Members of the ISU community interested in competing for a chance to work for Donald Trump on the NBC reality series, “The Apprentice” brought many things characteristic to a job interview, including suits, ties and briefcases.

But, at least one of the approximately 40 applicants brought her sense of humor.

“This is for ‘The Apprentice’? I thought it was for ‘Survivor,’ says Eve Doi, an ISU alumna and Ames resident.

The casting call held Thursday at Iowa State was originally planned to coincide with one open to the public at Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines on Saturday, but because of a contract disagreement with the mall, the casting directors did not conduct interviews as planned. Instead, they gave out VIP wristbands, promoting ISU applicants to the head of the line.

Dan Ryan, director of marketing and alumni relations at the College of Business, says the event at Iowa State was a compromise for a “win-win situation.”

“There was so much interest in the ISU community about this event, there was concern it may actually compete with what was going on in Des Moines,” Ryan says.

Lisa Hasel, graduate student in psychology, said she thought the event sounded like a fun opportunity to be a part of a show she loves.

“I love watching the show,” Hasel says. “At the very least, it will be a good story to tell of something I did on a Thursday afternoon, and I can complain when I watch the show of all the people who got in over me.”

Hopefuls could only speculate on their chances of making the show and why Iowa was chosen.

“I think it’s because Tana [Goertz] got to number two, but I don’t know if that means they’ll pick another [Iowan],” Doi says.

Kara Udell, casting director for “The Apprentice,” says she mainly focuses on “the basics” when looking for potential cast members.

“Personality, energy, business acumen — whatever it is that the person who shows up is bringing to the table,” she says.

At the mall, Hasel says, those auditioning were taken in groups of eight to a room where they were given topics to discuss, including if it was ever OK to lie in business.

“It was a pretty lively discussion,” she says. “People were definitely putting their best foot forward.”

Hasel says the interviews in Des Moines were somewhat of a disappointment because the whole process only took an hour.

“It was good, but it was anti-climatic,” she says.

Karen Myers, an ISU alumna and Altoona resident, was surprised by the small turnout and the variety of people applying.

“I was surprised that people would dig so hard on people with educations,” she says. “Being a person with an MBA, I kind of felt like I had to defend it.”

As of Monday, Ryan had not heard if anyone from Iowa State had been contacted.