Swipe Right on Your Career: The Modern Dating Guide to Job Hunting

In the world of job hunting, think of your resume as your profile pic. It's gotta be up-to-date, flattering, and truthful (no, you’re not REALLY an "aspiring model" or "fitness guru"). Keeping it current means you're always ready for whatever opportunities come knocking—or swiping.

Just like dating, job searching means you need to be open to new experiences. Ever sat across from a date and realized they’re not what you expected? Maybe they turned out better, or maybe you found yourself wishing for an eject button. Interviewing is the same! You might think you know your ideal job, but sometimes you need to kiss a few frogs—or in this case, do a few interviews—to really get a grip on what you want. Don’t tighten your screening process to the point of paralysis. Cast that net wide!

And speaking of frogs, it's easier than ever to “date” jobs these days. With remote interviews, you can basically show up in pajama pants (though I wouldn’t recommend it). It's a low-risk way to dip your toes into the waters of different companies, cultures, and roles. Worst case, you have a “bad date.” Best case? You might just find The One.

Some stats for you:

1. Passive Job Seekers: According to Zippia, 73% of potential candidates are passive job seekers.
2. Corporate Culture Fit: A study by Robert Half found that more than one-third of workers (35%) in the U.S. and 40% in Canada would pass on a job that was a perfect match if the corporate culture didn't align with their expectations. Need to talk to people to decipher culture- right?
3. Candidate Experience: A positive candidate experience makes a candidate 38% more likely to accept a job offer. Conversely, a poor experience can significantly deter candidates from considering a position. Companies - stop thinking this is 1995 and you hold all the cards; candidates are interviewing you just as much as you are interviewing them

I believe stats such as these highlight the importance of keeping an open mind and being willing to interview, even if a job doesn't SEEM like a perfect fit at first glance. It's all about giving it a chance and seeing if it clicks during the interview process.

So, when it comes to changing tech jobs, think of it as trying that new trendy restaurant with the unique but intriguing menu. If there's a hook—or even a hint of good vibes—go for the interview. It’s better to see it for yourself and then decide if it's a match. So, keep your resume sharp, stay open to meeting new “matches,” and remember: the more you “date,” the better you understand what you truly want.

And, if you've worked with me before, you know what I always say. "It's not the best engineer that gets the job, it's the person that interviews the best for the job, and the person that interviews the best, many times interviews the most." So, be selfish. Swipe right, try some new things, and think out of the job ,and you never know what is waiting for you behind door #2!