Expert Advice

My friend Ally* is a successful and driven woman. We met in college, and since then she's done well in most aspects of her life (with a few bumps along the way, of course). Her success has included an upwardly mobile career in a career advising office at a very prestigious institution (hint, this institution churns out Nobel Laureates at the same pace that the Big Ten produces NFL draft picks). Since Ally thinks about careers and job searches every day, I asked her for her top interview tips and tricks for the job seeker...and then I realized that this advice is also completely relevant for the date that I have tomorrow night.

As an aside, I don't think it's a coincidence that Ally has also achieved success in her relationship - she's engaged to a great, wonderful, amazing guy - I'm beginning to think there's something to her advice, both from a professional and a personal perspective. Here's what she told me about prepping for an interview:

"Step one is Self-Assessment. You can't really be an effective interviewer unless you've already identified the skills you want to use in a job.  You should be targeting job opportunities that you are genuinely excited about and present yourself to the interviewer as a well-directed, self-confident individual who understands his or her own abilities and how they can be used."

So what you're saying is that I probably shouldn't keep going out with guys who I'm not that jazzed about? For example, when I was dating Matt, and he told me that he wasn't really that interested in marriage or kids, and I told him that was cool with me. The skills I would've liked to use in that job/relationship: my ability to bear and raise children. What I was not genuinely excited about: the fact that Matt lived in a one bedroom apartment with almost no furniture and refused to meet my parents. Back to you, Ally.

"You really need to do your research. The more you know about the employer, the more the interviewer will be convinced of your interest in the organization and position. Carefully read the job description and make sure you understand the responsibilities. Know all you can about the company, e.g. its correct name, holding companies, divisions/units."

Unlike the time that I called that guy Brandon to see if he wanted to get together for drink:
Me: Hi, Brandon?
Brandon: I'm sorry, who?
Me: Brandon? It's me...from the bar last weekend.
Brandon: Oh, sorry. Um, I thought you asked for Brandon. But my name is Brian.

Ally's response to this story (besides not letting me ever forget it) is to also tell me to never, ever misspell a company's name in a cover letter. "You have to be so careful about this - if you can't get it right in the cover letter - or in an email about a position - then you're setting yourself up to be eliminated as as a viable candidate immediately."

Of course, she's right - in both the job search world and the dating world, if you don't know enough about the person you're talking to, it's going to be really challenging to try and make a good impression - or a lasting connection. While Ally is telling me she has to run, because of some  career search-related meeting that she needs to get to, I'm making a mental note to do some more Facebook stalking before Saturday night. Once again, I'm prepping for the awkward first date, and it feels a lot like getting ready for that really big interview.

*Yes, of course I changed her name!