{"id":354,"date":"2012-04-26T19:27:13","date_gmt":"2012-04-26T19:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/?p=354"},"modified":"2026-04-19T10:20:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:20:45","slug":"why-going-to-a-job-interview-is-like-going-on-a-date","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/why-going-to-a-job-interview-is-like-going-on-a-date\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Going to a Job Interview is like Going on a Date"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1432\" src=\"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/105971433_s.jpg\" alt=\"Why Going to a Job Interview is like Going on a Date\" width=\"847\" height=\"565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/105971433_s.jpg 847w, https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/105971433_s-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/105971433_s-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 847px) 100vw, 847px\" \/>Imagine the scene.\u00a0 You are dressed up in your best outfit, primped and preened, feeling a little tense, butterflies in your stomach and your heart all aflutter. You are waiting for a stranger to appear and you are on your best behaviour.<\/p>\n<p>It is striking how easily this scenario could relate to going on a first date just as well as going to a job interview and perhaps there are some lessons which can be learnt from dating which will help in your interview.<!--more--><\/p>\n<div class=\"testimonial\">\n<div class=\"boxsquare shadow happy\">\n<h3>Struggling to score well in civil service interviews?<\/h3>\n<p>See why strong candidates still lose job offers and how you can boost your scores to get offers.<br \/>\n    \n    <div class=\"enter-job-form\">\n      <form id=\"enter-job-form\">\n        <h3>What Civil Service role are you seeking?<\/h3>\n        <input \n          type=\"text\" \n          id=\"jobTitle\" \n\t       placeholder=\"Enter Target Job e.g. Policy Adviser, HEO, Project Manager...\" \n          required\n        >\n\n        <button type=\"button\" onclick=\"goToPage()\">\n        See How to Get Your Target Job Faster &raquo;\n        <\/button>\n\n      <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <script>\n    function goToPage() {\n      const jobTitle = document.getElementById('jobTitle').value.trim();\n\n      if (!jobTitle) return;\n\n      localStorage.setItem('jobTitle', jobTitle);\n\n      window.location.href = \"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/civil-service-interview.html?job=\" + encodeURIComponent(jobTitle);\n    }\n    <\/script>\n\n    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"cta\">\n      <div class=\"cta-header\">\n        <p class=\"sub-title\"><span> \u2022 <\/span> For civil service candidates <\/p>\n        <h3>Struggling to score well in Civil Service interviews?<\/h3>\n        <p class=\"paragraph\">Learn how to boost your scores (up to 6 and 7) and get jobs.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"target-form\">\n        <div class=\"target-job-form\">\n          <form id=\"target-job-form\">\n            <label>Enter your target job title<\/label>\n            <br>\n\n            <div class=\"inputs\">\n              <input \n                type=\"text\" \n                id=\"targetJobTitle\" \n                placeholder=\"e.g. Policy Adviser, HEO, Project Manager...\" \n                required\n              >\n\n              <button type=\"button\" onclick=\"goToTargetPage()\">\n                Show Me How &raquo;\n              <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/form>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <script>\n    function goToTargetPage() {\n      const targetJobTitle = document.getElementById('targetJobTitle').value.trim();\n\n      if (!targetJobTitle) return;\n\n      window.location.href =\n        \"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/civil-service-interview.html?job=\" +\n        encodeURIComponent(targetJobTitle);\n    }\n    <\/script>\n\n    \n<\/div>\n<p><!-- cta for target job shortcode --><br \/>\n\n    <div class=\"cta\">\n      <div class=\"cta-header\">\n        <p class=\"sub-title\"><span> \u2022 <\/span> For civil service candidates <\/p>\n        <h3> Struggling to score well for Civil Service jobs?<\/h3>\n        <p class=\"paragraph\">See how to boost your scores (up to 6 and 7) and get offers.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"target-form\">\n        <div class=\"target-job-form\">\n            <form id=\"target-job-form\">\n              <label> Enter your target job title <\/label>\n              <br>\n              <div class=\"inputs\">\n                <input \n                  type=\"text\" \n                  id=\"targetJobTitle\" \n                  placeholder=\"e.g. Policy Adviser, HEO, Project Manager...\" \n                  required\n                >\n\n                <button type=\"button\" onclick=\"goToTargetPage()\">\n                Show Me How &raquo;\n                <\/button>\n              <\/div>\n\n            <\/form>\n                   <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <script>\n    function goToTargetPage() {\n      const targetJobTitle = document.getElementById('targetJobTitle').value.trim();\n\n      if (!targetJobTitle) return;\n\n      localStorage.setItem('targetJobTitle', targetJobTitle);\n\n      window.location.href = \"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/civil-service-interview.html?job=\" + encodeURIComponent(targetJobTitle);\n    }\n    <\/script>\n\n    <\/p>\n<p><!