Prepare for Your Job Interview as You Would a First Date

Stressful. Nerve-wracking. Exciting. These words could sum up a job interview or a first date perfectly. That's why preparing for an interview is a lot like getting ready for a first date. Naturally (and let's hope) the end result isn't quite the same, but with proper readiness, the outcome for both can be a positive one.

Dates are generally more fun than interviews, so if you plan for your interview as you would a date, the process will seem a lot less daunting. With a little groundwork to make your interview as smooth as possible, this pre-interview prep will have any hiring manager impressed. You'll be best equipped to land the job you want. Then, you can celebrate your new role by using your tactics to enjoy a perfect date!

Do Some Digging

Nowadays, getting some background info about your date isn't only a curiosity tamer, but a safety measure. Same goes for seeking out information about the job you're planning to interview for. But more than satisfying curiosity, doing your research will give you the tools to speak intelligently during the interview and show that you are serious about the job at hand. You can also do some poking around to learn more about the person hiring you so you can learn about their role in the company and have some ammo when it comes to chatting about things you may have in common.

As far as safety goes, you'll be able to determine if the company is real, does what you were told they do, and where they are located.

Note: Just like a date, don't reveal that you've done this amateur personal background check to avoid seeming creepy. Looking up company details are relevant and fine to comment on however.

Get a Good Night's Rest

You want to be fresh, energetic, and on the ball for a first date as well as (or even more so) for an important job interview. While you may have the jitters, it's imperative you get to bed at a reasonable hour so you are the best version of yourself for the big interview.

Put away your smartphone (Facebook can wait), turn off the TV (Judge Judy can too), and make the bedroom as dark as possible. Avoid any heavy eating just before bedtime, and if you drink, have no more than one serving. No one bottle of wine is NOT considered a serving. If you are completely wide awake, consider taking a warm bath or having a mug of chamomile tea. Both will soothe you and have you drifting off in no time.

Set the alarm with plenty of time to breathe deeply in the morning and to get ready at a leisurely pace before the interview so you aren't in freak-out mode in the morning. You'll want to have time to dress nicely, do your hair, and make sure your shoes match.

Eat Something Before You Go

Even if you have a dinner date planned, it's always smart to have a light bite beforehand. Arriving on an empty stomach can make you feel moody, nauseous, or sluggish. Same goes for filling up before an interview. You'll need substantial energy to make it through all the questioning and conversation.

Eat something nutritious and balanced, but not too big. You don't want to feel weighed down or find yourself in need of a bathroom as soon as you arrive at the interview. Consider a yogurt parfait, some whole wheat toast with avocado, a cup of soup and a half sandwich, or a fresh salad.

The fuel will keep your mind sharp and your body going strong. Just be sure you don't drip anything on your suit!

Exude Confidence

As nervous as you may be before a date or an interview, as long as you seem confident, whomever you're with will believe you are. You can practice your confidence skills pre-interview to assure you come across as intelligent, focused, and of good character.

Check your posture as you sit at home throughout the week before the interview. Are you slouching or slumped? It's time to throw your shoulders back and hold your head high. Body language is an important factor that hiring managers are tuned in to.

Practice talking with people, even strangers, and maintain good eye contact and show genuine interest in the discussion.

Brush up on any relevant business lingo and latest trends and developments in the field. The more you know pre-interview, the better things will go if you're hit with intricate questions. And if you don't have the answer to something, be straightforward. Honesty is just as confident as knowing it all.

Are you ready to ace that interview? While it may not be as romantic as dinner and dancing, it will fulfill your mind and future with the prospect of the launch of a new career.

Related Articles Around the Web
Subscribe to PayPath Newsletter
PayPath
Follow Us on

Truebill Is The App Everyone Needs, I Use It Everyday To Track All My Finances

I thought I had a pretty good handle on my finances out of school. I worked several jobs while attending university and had little to no problem managing my income. However, once I graduated, I realized how much more complicated personal accounting could really be.

There were so many variables I needed to keep track of. Biweekly bills, monthly charges, and general necessities amounted to a heap of confusing numbers that were often impossible to decipher. The funniest part was that I was actually trying to do this by hand (I don't know what I was trying to prove to myself, either).

After messing up for the 17th time, I decided to give Microsoft Excel a shot. I used Excel a bit in school and I knew all the big-wig finance people used it, so what could I possibly have to lose? The answer is about six hours of my precious time. Excel isn't much of an improvement over handwriting and it's still dependent on the user to manually input all of the information. It's like doing everything by hand with the slightest help, meaning that it still required a tremendous amount of time and concentration. Well that was all for nothing, I guess.

It's sort of funny. I was certain that I could manage my personal finances with ease, when it's practically a full-time job. I was already stressed out enough with my first job and I knew I didn't have enough time to give my finances the attention it deserved.

That's why I decided to try out a budgeting app. My best friend told me that he uses an app called Truebill to manage his finances. "What does it even mean to manage your finances?" I asked him. He told me that Truebill was the personal financial assistant I wished I could have. It could aggregate all of my account information into one place and give me specific insights and actions.

