Today is Valentine’s Day, which has prompted us here at Leonid HQ to consider that recruitment, is, in fact, a lot like dating. In both cases, it’s all about searching for ‘the one’.
We deploy a range of tactics to uncover a shortlist of ideal candidates, then we meet with them to see if their skills and experience are as good as they look on paper and to get a good feel for their personality. Interviews then take place with the hiring company – and as with dating, it’s all about getting to know one another, before the stand-out candidate is chosen.
So, if you are a candidate looking for your perfect match in a new job, here are a few tips which people looking for love on the dating scene deploy – there’s a surprising amount we can learn from them!
Optimise your profiles
Dating websites and apps like Match, Bumble and Tinder all require users to set up a profile describing themselves, which you could say is the dating equivalent of a CV. Singletons looking for love will use the best photo to show off their best features – and this should apply to your CV, LinkedIn and other social media profiles, too. Remember, prospective employers will almost certainly check out your LinkedIn profile, so make sure you have a friendly photo and a well-written summary that highlights your strengths and interests.
It’s all about the chemistry!
Sometimes in dating, you stumble across someone who on the surface, ticks all the right boxes. They’re charming, attractive, successful, intelligent – but when you meet, there’s just no ‘spark’ and your date falls flat. The same goes for recruitment. Many companies will be looking for certain personality traits and values which don’t gel with your own. And that’s OK – the world would be a boring place if everyone was the same! Sometimes, the chemistry just isn’t right with one opportunity, but that just means there will be something else out there which is perfect for you!
Follow up in a timely manner
It’s always a dilemma – how long should you leave it to get in touch with a date which you think has potential? You don’t want to come across as too keen, but you don’t want them to think you’re not interested, either. In recruitment, thankfully, this one is a bit easier. It’s always a good idea to follow up after an interview; there is certainly no harm in showing some enthusiasm and reaffirming your interest.
If you are looking for a new role, it may just help to think of it in terms of finding a partner. After all, we spend so much of our lives at work – it’s a long-term relationship and one where you should never settle for second best!