Dating is like Job Hunting
I have been thinking about this analogy for a while now. I have spent a lot of time lately with starting to network for opportunities for research, jobs, and things I would look good on my resume. I need to do this in order to go to grad school. Yet, I noticed I can apply these networking strategies with dating.
Through the process, I have spent a lot of my effort putting myself out there for future employer's. I then asked myself, am I putting myself out there in the dating scene? I think I have been doing a pretty good job but there is always room for improvement.
Anyways, I think it's funny to see how similar these two things can work together.
These are the similarities I have found with dating and job hunting:
1. They are both hard. It can be easy to find a wrong fit. I could work as a custodial early morning job and that could work. I could work this job and be happy but It may not be the best fit my specific time. Like dating, you could find a boyfriend/girlfriend who may not be the best fit for you. You are simply dating them because of convenience, fear or pressure (which are horrible reasons to date someone).
2. They both require a certain type of attitude of optimism and putting your best self out there. You don't lie, but you don't tell the complete truth. In a interview, you don't tell them about how you got fired from your last job. On the first date, you don't talk about how your boyfriend cheated on you and how heart broken you are. You show the best side of you and try to "sell the product", yourself. You try to convince them that you are the best fit for them in a interview or first date. You dress up and act the part in both situations.
3. There is always the question: What will this opportunity give me? There is a cost benefit analysis that occurs with each one. What will this job give me? Maybe it is the experience you need, the salary, the hours or co-workers that you like. Similarly with dating, you do a cost benefit analysis. What will I gain from dating this person and what are some down falls? Maybe they offer you car rides, affection, notes of affirmation, validation, popularity and lastly the most important happiness. I know that we say we don't do this, but it is a natural reaction. We first meet someone and on the date, we ask ourselves whether or not the relationship or job is worth taking with cost benefit analysis.
4. Mainly relationships and jobs are started through networking! Being proactive is a big part in both situations. Part of this is taking responsibility and recognizing that you are in control. You can't blame people around you for being unemployed or single (this is a generalization, there are lots of specific exceptions that I am not accounting for). In both of these, individuals need to remember these and try to be proactive and network. This doesn't mean being someone's friend simply because they have cute friends of the opposite sex (this is a really superficial way to make friends).
What are some applications that you single ladies and men can take from my post?
Through the process, I have spent a lot of my effort putting myself out there for future employer's. I then asked myself, am I putting myself out there in the dating scene? I think I have been doing a pretty good job but there is always room for improvement.
Anyways, I think it's funny to see how similar these two things can work together.
These are the similarities I have found with dating and job hunting:
1. They are both hard. It can be easy to find a wrong fit. I could work as a custodial early morning job and that could work. I could work this job and be happy but It may not be the best fit my specific time. Like dating, you could find a boyfriend/girlfriend who may not be the best fit for you. You are simply dating them because of convenience, fear or pressure (which are horrible reasons to date someone).
2. They both require a certain type of attitude of optimism and putting your best self out there. You don't lie, but you don't tell the complete truth. In a interview, you don't tell them about how you got fired from your last job. On the first date, you don't talk about how your boyfriend cheated on you and how heart broken you are. You show the best side of you and try to "sell the product", yourself. You try to convince them that you are the best fit for them in a interview or first date. You dress up and act the part in both situations.
3. There is always the question: What will this opportunity give me? There is a cost benefit analysis that occurs with each one. What will this job give me? Maybe it is the experience you need, the salary, the hours or co-workers that you like. Similarly with dating, you do a cost benefit analysis. What will I gain from dating this person and what are some down falls? Maybe they offer you car rides, affection, notes of affirmation, validation, popularity and lastly the most important happiness. I know that we say we don't do this, but it is a natural reaction. We first meet someone and on the date, we ask ourselves whether or not the relationship or job is worth taking with cost benefit analysis.
4. Mainly relationships and jobs are started through networking! Being proactive is a big part in both situations. Part of this is taking responsibility and recognizing that you are in control. You can't blame people around you for being unemployed or single (this is a generalization, there are lots of specific exceptions that I am not accounting for). In both of these, individuals need to remember these and try to be proactive and network. This doesn't mean being someone's friend simply because they have cute friends of the opposite sex (this is a really superficial way to make friends).
What are some applications that you single ladies and men can take from my post?
- Put yourself out there with faith and not fear.
- Be honest yet don't reveal your deep, darkest secret on the first date.
- Don't be too critical by closing doors too quickly if someone doesn't meet your expectations. Yet, don't date someone because they are simply available. Wait until you find your "perfect" match.
- When doing a cost benefit analysis, have a good balance of being open minded yet not sacrificing too much.
- Be friendly and open to meeting a wide range of people. You never know when you will meet that special someone in a unexpected place.
- Be optimistic. When looking for a boyfriend/girlfriend, people don't want someone who looks at life with glass half-empty. If you are a pessimistic, then try to change your thinking to a more positive thinking. It is like the idea that birds of the same feather flock together (that is the saying right?). Happy people want to date happy people not miserable people who complain and constantly nag.
Again, I may not be the best for dating advice, but you can take it and put it in your pocket if you want. I am always willing to share my advice!
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