The Job Search and Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

How is an Interview Like a  First Date?

I think that like a first date, if you’re not nervous and excited then you should ask yourself why.  Perhaps this isn’t the position/date that excites you.  The way you look and behave will allow your date (and the interviewer) to immediately know if he or she wants to learn more about you.  

Your dress, a firm handshake, a warm smile and eye contact are essential elements to both a date and an interview. To continue the theme, it’s important be conscious of your body language.  Sitting up straight or slightly leaning forward demonstrate your interest in the speaker and topic and want to continue the conversation.

Like a first date, an interview is a conversation; a back and forth talk where the interviewee actively listens and engages the interviewer with insightful questions and responses.  The interviewee should be prepared to fully explain his or her comments with thought-out instances of accomplishments and career highlights.


Finally, during a first date you may be asked your strengths and weaknesses and likes and dislikes.  These come up on an interview too and so in both cases you should be prepared with examples of each.  As far as weaknesses, don’t forget to mention what you’ve done to improve so that you don’t turn off the interviewer.

Valentine's Day and the Job Search

Maybe it is because our daughter got engaged this past week-end.  Maybe it's because it is Valentine’s Day.  Either way, let’s take a look at the top five reasons to love yourself during your job search.

1. Identify your strengths. Write down the job tasks that you enjoy and rank them as high, medium and low.  The areas that received high marks are your strengths. Any areas that you ranked as low or medium may be your weaknesses.
2. Write out examples of your strengths. Now that you have identified your strengths, explore them by defining specific examples (what, when, where, why).
3. Correct the weaknesses.  Look for free or low cost classes or other ways to improve your weaknesses.
4. Write an Elevator Speech and practice it. When you create an Elevator Speech you note an area where you excel. Look in the mirror and say your speech out loud. Not only are you validating your strength(s), you are preparing yourself for using your speech flawlessly.
5. Count Your Blessings. Contact your networking contacts and thank them for their help with your job search. It may remind them to keep you in mind if they learn of an opening.

Sure, all this may sound corny but liking yourself is contagious and it allows you to be more optimistic, affirmative and upbeat and those are skills that are necessary in any job search.