| "The Job" | |
|---|---|
| The Office episodes | |
| Episode nos. | Season 3 Episodes 24 & 25 |
| Directed by | Ken Kwapis |
| Written by | |
| Featured music | "Kind & Generous" by Natalie Merchant |
| Cinematography by | Randall Einhorn |
| Editing by | |
| Production code | 323/324[1] |
| Original air date | May 17, 2007 |
| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Job" is the third-season finale of the American version of The Office and the show's 52nd and 53rd episodes overall. In this episode, Michael prepares for his interview for the corporate job and names Dwight as his successor, whose managing methods are unpopular. Jan arrives at the office to see Michael and everyone is shocked when it appears she has undergone breast augmentation. Jim and Karen also interview for the corporate position, and Pam deals with the consequences of her earlier outburst.
The episode was written by Paul Lieberstein and Michael Schur, and was directed by Ken Kwapis. It was cut down from an hour and twelve minutes to forty-two minutes, making it the season's second hour-long episode after "A Benihana Christmas". Kwapis carefully shot Jim's reaction shots, as he did not want to reveal Jim's choice of Karen or Pam to the audience. The cast were unaware how the season would end, as multiple endings were shot by the crew. Filming wrapped up in April 2007.
The finale first aired in the United States on May 17, 2007 on NBC. An estimated 7.9 million viewers watched the episode; it earned a 3.9/12 ratings share among adults 18–49, making it rank first for the night. Television critics gave positive reviews to the finale, with many finding the ending scene between Jim and Pam satisfying. It won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay – Episodic Comedy and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series. In addition, Jenna Fischer received a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.