Van Wilder: It's a date.
Gwen: It's an interview, not a date.
Van Wilder: Gwen, first dates are interviews.
And vice versa. If you've ever seen "Van Wilder" you know that Gwen has been trying to get an interview with Van for the first part of the movie for her school newspaper. Every step of the job searching process can be likened to that of dating.
When you send out your resume, it is like you're throwing your card with a phone number on it around to anyone in a bar looking for a date. Out of some crazy twist of fate, let's say the hottest person in the joint actually takes your card (resume) out of thin air and says, "Hey, you're cute, you might be just what I'm looking for, let's go out on a date (interview)."
First things first... does that EVER work? No. You don't just throw your card around hoping it gets noticed, you would ask your friends for introductions to their awesome single friends, right? So why would you ever throw your resume around to hundreds of internet job boards, instead of using your network or Linked In for leads?
So you get this first date (interview). You think you're in! But... you're not. So many things can go wrong on that first date. You could dress poorly, you could smell bad, you could make off-color jokes that they don't find funny, or you could be completely unprepared. You might also not enjoy the same things as that other person (interviewer). A first date (interview) is a lot of pressure, because the other person holds all the cards (A 2nd date/interview).
While you're on this date (interview), you know that the longer it goes on, the better. The more you have to talk about and the more you have in common will almost certainly get you that 2nd date (interview).
Now sometimes this happens, but just because you think you're golden for that second date (interview), that person does or doesn't call. Maybe they call and say, "Hey, it was fun, but I don't think we should see each other again," or maybe they call and say, "Hey that was fun, let's go out again sometime." Either way - you hope for a call. Would you call the person for that second date an hour after the first one ended? No. Everyone knows in the dating world, you wait 2-3 days for that follow-up phone call. Of course you want to call that person IMMEDIATELY, and some do break down and make the call. In those rare cases it works out, it was love at first sight, and there's your happy ending. However, 90% of the time the other person thinks you're a stalker and there's the end of it right there. The same goes for companies. Give them at least a week before you follow-up and inquire about the 2nd interview process. You COULD call 2 days later, but then you're just being pushy.
You get the 2nd date (interview). Now you have to up your game by coming in more calm, cool, and collected than the first time. You want to make sure you've still got that same sense of connection and that it all wasn't just the first time glow. Now you know some of the person's (company's) likes/dislikes, mannerisms, expectations. Again, the longer you talk the better. You want to solidify your place in that person's mind and you want to make things exclusive (permanent).
If all goes well, you want to carry over dating to be an actual relationship. You again, find yourself waiting after that 2nd date (interview) for the final go ahead. This time, the waiting is excruciating. You had the best 2nd date (interview) of your life and it lasted for hours, and now you're envisioning your life together - marriage, kids, a house (work, money, a house). When this person calls after the second date, now you're in and you're going about the things you do in the first few months of dating. When that company calls, you know you did everything right and you're going to sign on the dotted line and begin a great working relationship together.
If you're lucky enough to be dating multiple people at one time (have 2 job offers) you can now decide which one you like more. Which has a better future? Which aligns more with your ideals? If one of those people makes a play for you first, do you tell the other interested parties? Yes. In dating and in job searching - honesty is your best policy (within reason). Hold out for the one you love, and try not to lose the others.
What if they don't call? You never hear from that person again and there go your dreams of marriage, kids, a house. You don't hear from that company, and there go your dreams of work, money, a house. Did you give it ample enough time (which I'd say is 2 weeks)? Did you follow up? Take the initiative? If so, and still no call, well then it's time to dust yourself off and get back to the dating pool (job searching). Deal with the blow, move on. There are plenty of fish in the sea.
Gwen: It's an interview, not a date.
Van Wilder: Gwen, first dates are interviews.
And vice versa. If you've ever seen "Van Wilder" you know that Gwen has been trying to get an interview with Van for the first part of the movie for her school newspaper. Every step of the job searching process can be likened to that of dating.
When you send out your resume, it is like you're throwing your card with a phone number on it around to anyone in a bar looking for a date. Out of some crazy twist of fate, let's say the hottest person in the joint actually takes your card (resume) out of thin air and says, "Hey, you're cute, you might be just what I'm looking for, let's go out on a date (interview)."
First things first... does that EVER work? No. You don't just throw your card around hoping it gets noticed, you would ask your friends for introductions to their awesome single friends, right? So why would you ever throw your resume around to hundreds of internet job boards, instead of using your network or Linked In for leads?
So you get this first date (interview). You think you're in! But... you're not. So many things can go wrong on that first date. You could dress poorly, you could smell bad, you could make off-color jokes that they don't find funny, or you could be completely unprepared. You might also not enjoy the same things as that other person (interviewer). A first date (interview) is a lot of pressure, because the other person holds all the cards (A 2nd date/interview).
While you're on this date (interview), you know that the longer it goes on, the better. The more you have to talk about and the more you have in common will almost certainly get you that 2nd date (interview).
Now sometimes this happens, but just because you think you're golden for that second date (interview), that person does or doesn't call. Maybe they call and say, "Hey, it was fun, but I don't think we should see each other again," or maybe they call and say, "Hey that was fun, let's go out again sometime." Either way - you hope for a call. Would you call the person for that second date an hour after the first one ended? No. Everyone knows in the dating world, you wait 2-3 days for that follow-up phone call. Of course you want to call that person IMMEDIATELY, and some do break down and make the call. In those rare cases it works out, it was love at first sight, and there's your happy ending. However, 90% of the time the other person thinks you're a stalker and there's the end of it right there. The same goes for companies. Give them at least a week before you follow-up and inquire about the 2nd interview process. You COULD call 2 days later, but then you're just being pushy.
You get the 2nd date (interview). Now you have to up your game by coming in more calm, cool, and collected than the first time. You want to make sure you've still got that same sense of connection and that it all wasn't just the first time glow. Now you know some of the person's (company's) likes/dislikes, mannerisms, expectations. Again, the longer you talk the better. You want to solidify your place in that person's mind and you want to make things exclusive (permanent).
If all goes well, you want to carry over dating to be an actual relationship. You again, find yourself waiting after that 2nd date (interview) for the final go ahead. This time, the waiting is excruciating. You had the best 2nd date (interview) of your life and it lasted for hours, and now you're envisioning your life together - marriage, kids, a house (work, money, a house). When this person calls after the second date, now you're in and you're going about the things you do in the first few months of dating. When that company calls, you know you did everything right and you're going to sign on the dotted line and begin a great working relationship together.
If you're lucky enough to be dating multiple people at one time (have 2 job offers) you can now decide which one you like more. Which has a better future? Which aligns more with your ideals? If one of those people makes a play for you first, do you tell the other interested parties? Yes. In dating and in job searching - honesty is your best policy (within reason). Hold out for the one you love, and try not to lose the others.
What if they don't call? You never hear from that person again and there go your dreams of marriage, kids, a house. You don't hear from that company, and there go your dreams of work, money, a house. Did you give it ample enough time (which I'd say is 2 weeks)? Did you follow up? Take the initiative? If so, and still no call, well then it's time to dust yourself off and get back to the dating pool (job searching). Deal with the blow, move on. There are plenty of fish in the sea.