5 Dating Tips That Also Apply To Job Hunting
Know your worth, hun.
As a general rule, jobs and relationships should be kept as separate parts of your life — LinkedIn and Tinder are two apps that you definitely don’t want to get confused.
But the steps you take to land a job aren’t all that different to the dating game. If you’re stuck in a job hunting rut and none of the usual advice seems to be getting you anywhere, try pretending your next interview is a date! It’s just a chance to give someone an insight into who you are and why they should see you again.
Be Honest, But Not Too Honest
“I’m great with Photoshop, I used it all the time at my last job!” OK, so technically you only had to use it once a year ago, but you could probably still do it if you had to… Maybe?
Embellishing a few little details here and there can be tempting. But not only will it be incredibly awkward if you’re caught out, you’ll probably end up in a job you’re not suited for.
At the same time, too much honesty is a bad idea — the interviewer probably doesn’t need to know how much you hated your last boss, for instance. If there are any potential questions you’re worried about, prepare answers beforehand so you don’t freeze up on the spot.
Explore Your Options
Job hunting, like dating, is ultimately a numbers game. The more jobs you apply for, the closer you are to finding the right one. There’s nothing wrong with interviewing with multiple companies — not only does it give you a chance to perfect your “tell me about yourself” spiel, but it allows you to compare different employers and understand what’s normal practice in your industry.
Whatever you do, make sure you get your facts straight before each interview — it’s pretty much impossible to recover from calling a company or a date the wrong name.
It Goes Both Ways
Like a good date, a good job interview is one where conversation flows naturally because you’re genuinely interested in what the other person has to say. It shouldn’t feel like an interrogation.
Also, while your Tinder date might not appreciate you asking them about their trip to Mexico in 2010 the first time you meet, a little pre-interview social media stalking before a job interview is completely fine. Don’t forget you’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you — use it as an opportunity to ask questions and get a sense of what kind of employers they are, and how happy you’d be.
Know Your Worth
Unless you have super rich parents, chances are you will have to do work you don’t enjoy for companies who see you as replaceable until you get a break in your chosen field.
When you’ve been unemployed for a while it can be tempting to overlook red flags like throwaway racist comments or weirdly personal questions during the interview. But if something feels wrong, trust your gut and know your limits. Don’t do anything that goes against your personal values to the point where it makes you uncomfortable, and make sure your pay matches your experience and qualifications.
Sometimes It Really Isn’t You, It’s Them
Being rejected already sucks, but it’s worse to hear how you were so close to getting the job, but you just “weren’t the right fit” or “another candidate was more suited to the role”. How are you meant to know what to do differently next time?
All you can do is handle the rejection gracefully — don’t blow up their phone or rant on social media about how stupid they were for not choosing you. It might not feel like it right now, but there is an employer out there who will value your skills and want to invest in you.
(Lead image: Broad City/Comedy Central)