Love and Employment: How interviewing and dating are similar

The agony is real

I joked around with some of my friends during this previous job hunt and interview process about how much it reminds me of dating and we all agreed that there were a lot of shared similarities.

I thought well hey if we all feel a similar experience, maybe others do too. So without further ado, here are some similarities between dating and interviewing. If you relate to this post let me know in the comments below!

Disclaimer: I have been married for 2 1/2 years and have been with my wife for over 5 years so my dating experience might be a bit outdated, but you get the idea.

First impressions

No matter if you’re interviewing or dating, making a positive first impression is so important. During the interview, when you’re first meeting the hiring manager and team, the goal is to shine with charisma and to show confidence in your ability to do the role. Similarly, this is how we would present ourselves during a first date. It's a lot easier said than done, but going in with confidence really does help.

Not being overbearing

Another common theme between interviewing and dating is the balance of expressing interest without coming off as overbearing. No matter if it is a date or an interview, if you’re overly assertive it can definitely hinder your chances because it often overwhelms the other person.

Rejection

Rejection sucks. In both dating and interviewing, the sting of rejection can bring out feelings of self-doubt and disappointment. It’s hard not to take rejection personally, even if there are other factors outside of your own control. It’s a reminder that it often isn’t you and you have to keep pushing for something better just around the corner!

Continuing to date & interview around

Navigating the dating pool and exploring different career opportunities are very similar in the sense that they involve the process of exploring various options before making a final decision.

The waiting game

No one enjoys the waiting game and this is arguably the worst time for both dating and interviewing. Unless you’re a patient person, this process is tough. Whether it's eagerly anticipating a call back from a potential employer or awaiting a message from a previous date, the sense of uncertainty can be challenging.

Going through the job hunt experience these past few months, I really felt the similarities between these two worlds. Glad to be on the other side of it now having landed my dream role, and just know that if you’re going through this process now you’ll make it through too!