LINKS TO ONLINE LOVE
Work and romance are becoming increasingly intertwined, writes Melanie Burgess
THE right career choice can bring fulfilment and financial security – and help a person find love. A UniLodge survey of 1000 Australians found 22 per cent believed having a strong LinkedIn profile made a person more desirable to romantic partners, while one in four would consider going to university if they knew it would help them find their soulmate.
Corporate Cupid founder and professional matchmaker Renee Brown says what a person does for a living has become more important than ever in the dating game.
“In this day and age of dating, it’s such a superficial world out there,” she says.
“People are paying more and more attention to your income, work, job and title than they ever have.
“Technology has formalised that kind of mindset because (through online dating and apps) we give people so many options to fine tune exactly what they want in a partner and dismiss exactly what they don’t want.”
Brown says it is about finding someone who is like-minded and has a similar lifestyle.
“A lot of my clients are professional so would like to meet other professionals as well,” she says.
“It’s the intellectual stimulation they are attracted to and they are looking for people who are driven, successful, financially secure.”
SEEK resident psychologist Sabina Read says a career can also showcase someone’s values.
“I am very (passionate about) animal liberation and I couldn’t be with someone who worked in an abattoir, for example,” she says.
“It goes against my values; I would struggle with that.”
Read says some people may also think about whether a large difference in salary creates a power imbalance in the relationship, and whether someone with long work hours or lots of travel is a compatible partner.
UniLodge chief sales and marketing officer Grant Waldeck says he is not surprised so many people see a correlation between a person’s LinkedIn profile and ability to attract a partner, as many of the same qualities appeal to employers and partners.
“Often, a good LinkedIn profile can indicate to a potential employer that you are ambitious, experienced and loyal and, as it goes in dating, these are often desirable traits in a potential partner as well,” he says.
However, LinkedIn is a professional platform and not the place to strike up personal relationships.
A LinkedIn spokesman says anyone who insists on trying can be blocked or, where necessary, removed from the site. “Our User Agreement states clearly that our members should act in a professional manner, and we encourage members to report any behaviour they consider to be inappropriate,” he says.