-- cta-light shortcode --><br \/>\n\n    <div class=\"cta-light\">\n      <div class=\"divider\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"cta-header\">\n        <svg width=\"57\" height=\"57\" viewBox=\"0 0 64 64\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n          <!-- Rounded square background -->\n          <rect x=\"3\" y=\"3\" width=\"46\" height=\"46\" rx=\"12\" stroke=\"#E6A86D\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill=\"#FDF6F0\"><\/rect>\n\n          <!-- Lines -->\n          <line x1=\"15\" y1=\"22\" x2=\"37\" y2=\"22\" stroke=\"#E6A86D\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><\/line>\n          <line x1=\"15\" y1=\"27\" x2=\"37\" y2=\"27\" stroke=\"#E6A86D\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><\/line>\n          <line x1=\"15\" y1=\"32\" x2=\"34\" y2=\"32\" stroke=\"#E6A86D\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"><\/line>\n\n          <!-- Swirl \/ check circle -->\n          <circle cx=\"38\" cy=\"40\" r=\"6\" stroke=\"#E6A86D\" stroke-width=\"2\"><\/circle>\n          <path d=\"M35 40L37 42L41 38\" stroke=\"#E6A86D\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n        <\/svg>\n\n        <h3> Want interview answers for <span class=\"heading-span\">your<\/span> job? <\/h3>\n        <p class=\"paragraph\"> Get <span> brilliant answers created for you<\/span> in minutes \u2014 structured, role-specific, and ready to practise.<\/p>\n      \n        <div class=\"cta-light-form\">\n              <form id=\"cta-light-form\">\n                <label> Enter your target job title <\/label>\n                <br>\n                <div class=\"inputs\">\n                  <input \n                    type=\"text\" \n                    id=\"ctaLightForm\" \n                    placeholder=\"e.g. Policy Adviser, HEO, Project Manager...\" \n                    required\n                  >\n\n                  <button type=\"button\" onclick=\"goToCtaLightPage()\">\n                    Create my answers ?\n                  <\/button>\n                <\/div>\n\n              <\/form>\n              <p> No sign-up required \u2022 Takes 30 seconds <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      \n      <\/div>  \n      <div class=\"cta-footer\">\n            <p> <span>\u2022<\/span> Tailored to your grade <span>\u2022<\/span> BuiIt around Civil Service behaviours\n            <span>\u2022<\/span> STAR-structured answers <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n    <script>\n    function goToCtaLightPage() {\n      const ctaLightForm = document.getElementById('ctaLightForm').value.trim();\n\n      if (!ctaLightForm) return;\n\n      localStorage.setItem('ctaLightForm', ctaLightForm);\n\n      window.location.href = \"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/civil-service-interview.html?job=\" + encodeURIComponent(ctaLightForm);\n    }\n    <\/script>\n\n    <\/p>\n<p><!-- cta-dark shortcode --><br \/>\n\n    <div class=\"cta-dark\">\n      <div class=\"cta-header\">\n        <p class=\"sub-title\"><span> \u2022 <\/span> Tailored to your role & grade <\/p>\n        <h3> Want interview answers for <span class=\"heading-span\">your<\/span> job? <\/h3>\n        <p class=\"paragraph\"> Get <span> brilliant answers created for you<\/span> in minutes \u2014 structured, role-specific, and ready to practise.<\/p>\n      \n        <div class=\"cta-dark-form\">\n              <form id=\"cta-dark-form\">\n                <label> Enter your target job title <\/label>\n                <br>\n                <div class=\"inputs\">\n                  <input \n                    type=\"text\" \n                    id=\"ctaDarkForm\" \n                    placeholder=\"e.g. Policy Adviser, HEO, Project Manager...\" \n                    required\n                  >\n\n                  <button type=\"button\" onclick=\"goToCtaDarkPage()\">\n                    Create my answers ?\n                  <\/button>\n                <\/div>\n\n              <\/form>\n              <p> No sign-up required \u2022 Takes 30 seconds <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"cta-footer\">\n            <p> <span>\u2022<\/span> Tailored to your grade <span>\u2022<\/span> Civil Service behaviours\n            <span>\u2022<\/span> STAR-structured answers <\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <script>\n    function goToCtaDarkPage() {\n      const ctaDarkForm = document.getElementById('ctaDarkForm').value.trim();\n\n      if (!ctaDarkForm) return;\n\n      localStorage.setItem('ctaDarkForm', ctaDarkForm);\n\n      window.location.href = \"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/civil-service-interview.html?job=\" + encodeURIComponent(ctaDarkForm);\n    }\n    <\/script>\n\n    <\/p>\n    \n    <div class=\"enter-job-form\">\n      <form id=\"enter-job-form\">\n        <h3>What Civil Service role are you seeking?<\/h3>\n        <input \n          type=\"text\" \n          id=\"jobTitle\" \n\t       placeholder=\"Enter Target Job e.g. Policy Adviser, HEO, Project Manager...\" \n          required\n        >\n\n        <button type=\"button\" onclick=\"goToPage()\">\n        See How to Get Your Target Job Faster &raquo;\n        <\/button>\n\n      <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <script>\n    function goToPage() {\n      const jobTitle = document.getElementById('jobTitle').value.trim();\n\n      if (!jobTitle) return;\n\n      localStorage.setItem('jobTitle', jobTitle);\n\n      window.location.href = \"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/civil-service-interview.html?job=\" + encodeURIComponent(jobTitle);\n    }\n    <\/script>\n\n    \n<h3>Get Dressed Up<\/h3>\n<div class=\"testimonial\">\n<div class=\"boxsquare shadow happy\">\n<h2>Struggling to score well in civil service interviews?