The power of negotiation and “selling yourself” are deeply intertwined because negotiation involves trust and communication, and selling yourself cannot be done with subpar negotiation skills. Since first dates can feel like job interviews, negotiation skills will only help you put your best foot forward. Hopefully, you’ll intrigue your date enough to capture their attention.
Yet negotiation in the boardroom is very different in first-date scenarios, so we know it can be incredibly challenging to “sell yourself” if you don’t know how to. That’s why we’ve put our heads together and have found the tips you need if you’re eager to “sell yourself” the right way and secure that second date!
Why Should You “Sell Yourself” on a First Date?
To clear up any confusion, we’re not talking about putting a price tag on yourself during dates when we talk about “selling yourself.” When we say that you should “sell Yourself” on a first date, we mean that you must communicate your value to your prospective partner.
In most first-date situations, it doesn’t matter how skilled or talented you are or how much of a smooth talker you can be if you don’t know how to properly “sell Yourself.”
If you can learn to “sell yourself” in first date scenarios, you’re likely to have far more success securing a second or third date. This means you’re one step closer to finding your life partner.
How Do You “Sell Yourself” on the First Date?
Now that you know what we mean by “selling yourself,” it’s time to look at how to go about “selling Yourself” when on a date with a person who has caught your fancy. If you follow the tips we share below, you will likely have a successful first date.
1. Talk about Your Best Qualities
Everyone is shy to a certain extent when on a first date. The trick is not to let the nervous butterflies swarming in your stomach get the better of you.
When you’re on a first date and in the process of “selling yourself,” you need to ensure you talk about your best qualities so that it doesn’t feel like you’re bragging. If your date feels like you’re bragging, they could be turned off or feel like you’re too full of yourself, and there is no room for anyone in your life but your ego.
Since it’s a fine line between bragging and telling your date why you’re a good match, you must tread carefully. You should speak from the heart and highlight the best parts of yourself in past stories and when discussing what you love and what you’re passionate about. This way, when you mention your best qualities, it will feel natural in the conversation and not like you’re listing traits off of a resume.
Additionally, it will help if you tell your date your best qualities — the things that make you stand out. Like your unusual hobbies, insatiable thirst for knowledge, or unique talents.
2. Allow Your Personality to Shine Through
To “sell yourself” appropriately, you must be your true self. You don’t want to pretend to be someone you’re not on a first date. That can come back to viciously bite you in the rear end.
Be open and honest, and let your true personality shine through. If you’re quirky and a natural jokester, wow them with your sense of humor, and if you’re a calm and collected person, let them see how well you ground them.
You don’t want to show them everything about your personality, as the mystery will excite them and make them want to learn more. So reveal tantalizing glimpses of the true you but keep them guessing and intrigued.
Additionally, if you have particular parts of your personality that you feel gel well with theirs, use this to your advantage. Likewise, if you have anything in common, capitalize on that and show them that “like attracts like” in a good way.
3. Talk about Your Goals and Ambitions
Another way to “sell yourself” is to discuss your goals and ambitions. Most people will want to know your plans for the future.
For example, a date might want to know whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur who wants to own a fortune 500 company or a struggling artist who dreams of owning a gallery one day.
Since this is likely to pop up at some point, preparing for the question is an excellent idea. It would help if you tried to make your answer as concise and entertaining as possible. No date wants to hear a dull long-winded answer to the “goals and ambitions” question.
So think up an answer that sums up your goals, ambitions, dreams, and strengths in a sentence or two. Once you have done this, you can elaborate if they ask you to.
4. Research Your Date
If you have the opportunity, one of the best things you can do to “sell yourself” is research your date. The goal is to know as much about the person as possible without sounding creepy. You need to know some of their interests and dislikes beforehand. At the very least, you’ll be able to glean some of the things they are passionate about and who they are as a person.
Yet, How Do You Go About Doing This?
Simple. In a non-stalkerish way, check out their various social media pages like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. With the simple swipe of a thumb or the quick click of a mouse, you can usually find out much about your date.
You would be surprised how much you can learn. For example, their marital status, favorite foods, family members, places they have traveled to, and political views.
Yet, it’s crucial not to bring up any of the research you’ve discovered while on the date if it hasn’t made its way into the conversation. If you do, you risk giving off “stalker vibes.” You don’t want to freak your date out and ruin the first date.
When “Selling Yourself” on the First Date Works: How to Tell Your Date Likes You
If you have sold yourself well enough during a first date, a few signs can tell you your date likes you and what you have told them about yourself. Below we have discussed the cues that “selling yourself” has paid off and your date’s interest has officially peeked.
They Text or Call You First
Often the first sign that “selling yourself” has worked is if the person you went on a first date with calls or texts you first. Depending on their schedule and how well the date went, it might take them a day or two to get in touch. But when they do, you’ll have proof that you impressed them enough to want to get to know you better.
They Are Curious About You or Your Background
When you tell them about your ambitions, goals, and past and you have been interested, your date will be curious about your background.
Ultimately, if you’ve done a great job at “selling yourself,” your date will be eager to ask you questions and be uber-curious about your background. They will ask questions about your home life, childhood, career, and past relationships. They might even want to know small things like your life motto, your favorite singer, and the person who inspires you the most.
These questions are a sign of interest because they have taken a genuine curiosity to know more about you and want to get to know you better. It’s a positive sign, so play along.
Their Body Language Is Touchy Feely
Another common sign that you have done an excellent job “selling yourself” on the first date is when their body language is touchy-feely. If your date displays the body language indicators listed below, they’re interested in you and open to the idea of a second date.
- Bumping their leg into yours
- Accidentally touching your foot or your hand
- Brushing against your body
- Trying to hold your hand
- Touching your hair
- Guiding you with their hand on your back
Wrap-up on the Power of Negotiation and “Selling Yourself” on Your First Date
Hopefully, you now understand why it’s crucial that you “sell yourself” on a first date. Especially if your date interests you enough for you to want to seriously explore a relationship. Follow the many tips we mentioned and watch for the signs that show you’re “selling yourself” appropriately. You’ll have no issues having successful first dates.
