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Stephen Colbert helps President Obama with his upcoming job search

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Stephen Colbert knows a little something about leaving a high-profile job, so it’s no surprise that he was more than willing to offer some of his (unsolicited) wisdom to President Obama.

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” aired a segment Monday night featuring its host ambushing Obama at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where the president was attending the White House Frontiers Conference.

The late-night host ended his Comedy Central series “The Colbert Report” after nine years in December 2014, before moving on to take over “The Late Show” on CBS after David Letterman retired in May 2015.

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Though Colbert was just 50 when he entered the job market again, he decided to take pity on Obama, who, after eight years in the White House, will be seeking employment again at the age of 55.

Obama played the stone-faced straight man to Colbert’s mustachioed job interview prep persona and was questioned about what qualifications he had to offer the working world.

“Well, I have almost 30 honorary degrees,” the president said when asked if he had any awards or commendations. “And I did get the Nobel Peace Prize.”

“Oh, really, what was that for?” Colbert probed.

“To be honest, I still don’t know.”

Colbert also found a way to inquire as to the president’s preferences as far as who succeeds him, despite restrictions about endorsements on network television.

“I would like to ask you about your choice of snacks,” Colbert told the president before continuing. “Would you care for an extra-fiber nutrient bar, which has traveled to more than 100 countries, or this shriveled tangerine, covered in golden retriever hair, filled with bile, that I wouldn’t leave alone with a woman I loved?”

The president opted for the fiber bar.

Colbert will take his antics to Showtime for a live election-night episode on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. PST.

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Obama will conclude his eight years in office with the inauguration of a new president on Jan. 20, 2017.

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libby.hill@latimes.com

Twitter: @midwestspitfire

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