I loved the idea of having full control over my finances, especially during a time of financial uncertainty, and I realized that Truebill would be the easiest way to accomplish this. The user interface is incredibly simple and intuitive, so it doesn't even feel like a finance app! Truebill offers a multitude of features, with their most popular being the ability to cancel subscriptions with the press of a button.

Okay, I had no idea how many subscriptions I was still subscribed to. In fact, I wasn't even using a quarter of the subscription services I was signed up for. Subscription boxes, streaming services, my old gym, and even an old subscription to my favorite magazine--it was all there and I was livid. How could I let myself waste all of this money and how did I never catch this? Thank goodness for Truebill.

Truebill also offers bill negotiations. There is a 40% fee based on how much you save and Truebill even claims that there is an 85% chance that they'll be able to lower your bill once a negotiation is requested. Why wouldn't I take them up on this? There was zero risk and I would only have to pay once my bill was lowered (which means that I would be saving money regardless).

More standard features of Truebill include the ability to generate a credit report on-demand and even request a pay advance. I only used the pay advance feature once when I wanted to buy a gift for my mom, but didn't have enough cash in hand and Truebill automatically reimbursed itself when I got my next paycheck.

The credit report is another fantastic feature and practically taught me what good credit meant. Truebill's credit report basically shows you which financial decisions have the most significant impact on your credit score and ways that you can improve your credit month-over-month. I've never had such control over my credit and it feels good.

I'll be the first to admit that I was extremely naive coming out of school. I figured that as long as I was attentive, I could manage my finances with ease. We manage money to some extent throughout our entire lives, but once you're thrown out on your own, it's a completely different story. With Truebill, I've finally been able to take control over my finances and stay on top of all of my responsibilities.

Update: Our friends at Truebill are extending a special offer to our readers! Follow this link to sign-up for Truebill.

5 Reasons You Need FanDuel TVG If You Want To Get In On All The Horse Racing Action

My buddies and I always try to make it out to a game, but we never really care which one we end up at. Obviously we have our favorite sports and teams, but it was rarely about what game we went to or who we saw playing. It was about watching the game live.

In the early months of lockdown, all we had was Korean baseball, and trust me, we loved it. The only issue was, none of us had any idea what the commentators were saying. Even then, a few of my friends weren't huge fans of baseball. They were into sports like football and basketball, ones that moved at a quicker pace with less down-time in between plays.

We decided to see if there were any other events going down and came across horse racing. Yes, horse racing. It was perfect--short, fast-paced, and most importantly, an opportunity for betting.

I had never really considered watching a horse race any time other than the Belmont Stakes, but the prospects of the sport seemed exhilarating. Even better, with horse racing we knew we could still recreate the atmosphere of a race track. Salty snacks? Check. Stale beer? Check. A simple and easy way to bet? Check.

One quick Google search later, we came across TVG, powered by FanDuel. It's an online betting platform that takes you right to the heart of the action. We were a little apprehensive about using a mobile app to place our bets, but TVG's ability to bet on live horse races from all over the world was too good to pass up.

Here are 5 reasons why we are obsessed with horse racing thanks to TVG:

1. Betting has never been easier

Use your phone or computer to watch and bet on live horse races in real-time. TVG offers a bunch of features to make betting even simpler--live odds and handicapping tips leverage recent learnings to help you make your best bet. Not to mention, TVG's exclusive race content and wagering guide offers an under-the-hood look into the strategy behind horse race betting.

2. The biggest selection of horse races out there

If you're looking to drop a little dough on a horse race, chances are your best option is your local race track. But watching the same few horses races over and over again isn't the most exciting thing. With TVG you have access to over 150 tracks worldwide with races happening consistently throughout the day.

3. Get a generous sign-up offer when you place your first bet

Once you register your account, you will be eligible for a $200 risk-free bet. All you have to do is place your first bet and you're covered. If you happen to lose, TVG will insure you for up to $200 as a sort of wagering credit. I may have been a little trigger happy when placing my first bet, so having this insurance was a great perk. There are also a bunch of promotional offers available year-round.

4. Making deposits and cashing out at the touch of button

With a ton of payment options such as PayPal, BetCash, debit/credit, wire transfers, and other third-party services, making a deposit is a breeze. But what about the payout? Depending on your deposit method, your withdrawal will be available in a few days. No more waiting in-line to collect your winnings!

5. Watching live races with your friends while betting is exhilarating

Even when we were watching Korean baseball, Zoom calls with my friends were a little dull.

With TVG, we haven't had this sort of fun in months! Every weekend we'll turn on a race and throw our bets in. After a few races, and quite a few drinks, we'll tally up our winnings to see who won the most! Sometimes it's not even about making money, but just having a good time.

TVG is the perfect way to add a little excitement to an otherwise mundane afternoon. It introduced me to the world of horse racing, a sport I never would have considered otherwise.

The races just keep ramping up and thanks to TVG, I can always get in on the fun.

UPDATE: The biggest derby in horse racing is THIS WEEKEND. Get in on the action with your $200 risk-free bet!

Advertisement

fanduel tvg