Why Job Seeking Is Like Dating
And why it’s good for you to know, especially if you’re in the market right now. For jobs, that is…although, bonus if it helps with your love life!
Job-seeking might initially sound worlds away from dating. As the saying goes, one doesn’t mix business with pleasure. Yet, the two actually parallel each other in many ways, and one can give a lot of insight into the other.
Both can sometimes feel long, tedious, and even a little dispiriting – but both can also be fun, insightful, and lead to an ounce of self-discovery!
How?
1. You get out of it what you put in.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if your ideal partner just fell into your lap? Chances are, though, it won’t happen, and neither will your dream job suddenly walk through the door.
The more effort and smarts you apply to your job search, the more likely you are to get results. So make yourself visible to employers and be proactive. Before you’ve got a shot at a date, you’ve got to talk to someone!
Tidbit: Your first impression is usually your profile or CV, so make it your best one. Who wants to match with someone with three words total in their bio?
2. It’s a chance for a stranger to get to know you.
Whether you’re chatting over coffee or playing mini-golf together, a date is a key chance for the other person to get to know you.
The very same applies to the job application process. Interviews and assessment days may seem daunting, but an employer really just wants to see what you’re all about and what it’d be like to work with you. So prepare well, but remember to be yourself! They want to get to know YOU, after all.
3. It’s a two-way street, baby.
In all relationships, there is more than one party involved. You might sometimes feel like you’re begging to be hired, especially if you’re a new job-seeker. Don’t forget that you ought to be satisfied with your job as much as your employer is satisfied with you.
A work relationship is like any other – it should be mutually beneficial.
So do your research not just so you can show off how interested you are; get genuinely interested in if this role is for you! Ask the questions that’ll help you decide this. How flexible are the hours? What’s the company culture like? What progression opportunities are there? If it’s a good fit for both parties, then it’s a match!
4. Everyone is looking for a good fit.
Just like in dating, rejection is part of the gig.
But it doesn’t mean you have nothing to offer! While everyone has different romantic tastes, employers have subjective needs for their roles. So it’s worth keeping in mind compatibility during your job search. Ask yourself: how will you fulfill each other’s needs?
This will help frame what you and employers are trying to achieve. Then you can sell yourself accordingly, or walk away if you’re not keen. Remember, there are other fish in the sea!
5. You learn more from every connection.
Maybe you’re on the fence about a particular opportunity. It doesn’t sound exactly like what you’re after, or you feel you don’t have the skills.
But neither dating nor applying are commitments, and you’ll never know if you don’t apply! Applying gives you a unique chance to learn more about what’s on offer, what appeals to you and what doesn’t, and whether you’re heading in the right direction. At the very least, you’ll come away knowing more than you did before. Even bad dates can teach you something, and most have to kiss a few frogs before they find their royalty.
So go on a first date with that opportunity – you may be surprised!
Last Tidbit: The Placed App is designed with ‘job matching’ in mind, by recommending you the best jobs for what you’re looking for. So if you haven’t, be sure to create a profile and set your preferences. Go get that perfect match!
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