Dating for professionals: expert advice
Here's the good news – modern dating is a lot simpler than it used to be. Back in the day, we may have relied on meeting other single people at social occasions or getting our friends to set us up on blind dates. This could sometimes feel like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Today, the popularity of online dating sites has made dating for professionals a much more convenient process. With so many people logging on to find love, you can now find lots of working singles at the touch of a button. Here's how to join them.
1. Sign up to a dating site for professionals
The best place to start your search for romance is the internet. Today, online dating is ubiquitous. Approximately 10 per cent of heterosexual people met their long-term partner online, according to Pew Research Center.
The key to getting online dating right is to choose a site or app that is tailored to your needs, rather than downloading the first one you come across.
Sites and apps that offer online dating for professionals can be tailored towards numerous factors. Some focus on education or political views, while others are devoted to facilitating long-term relationships to help you find your soulmate. The best dating websites for professional singles are designed to make your life easier.
On Telegraph Dating, the hard work is done for you via a two-way matching system. The criteria you've listed on your profile is used to search for potential partners, displaying them on your 'My Ideal Match' page if their criteria matches your personality and background. While the service is available to anyone over 18, many members have found this a helpful dating site for professionals over 50.
2. Create the perfect profile
Your online dating profile shouldn't be something you dash off while you're taking your tea break. Wait until you have a free evening or weekend and really get stuck in. List your interests, describe your lifestyle, and – most importantly – be realistic about what you're looking for and what you can offer.
Whether you're an ambitious go-getter seeking something casual and fun, or a busy CEO looking to make more time for a serious relationship, be upfront and honest. The same goes for any personality tests or questionnaires that you end up filling out.
Photo-wise, always aim to use something taken recently where your face is clearly displayed (preferably a solo rather than a group shot). If you can't find a good photo, enlist a trusted friend to come round and take some flattering shots.
3. Make time for your profile every day
Once you've set up your online dating profile don't let it gather dust. If you're serious about meeting someone you'll want to visit your account at least once a day, using your free time to check out your suggested matches, browse other members' profiles, reply to messages, and initiate conversations.
The good news is that you can easily fit this task around your work commitments – the odd five or 10 minutes here and there at lunch, on your commute, or at home in front of the TV will do
4. Look for someone with a compatible lifestyle
When you're checking out other profiles, consider how well your two lives might mesh. Even if you're using a service that suggests potential matches, you'll want to be judicious about who you end up messaging.
Let's say a suggested profile ticks every box when it comes to looks, interests and sense of humour – but their working hours or family commitments would limit the time you have together as a couple. In this instance, initiating a conversation could be a waste of time.
5. Don't rush in
There's no harm in choosing your matches carefully. As a busy professional, time is precious, so you don't want to find yourself sitting through too many fruitless dates.
Make sure you read someone's profile thoroughly before you agree to meet in person. There may be information towards the end of their profile that rules them out as a potential partner. Finding out that information on a first date is a waste of your time and theirs. Being selective is not the same as being fussy.
6. If online dating doesn't work out, try a professional matchmaker or dating agency
Online dating is highly popular among modern professionals – but it doesn't work for everyone. The good news is that there's another service that won't encroach on your working life: a professional dating agency.
Professional matchmaking has come a long way since its early days. Typically these services offer an initial consultation, after which your matchmaker begins the process of looking for matches and setting up dates. Often these services offer one-on-one coaching, with your personal matchmaker on hand to chat and give advice before dates.
High net worth individuals often use matchmaking services as an efficient and discreet way to seek romance. As the consultation process is so rigorous, the associated rates can be costly. However, it can be an ideal option for those with money to spend.
7. Commit to proper dates
Whether you've been set up via a matchmaker, or you've found someone special on a dating app, the next step is meeting in real life. As a professional with a busy schedule you might find it difficult to make time for dates, but it's vital that you do.
Plan ahead and make sure you set aside an afternoon or evening with no work commitments. Gaps in your diary may be scarce, but there's no point putting yourself out there if you're not willing to invest some of your free time.
When you're on a date, make sure you don't check your phone every 10 seconds. Put it on silent, stick it in your pocket, and don't take it out again until you've parted ways (or at least until they've popped to the loo). Work emails can wait!
8. Make the most of the smaller moments
When one or both people in a relationship are busy at work it can be hard to coordinate schedules. You should continue to make time for proper dates, planning ahead to make sure you have free evenings and weekends whenever possible.
If things go well and you develop a relationship, remember that a little compromise will be needed. If you want to successfully juggle career commitments and home life you'll need to work together.
It's important that you try to enjoy the little moments. If you're both booked solid for a week, try to snatch short periods of time to spend together – whether it's enjoying a short coffee break on a Saturday morning, or getting together for a quick lunch in the week.
Quality time doesn't have to mean spending hours together, especially when you're both career-oriented. If you are both hard-working and ambitious, you may see eye to eye.
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