A doctor can casually drop something into the conversation about all of the lives he's saved or kids he's helped and instantly score points. That new webserver is slightly less enthralling to the uninitiated. It's easier to turn some kinds of work into an interesting story than others.
I think that's a case of "the grass is greener on the other side"
You can just as easily come up with fun stories, things you've done, etc. as a programmer as a doctor.
- Next time you're on facebook try pressing up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a, enter and see what happens. No I won't tell you but it's fun. If you can't remember it here's my number so you can text me and ask
- Yeah today I've had more than half a million people come through computers I run. Without me they would be in serious trouble. Pretty wild huh?
- I've helped so many kids with computers you wouldn't believe it.
Like in tennis, the point is not to try to hit a winner when the question gets asked but to stay in the game. Volley it back by focusing on something you'd like to know about her.
For example:
Her: "What do you do for a living?"
You: "I write software that thousands of people use every day to get their own jobs done. And my real passion is cooking. I love French cooking from scratch.(pause)What do you enjoy doing?"
OR
Her: "What do you do for a living?"
You: "I write software. Office politics aside, I like the creative aspect of building something up, from a blank screen in my editor to something that people actually use on the Internet.(pause). What do you do to exercise your creativity?"
Or, more to the point: "I program computers to do my bidding. Great fun to do, boring to talk about." Then unapologetically move on to something more there-and-then-worthy, using any cues to --as parent suggests-- give her a chance to talk about herself and (esp.) her interests.
Exactly. That is a very difficult question. And the key is to answer it in a way that pertains to the interviewer's goals (which for a girl meeting a guy might be: does he have a life, will my friends like him, is he interesting).
As Jerry Seinfeld says, a date is a job interview.
Comments
A doctor can casually drop something into the conversation about all of the lives he's saved or kids he's helped and instantly score points. That new webserver is slightly less enthralling to the uninitiated. It's easier to turn some kinds of work into an interesting story than others.
I think that's a case of "the grass is greener on the other side"
You can just as easily come up with fun stories, things you've done, etc. as a programmer as a doctor.
- Next time you're on facebook try pressing up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a, enter and see what happens. No I won't tell you but it's fun. If you can't remember it here's my number so you can text me and ask
- Yeah today I've had more than half a million people come through computers I run. Without me they would be in serious trouble. Pretty wild huh?
- I've helped so many kids with computers you wouldn't believe it.
A little thick maybe, but you get the point :-)
I've never had any success with that approach, unfortunately. :(
Like in tennis, the point is not to try to hit a winner when the question gets asked but to stay in the game. Volley it back by focusing on something you'd like to know about her.
For example:
Her: "What do you do for a living?"
You: "I write software that thousands of people use every day to get their own jobs done. And my real passion is cooking. I love French cooking from scratch.(pause)What do you enjoy doing?"
OR
Her: "What do you do for a living?"
You: "I write software. Office politics aside, I like the creative aspect of building something up, from a blank screen in my editor to something that people actually use on the Internet.(pause). What do you do to exercise your creativity?"
Seriously? That's the best you guys can do?
Just treat dating as anything else you'd like to improve upon. Do your research, understand the end goal, and follow people who are better than you.
When she asks what you do for a living you can respond:
"I'm actually a porn star stunt double, but on the weekends I'll do a little programming here and there"
And then smile. It's all in the delivery, Cocky and funny gets the job done.
Or, more to the point: "I program computers to do my bidding. Great fun to do, boring to talk about." Then unapologetically move on to something more there-and-then-worthy, using any cues to --as parent suggests-- give her a chance to talk about herself and (esp.) her interests.
This sounds like a med school interview, in all honesty.
"So tell me about yourself"
Exactly. That is a very difficult question. And the key is to answer it in a way that pertains to the interviewer's goals (which for a girl meeting a guy might be: does he have a life, will my friends like him, is he interesting).
As Jerry Seinfeld says, a date is a job interview.