Dating 101

I know, probably not the best headline -- dating often is about as fun as the job hunt. But there's definitely some overlap, and I know I sometimes lose sight of that.

A job interview, like a date, is a two-way street. Yes, the economy sucks and the Jobs section of the paper isn't exactly overflowing with glowing opportunities; it's tempting to beg and butt-kiss and take whatever you can get. But when you're sitting there in your interview suit trying not to sweat or fidget or fumble, remember that your interviewer is on the spot just as much as you are.

As the US News piece discusses, you don't want a job that's not a good fit, and it's up to you in your interview to ask questions that will help you figure that out:

Is the work well aligned with your strengths—your real ones, not the ones you puffed up in your cover letter? Is the environment one you'll thrive in or one that will drive you over the edge? Is the manager someone you'd want to work with? Or is she flaky and disorganized? An unreasonable tyrant? A wimp who can't get things done?

Blunt? Maybe. But true? Absolutely.