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"left w20\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/images\/testimonials-georgia.jpg\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"right w75 text-left\">\n<div class=\"author\">Georgia, London<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"star\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/images\/5-star-orange.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"100\" \/><\/div>\n<p>See why strong candidates still lose job offers and how you can boost your scores to get offers.<br \/>\n    \n    <div class=\"enter-job-form\">\n      <form id=\"enter-job-form\">\n        <h3>What Civil Service role are you seeking?<\/h3>\n        <input \n          type=\"text\" \n          id=\"jobTitle\" \n\t       placeholder=\"Enter Target Job e.g. Policy Adviser, HEO, Project Manager...\" \n          required\n        >\n\n        <button type=\"button\" onclick=\"goToPage()\">\n        See How to Get Your Target Job Faster &raquo;\n        <\/button>\n\n      <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <script>\n    function goToPage() {\n      const jobTitle = document.getElementById('jobTitle').value.trim();\n\n      if (!jobTitle) return;\n\n      localStorage.setItem('jobTitle', jobTitle);\n\n      window.location.href = \"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/civil-service-interview.html?job=\" + encodeURIComponent(jobTitle);\n    }\n    <\/script>\n\n    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>First lesson is to prepare as much as you can. Dress in a way that you feel is appropriate for the role and then add something. Conservative and professional works every time.<\/p>\n<h3>Prepare Sparkling Conversation<\/h3>\n<p>As with that date, mull over some topics of possible mutual interest in advance. You know there will be questions, and you know that creating a good impression depends on answering questions in a confident and relevant way, and very importantly being interested in the other party.<\/p>\n<h3>Share The Conversation Space<\/h3>\n<p>Just as a successful date depends on input from both parties so does the job interview. A party who talks too much might turn the other off and similarly if you are an interviewee for a job you should not ramble on unnecessarily.<\/p>\n<h3>Hold Off On The Jokes<\/h3>\n<p>On a date, being witty is fine as long as it comes across naturally and spontaneously without appearing to be laboured. An interviewer however, may be less impressed by jokes and more impressed by keen interest in the job and a generally enthusiastic attitude.<\/p>\n<h3>Don&#8217;t Show You Are Desperate<\/h3>\n<p>Desperation is never sexy. You don\u2019t want to appear as trying too hard on a date and in the same way you do not want to come across as desperate in the job interview.<\/p>\n<h3>Look Them In The Eye<\/h3>\n<p>The straightforward use of positive body language is a powerful ally in both the scenarios of successful dating or interview. You should maintain eye contact, look interested, and smile.<\/p>\n<h3>Show Interest<\/h3>\n<p>An interview, like a date is a two way process, and you are allowed to ask questions. Try though to ensure that they are relevant and show some interest in the kind of work you\u2019re expecting to do rather than just about holiday entitlement or salary.<\/p>\n<h3>Tell Them What You Think<\/h3>\n<p>It is good to have opinions and if asked about them they should be backed up with reasoning and not just borrowed from somebody else. Avoid foisting them on to the other party without some kind of invitation.<\/p>\n<h3>Be Yourself<\/h3>\n<p>It is always best to be yourself and not try to be what you think the other person wants you to be, and this advice holds up in most areas of human endeavour. You can never be someone else for long unless you\u2019re a born actor and pretence that\u2019s later uncovered makes you look foolish.<\/p>\n<h3>Enjoy Your Date&#8230;I Mean Interview!<\/h3>\n<p>Finally as with a date, why not approach the interview with the attitude that you are going to enjoy it. You are going to have a stimulating meeting within someone and you are going to leave feeling good about yourself and the World. It is surprising what a difference this positive attitude can make to your chance of getting the job.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/online-interview-training.html\">Don&#8217;t miss out on the job offer &#8211; let InterviewGold help you win the job you want<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Interesting article exploring the similarities between a job interview and dating. What can be learned that will help you to get that job offer?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1432,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[45,5],"class_list":["post-354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-job-interview-advice","tag-interview-advice","tag-interview-tips"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=354"}],"version-history":[{"count":63,"href":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7904,"href":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354\/revisions\/7904"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.interviewgold.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}