Justin, the only student who shows any interest in Dunder Mifflin, signs it, thereby ruining the endless possibilities that a blank piece of paper represents in Michael’s twisted mind.
Michael thinks the lone sheet is all they need to lure students to their booth, but he thinks again by the end of the episode when nobody stops by besides Justin. This brings us to more good times, such as Justin blowing Michael off like Michael did to him earlier.
That occurs when Michael, finally realizing that students know working at a paper company sucks, approaches Justin to persuade him to intern at Dunder Mifflin. And how pathetic but typically Michael is his desperate dash to the stage at the end of the day, where he embarrasses himself by begging students to forget about all the other boring companies there and just give Dunder Mifflin a chance? Even Justin looks like he feels bad for Michael, but he still doesn’t return to the Dunder Mifflin table.
Fortunately, Jim scores on the golf course with Maguire by not giving up. His persistence — and refusal to stop blocking the man’s car for 15 minutes — pays off, and he becomes Maguire’s new paper supplier. Pam shows her pride in her man with a kiss when she returns to the office, and Michael predictably ruins it by getting too close for comfort, standing inches away from Pam and Jim with that goofy smile on his face.
And, of course, he makes even Jim’s victory all about himself. He’s pleased that Jim chooses to sell paper, just like he does, although Jim could obviously do so much better. Why wouldn’t that be a reflection of how great Michael is? It all makes so much sense.
There are some not-so-good times during the episode, as well, mainly at the end when Pam approaches a graphic design company to scope out a new job. The representative suggests she look into taking adult classes on design software to qualify, the wrinkle being that the best courses are offered in New York and Philadelphia.
Does this mean Pam might be heading to the big city for a bit of a job change and some career advancement? Well, why not? Remaining a receptionist doesn’t seem fulfilling for her. Maybe the idea of Pam leaving might convince Michael to start showing her a little more respect — starting with not revealing her personal business to complete strangers, as he does when he tells student Justin that she’s dated two colleagues at Dunder Mifflin — and giving her more responsibility around the office. If only.
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