You Have to Kiss a lot of Frogs
How Interviewing for Jobs is Like Playing The Dating Game
Searching for a new job, whether currently employed or not, can be a frustrating and tedious process. I often work with candidates who are struggling to find “the right” position and company. Some are exasperated because it’s taking too long and others are discouraged because they are seeing a lot of opportunities in the market but none quite right for them.
In order to help candidates have more patience and understand the process, here’s what I tell them: Job hunting is a whole lot like dating. Finding the right partner doesn’t happen overnight and in the meantime there’s a lot of trial and error that must take place.
The same is true with job hunting. The saying, “you have to kiss a lot of frogs,” is similar to my sentiments when it comes to interviews. While interviews can be hard to get, nerve-wracking once they’re scheduled, and sometimes not lead to a match, they are a crucial part of finding the right fit. Going on interviews, like going on dates, is how you determine your likes and dislikes and your must-haves and can-live-withouts. Interviewing is how you get an overall sense of a company and the open position and whether or not you will be fulfilled – professionally and personally – and where your contributions will be needed and recognized.
What I also share with candidates is: When in doubt, submit your resume and go on the interview. Submitting a resume through a recruiter who has a close partnership with the company you’re interested in gives you a much stronger chance of making sure your resume is seen by the hiring managers. It’s an initial stamp of approval similar to being introduced by mutual friends in the dating world. If the company is interested in meeting with you but you’re hesitant that it’s not the right fit, go anyway. You may be pleasantly surprised and realize it’s your dream job (trust me, it happens all the time) and if it falls short, then you walk away with added industry knowledge and a solid hour of interview practice.
I personally have faced the frustration and ups and downs of the job search process. Having jumped in headfirst to a few positions then realizing they weren’t right for me, I had to start again. I took this time to really do my industry research, connect with my network and go on plenty of interviews. It took me three wrong positions to figure out what the right one was, but I had faith in the process and now couldn’t have asked for a better professional match.
When all else fails, keep trying. Eventually most people realize it’s better to keep “dating,” seeing what positions and companies are out there, and making sure there’s a mutual fit before jumping to the next job. Remember, it’s just a process and in the end, it works out as it should.
By: Julia Turpit, Director | Recruiting Consultant
