Interviewing is Similar to Dating

The First Date

Without fail, when job seekers prepare for an interview they always start talking about what they are missing or rehashing why they were fired/downsized/let go. Just like talking about your ex on a first date, this is a really bad place to start. Even if it’s just in your head, you run the risk of self-sabotage by steering the conversation in that direction.

Focus on what you have in common and establishing a reason for a second date. Just like you wouldn’t expect to rush to the altar after your first date, the initial interview is about getting to know one another. Remember, you want to be defining yourself as an expert with the ability to solve problems – not as a job seeker. Job seeking is a condition of your employment, not the value you bring and a new addition to a company.

Just be prepared for turning rejection into opportunity and the importance of handling those situations well. I’ve experienced something similar with women I have dated, but things didn’t work out – sometimes their choice, sometimes mine. But, in either case, I’ve subsequently been set up by many of them with friends because they consider me a “good guy.”

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