A friend of mine needed some help recently with regards to an upcoming job interview. As we were going through some role playing, I came to the conclusion that a job interview is much like a first date. We have the same kind of anxieties and the same desire to make a good first impression. The bad news is that the same mistakes are made in both as well.

Trash-talking the ex

Whether we’re talking about an ex-boyfriend or an ex-boss, talking trash about the person who used to employ you/make out with you is never a flattering thing to do during the interview stage of any potential relationship, whether it be professional or personal.

If you’re trying to snag a job, and talk about what an evil tyrant your former boss was, the person interviewing you won’t be able to help but wonder if the super strained relationship wasn’t your faultand she’ll think twice before hiring someone with a history of workplace conflict.

On a first date? The rules are the same. Should you talk badly about your ex boyfriend to your date he or she will have cause to wonder how you’ll be talking about him or her the next day! Most won’t take the chance and you’ll never see them again.

Blabber Mouth

The line between being confident and presenting yourself in a good light and compromising the conversation is a fine one. You want your future boss or future partner to know all the wonderful things about you, without overdoing it. Moreover, if you never stop talking, the other person, be it an interviewer or a date, will never be able to get a word in about the job/the company/themselves.

Yakkity Yakkity; Again

After a promising job interview or butterfly inducing first date it can be very hard to show restraint. Your inclination to jump on Facebook to brag about how well it went, though understandable, is something to be avoided.

Jumping the gun in a public way about a budding professional and personal relationship until you actually have some solid news to share is a mistake. Your potential new boss/dating sweetie is bound to find out what you’ve posted something prematurely. It’s just safer for everyone involved to keep mum until you have something solid.

There was something in your teeth

Or on your shirt. Or you were wearing just a little too much perfume. Or any one of a million tiny details that, unfair as it may be, have a way of getting under someone’s skin and derailing an otherwise flawless first meeting.

This article was developed by the staff of the Datepad.com internet dating company where you can read thousands more professional dating articles. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.

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