Today we have a guest post from Bon of Idearella.com.
I, like many women, are in that shaky part of life where it is time to find the perfect job. Struggling with it, I saw some similarities of my recent excursion into online dating. “AHA!” said I, “I’ll bet the rules of dating apply here.”
Indeed they do…
1. Don’t wait until you are ready; start now.
It’s okay to hang out with Mr. Right-Now for a little while, but that doesn’t mean you should stop looking. Translation: The it-pays-the-bills (IPTB) job is fine as long as you are actively seeking your true passion. Don’t wait until you want it so bad you can’t stand it. Start right now.
2. Be prepared, always.
Keep your hair sexy and lip-gloss on, even if you are running to the grocery store. Translation: Always carry business cards. And make sure they have your personal brand, not the IPTB job. Even a trip to the grocery store might net you an interview. (It did for me a month ago!)
3. Try different profiles to see what you get.
If they are running a special and you can get some free time online, post a few different profiles. Make them all about you, but from different angles and using different writing styles. Translation: Rewrite your resume as much as you want. Make one that highlights your clever, witty side, one that is ultra-conservative, one that plays up your volunteer work. (I even have a resume in rhyme.)
4. Show interest in every man who looks okay.
You can’t know everything from a person’s online profile. If he looks remotely good, give him a “wink” and see what happens. Translation: Apply, apply, apply. Keep a handful of different paragraphs that can be mixed and matched for your cover letter. Streamline the process and see who bites.
5. Research before the first date.
Google him, check him on Facebook and/or LinkedIn. Make sure he’s not creepy-dude. Translation: Once you land the interview, read the company’s website and Google them. Are they on best or worst companies to work for lists? Do they have a good image?
6. Be you.
You don’t want to end up in a committed relationship with someone who thinks you are someone else. Don’t show your freakiest side, yet, but do make sure he sees that there may be one. Translation: If you are inclined to sing and skip in the office, don’t act crazy conservative. Wear a suit, but make sure your sparkly camouflage socks show. (I have two pair of these.)
7. Show interest, but only if you are interested.
If you are into him, show it. But if you are not, don’t lead him on. It will be harder to get rid of him in the long run. Translation: If you like the job, say it. If it’s not for you, don’t fake it. If they make you an offer based on feigned excitement, you’ll be stuck.
8. Don’t do IT on the first date.
You won’t like yourself in the morning and neither will he. Translation: If you talk money on the first interview, nobody will walk away happy. The idea of “if the money’s not right, then there’s no sense in moving forward” is rubbish. If it is a good fit, you’ll figure it out.
9. Learn from the date.
If you realize five minutes into the first glass of wine that he’s not, and never will be, Mr. Right, use the date as a learning experience. He just might have some neat qualities you want to put on your “want” list. And he might exhibit some new deal breakers. Translation: If you see for sure you don’t want the job (and it won’t work for an IPTB job), enjoy the interview as practice. Ask some questions that you have been considering asking employers but were afraid of how they might land. See what happens.
10. Don’t settle.
If you want someone to take you to dinner and a play occasionally, keep him around, but don’t commit. If he’s not Mr. Right, don’t make him (or you) think he is. Translation: If it isn’t the dream job and you need an IPTB job, take it but keep looking. Don’t try to convince yourself that this is good enough for your career.
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