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Thomas StenitzerAugust 19, 20203 min read

First Online Date Vs. Online Job Interview: 3 Important Differences

A typical first online date often resembles an online job interview — quick, unemotional, to the point, with many questions on both ends. To make your first meeting more romantic, understand the key differences between them, and take some first dating advice.

Today's dating has changed drastically as fewer people rely on friends and social gatherings to find their partners. Instead, first meetings happen online, which is both casual and quick. Still, this ever-growing speed of dating has a downside — more and more meetings lose the soft touch of romance. In a way, a typical first online date often looks like an online job interview — two people meet with their own agendas in mind and start 'probing' the other party. But it doesn't always have to be that way. Here are the main things that make a first online date different from a job interview. These differences are the best first online date advice because they take the stress factor out and make your time together more enjoyable.

First online date is not an interrogation

It's great to know what you are looking for in a future partner, but it's also good to leave your potential match some flexibility. Differently from talking to potential employers, a romantic relationship is not just a temporary barter where both parties are entitled to the most benefits. Besides, the first online date is not an interview where one asks the most questions, and the other feels as if they are going through a war-time interrogation. While questions during the first online meeting are a great way to show genuine interest in another person, don't use a preset list for every person you see. Also, think about how long the first online date should be. Don’t hold your partner until you ask all questions you want to know, leave something for the next time.

Impressions are not the ultimate goal

Today's best dating sites look like magazines where everyone tries to showcase their best qualities and hide their weak ones. In reality, the first online date is about being yourself and staying genuine. People love us not just for our strong sides, but also for minor blemishes that make us imperfectly human. You should, of course, choose what to wear on the first online date with care, but don't think that the first impression is the only shot you've got.

There is more than one purpose on a date

Not every first online date will result in happily-ever-after. So, unlike an online job interview where you have only one goal, an online romantic meeting is more flexible. After all, you may not find the love of your life, but you can make a great friend. All in all, the first online date is about enjoying the moment, so it is always best to steer the conversation in many different directions. Here, many people also start to wonder how long the first online date should be, and the answer is — as long as you both are comfortable.

Have you ever been on the first online date that feels like an online job interview? Would you prefer the quick detachment of speed dating, or would you say people could benefit from a touch of old-fashioned romance?

Author’s bio: Miranda Davis is a freelance writer in relation and psychology area. Miranda is interested in such topics as building healthy relationships between people, love/sex compatibility, and how to find the right balance in life in general. She is currently doing specific research on the best dating sites on the topic. Miranda loves cooking and long-distance walking.

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