Dating is a numbers game.
To find your right match you need to wade through all the people that you don’t like.
Smoker? Pass.
Doesn’t like cats? Pass.
Wants 7 kids? Hell NO!
Though there are some undeniable similarities between dating and job searching, job searching just can’t be treated the same way.
We think that if we take a ‘spray and pray’ approach and send our resume E’RYWHERE, we’re bound to catch something.
Sorry to say, that’s not the case.
Job searching demands dedication, requires research, and suffers without strategy. It’s not for those that fear commitment.
So have you been treating your job search like your dating life, present or past? Let’s check…
Swiping Right on All the Hotties | Translation: Applying to ALL the Jobs that “Look Good”
If you’re on Tinder or have friends on Tinder, you’re familiar with swiping right. And it’s almost entirely based on aesthetics, and nothing of actual substance. Not judging. One of my best friends met their soulmate on Tinder. Clearly, it works.
But this doesn’t work for job searching. Applying to jobs based purely on aesthetics – a sexy title, hot company, alluring salary – these are not the makings of a long-term job relationship.
What to do instead: Take your time. Research companies you’re interested in applying to. Get to know their vision, mission, and culture. Why do they continue doing what they’re doing and do you want to be a part of that? Talk to employees past and present at the company. Talk to people in your target roles.
Going Blind into Blind Dates | Translation: Winging it in Interviews
Blind dates are just that, blind. You can ask the friend that set you up to dish all they can about your date but you don’t want to seem like you’re prying.
When it comes to interviews, you cannot just go in blind. You cannot just wing it. I can guarantee you will bomb.
What to do instead: Stalk your interviewer. Stalk the company you’re interviewing for. Read their blog posts, their press releases, their social media posts. Get to know them intimately and walk into that interview, confidently.
Playing Hard to Get | Translation: Making It Hard for Recruiters to Reach You
I get it. When you’re dating someone, you don’t want to be TOO available for fear of scaring them off. I know, you’ve got game.
But the game is not the same in job searching. Recruiters don’t have time for these tactics. They will simply move on. There’s no emotional attachment there and they’re not willing to wait for you to make yourself available.
What to do instead: Head over to your LinkedIn profile right now. Include a call to action in your Summary and Advice for Contacting sections just like mine. Provide your email. Make it easy for recruiters or hiring managers to get in touch with you and you will improve your chances that they actually will.
Not Calling the Next Day | Translation: Not Expressing Gratitude to Interviewers
You had a great first date so how about another? You have to wait that requisite 2-3 days before calling again, right?
The same rule does not apply to job searching. In fact, quite the opposite.
What to do instead: After you nail your interview, you need to nail your expression of gratitude. Do not let 24 hours pass without sending an email to the interviewer expressing how much you appreciated the opportunity to meet with them, discuss the role and company, and include something else that shows you were really paying attention (example: how you know you could solve a problem the company is experiencing, including a resource that builds on something you discussed in the interview, etc.)
When we meet the right person, it almost feels effortless. It’s a fit you can really feel. In that sense, job searching is similar. When a great fitting gig finally comes along, you can feel it. And just like any solid relationship, getting to that job that jives requires commitment and more importantly, trust and knowing yourself.
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