By Shun McGhee, Guest Contributor
There are two reasons I no longer go on blind dates: The first being that I am married and according to the bylaws governing my spouse’s and my relationship, that would be a huge infraction; the second reason is I found they can be incredibly misleading. My experience with blind dates usually began with some family member or friend who knew an “awesome” person that, if given the opportunity, could be perfect for me. However, while my family and friends promised physical perfection, poise, and personality, that dream date never quite matched reality. Upon meeting, I was often shocked the person did not look like I imagined, or dressed the way I felt appropriate for the setting. This confusing type of situation really reminds me of how much the hiring process can be like going on a blind date.
The hiring process can be nerve racking for the interviewer and the interviewee. The interviewee prepares just the right outfit to wear, tries not to put on too much cologne and hopes not to say anything dumb. All the hiring manager really has to go on is the applicant’s resume and recommendations offered by a family member, friend, or colleague about this “awesome” candidate. So much is left to chance, just like on a blind date. This makes it important for the person being interviewed to make sure the description given in the resume or by the person making the referral truly represents them. There is nothing worse than preparing to interview someone and being met by an imposter. To this end, I have come up with a few tips I believe could help job seekers making their way through this process:
- When composing a resume, make sure the attributes listed on the document really describe you. Do not depict yourself as a skilled automotive mechanic when you don’t even know where the window wiper fluid goes.
- Thoroughly research the position and company of interest to ensure this job has the potential to meet your professional goals.
- When researching the company make a point to find out what the organization is looking for in a candidate, so both entities have their needs met resulting in a win-win situation for both parties.
While I am not sure the advice offered in this blog will do wonders for your blind-dating life, I am confident it will add life to your professional pursuits.
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