Similarity with the Job Interview and Dating

Finding a mate is a lot like finding a job

Job Interviewing and Dating:

The process of job interviews and dating are very similar. Recently, I coached a candidate who was applying for a specific job. I just wanted to say I was proud of this friend and the outcome. I used the dating analogy to compare and contrast her interviewing process as we went through the process. Going through the interview process can be like going through the dating process. At the end of the process, you want a respectful relationship with a spouse/company. We want to enjoy each other’s company and feel like both sides are getting something out of the relationship.

Dating:

You are excited about the potential. We need to keep our guard up because there are still a lot of creeps out there. Like dating, you kiss a few frogs before committing to a significant other. This works for both sides.

Job Interview: It started with the ad. A job posting asking for a “do it all admin” specifically mentioning HR, Accounting, and the ability to get a refrigerator by Friday for $250.00. The ad also noted that the pay range was $30-$40K and that the company had both won awards in the industry and was profitable—all reasonable sounding.

Dating Ad:

Good-looking, well-dressed, single HWP male looking for a single female who is a go-getter and enjoys live Jazz and R&B performances.

Job Interview: After turning in a resume and a great cover letter, she was requested to “write an ad” for PR purposes. The questions were pretty sophisticated and not at all what one would ask an office admin to do. The other odd thing was that the homework was not on HR or Accounting, as the ad mentioned.  She is scrappy, though, and put together an impressive response. She was “one of 4 out of 170” applicants who were asked to come in and talk with the CEO.

Dating:

It was as if the ad said they enjoyed Jazz and R&B music, but the first date was a Heavy Metal concert. It is not an excellent first-date choice!

Job Interview: After going through all of the efforts with the cover letter, resume, and phone calls, our candidate had quite an emotional investment in the process and was excited about the opportunity. What do I have to lose? Let’s check it out!

Date:

It is that happy, excited period during the dating process where hope and promise fill the air.  You are waiting for him to call, wondering what you should wear on the first date to make the right impression, and maybe get a haircut and manicure. You waver between shaving the legs or not.

Job Interview: Our candidate became excited about the position after meeting with the CEO. The CEO was gracious enough. “BUT”  . . .there were no benefits, no sick time, and the salary was at the very bottom of the range offered.  It wasn’t discussed, but it is assumed, based on the conversation, that there is no parking involved for a position that will require a car in a downtown metropolitan area.  $250 a month is the going rate for parking in this city.

Date:

First date and HWP Male didn’t have a job or a car!!!!  WTF????  These are the basics. You don’t post an ad without a car (benefits) or a job (parking when the car is required)!  If you want a high-maintenance woman, you are going to need to come to the party with some top-shelf alcohol and wear some expensive jeans.  Gap jeans are not going to cut it here.

Job Interview: After going through all of the efforts with the cover letter, resume, phone calls, and interview, our candidate had quite a bit of an emotional investment in the process and was excited about the opportunity.

Date:

The online ad and picture look good. I thought about an intelligent response, our first date, and wondered what he was really like. Despite all that can and usually does go wrong when meeting someone new, I am still very optimistic.

Job Interview: After the in-person interview (first date), our candidate was called back a week later and offered the position over the phone. She had a single interview with one person. She didn’t meet anyone else in the office. The offer was at the lowest end of the salary range listed in the original ad.

There were several yellow flags around this offer, including the lack of benefits, the lack of parking, which would cost her $5K a year, and the fact that the offer would “expire” within 18 hours.  She was also asked to turn in her two-week notice to her job before an offer letter was delivered.

Dating Scene:

You want me to be exclusive after the first date??? This is the year 2010. I haven’t met your friends. And I don’t want to bring this back up, but there is the little thing about a lack of a car (benefits) and a job (parking for a position where a car is required).  We won’t even talk about what the low-end offer implied.

Job Interview: To offer a solution to the salary, she went to talk with the CEO and asked for a review in 3 months with the potential for an increase. She explained we were putting faith in each other and taking a chance. I thought the approach was very reasonable. She was told it was company policy and that a 6-month review was the norm. It was explained that this was a great opportunity and that she would receive experience she would have on her resume for 10 years!!!  It was also pointed out that the increase she was asking for was 15%.

Dating Scene:

Communication and compromise.

Job Interview: It almost seemed this company wanted to exploit the economy and capitalize on some desperate candidates. The thing is, they picked a candidate that a Fortune 100 company employed. This was not a desperate candidate; this was the cream of the lot.

Dating Scene:   

This is the hot chick!

• No benefits for a profitable company in this day and age is just “weird”. Burger places offer benefits!
• Telling the candidate that the raise was 15% seemed weak. She was asking for this as a counter to the lowball offer and felt she was backed into asking for this because of the lowball offer.
• The CEO told her that they were not expecting to pay more than $30K. (they advertised $30K- $40K in the ad and were offered the shallow end after they sifted through 170 candidates?)
• No sick time. This seems very short-sighted. The message they are sending to people is that we do not care if you are sick. We want you to come into the office and get everyone else sick.

Ultimately, the candidate declined the offer

I am really proud of her. This isn’t a company I would want to work for. There is a balance between saving money and creating an amazing work environment. I think it starts with common decency. If you aren’t feeling right about the workplace in your gut as you go through the interview process, it probably isn’t the right place for you.  Don’t be bullied by the employer, the HR person, or the CEO. No one is going to look out for you but yourself.

Dating Scene: The candidate called up the parents and asked them for their opinion. The parents were a little shocked at the lack of benefits, lowball offer, and lack of sick time. The talk at the kitchen table and the first date didn’t go over well with the parents.

See you at the after party,
HRNasty

nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky, and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone good at something. “He has a nasty forkball”.

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