In this economic climate, lawyers have to bring their "A" game to every job interview. If you botch your initial encounter with a recruiter, human resources director, or general counsel, you might not get another opportunity for months, if at all. Surprisingly, the rules for succeeding in the dating world and in the job market have more in common than you might think. By reviewing some basic dating protocol, everyone from a first-year law student to the experienced general counsel or partner looking to move laterally can improve their prospects of landing their dream job.

DATING RULE #1: LOOK YOUR BEST

In the dating world, appearance counts. Research shows that men decide within the first five minutes whether they want to date a woman again. A Harvard Business School study found that the decision not to hire happens in the first few seconds of an interview. While you don't need plastic surgery or designer clothes to succeed, you should bring your most polished and professional self to every interview. It shows the interviewer that you take the company and the opportunity seriously. Dress appropriately for the workplace where you are interviewing, get a great haircut, trim the beard and lose the wild nail polish and hairdo. In short, pay close attention to all aspects of your grooming. When in doubt, err on the conservative side because lawyers tend to be a conventional bunch.

DATING RULE #2: DISPLAY CONFIDENCE

Looks aren't everything. We all knew the average-looking guy in high school who dated the prom queen because he oozed confidence. In the dating world, simply knowing you are "a catch" and exuding self-assurance can help you establish a great relationship. Similarly, poise is critical in job interviews. Display it by how you dress, carry yourself, meet the interviewer's eye, shake the interviewer's hand, speak, smile and answer questions. An upbeat attitude, energy and good eye contact throughout the interview are also important, as they help build rapport.

DATING RULE # 3: BE INTERESTED AND ENTHUSIASTIC

Rendezvous go more smoothly when you are genuinely interested and enthusiastic about your partner, asking questions and listening intently to their answers. Nothing turns a romantic prospect off more than someone who drones on about himself, or looks around for more enticing prospects.

In an interview, the successful candidate displays informed interest in the specific company where she is interviewing and the position for which she is being considered. She knows how to articulate the reasons why the job appeals to her and explain why she is a good fit. She will ask intelligent questions about the company and the position, and will stay alert to other queries arising from the interview process. Her interest and enthusiasm will be unmistakably genuine.

DATING RULE #4: BE A MENSCH

A mensch is Yiddish for someone who is good, kind, decent and honorable. I use it here to mean someone not only attractive enough to date but sweet enough to bring home to your parents, someone who would stop to help you change your tire, or give up his subway seat for a pregnant woman. On the job, a mensch works hard at his own tasks but is also willing to work late or on weekends to get the job done, and does so with a smile. He is a flexible team player who goes the extra mile and never complains that an assignment is not in his job description.

The mensch is also committed to learning new skills and getting training to advance, even on his own time and dime, in order to grow in his career. If you can demonstrate that you are a mensch through anecdotes or stories, you are well on your way to a successful job interview, and perhaps, a job offer.

DATING RULE #5: PLAY IT COOL

Even if you haven't been on a date since seventh grade, you have to play it cool when you're out with the opposite sex. Nothing turns off a prospective suitor like desperation. Even if you were laid off months ago and the bank is about to foreclose on your home, you must hide your anxiety in a job interview. Your prospective employer should feel you are interested in the position because it's right for you, not because you need to put food on the table. If you show you will take any job, the interviewer may fear you will leave as soon as a better opportunity comes along.

DATING RULE #6: DON'T BADMOUTH THE EX

Whether you are reeling from a bad breakup or recently divorced, it's never a good idea to malign your ex to new romantic prospects. Similarly, one of the cardinal rules of interviewing is never to badmouth your former employers, even if invited to do so by the interviewer. Find a way to talk positively about past jobs, even if your employer is in bankruptcy or under indictment. Clearly you learned something from the experience. Being upbeat and discreet will always work in your favor.

Also, don't make the mistake of thinking that an interviewer, or even a recruiter, is your friend. Remember, they are there in a professional capacity, and nothing you say is "off the record."

DATING RULE #7: BE PREPARED

In the era of Google, LinkedIn and other social networking sites, you can learn much about your date before you meet. Research can help you plan an activity you will both enjoy, or discover conversation topics. Researching the company and the people with whom you will be interviewing beforehand will also help you shine on a job interview. If you read the company's 10K, their annual report and their Web site thoroughly, you'll be able to devise smart questions for the interview and help determine if it's the sort of place you'd like to work.

LinkedIn can help you find out the alma maters, work histories and hobbies of the people who will interview you. You may discover common ground with them, which will definitely help break the ice in the conversation. Not only will you be more prepared for the job conversation, you just might impress the interviewer with your research skills.

DATING RULE # 8: DEVELOP YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH, AND THEN SOME

On the singles scene, it's helpful to develop an "elevator pitch" a short, memorable statement about yourself that takes the time of an average elevator ride to deliver. For example, "I'm Jake, a telecommunications counsel at a small startup doing business throughout Asia. I'm fluent in Japanese and Mandarin." Developing your elevator pitch will also help you sell yourself in a job interview.

Consider working to expand your elevator pitch by developing stories and anecdotes that support your key work strengths. If you are a creative problem-solver, have a job story to illustrate that point. Perhaps you anticipate problems before they happen, and have saved your company money doing so. An example showcasing how you did that on the job can really make you stand out from the pack.

DATING RULE # 9: PRACTICE ANSWERING TOUGH QUESTIONS

On dates, you will be asked hard questions, like why your last relationship or marriage ended, why your kid is in drug rehab, or what your career goals are. The more you have thought through your answers to these zingers and the less defensive you are, the more attractive a partner you will be. On a job interview, the interviewer will also probe. She might wonder why you were laid off, why you have had so many jobs in so few years, or what your last boss would say is your biggest weakness.

If your interviewing skills are rusty, enlist a savvy friend, a professional coach or a legal recruiter to practice answering the tough questions with you. Do so till you are confident you can easily handle the difficult questions without rancor, defensiveness or stumbles.

DATING RULE #10: MIND YOUR MANNERS

On a date, nothing can kill the mood faster than someone who is rude to the wait staff, arrives late, has bad table manners, texts during the meal, makes ethnic or racial jokes, or makes an etiquette gaffe during the date. The same goes for a job interview. Arrive on time and turn off your cell phone, pager and Blackberry during the interview. Write a prompt thank you note afterwards. Be polite to anyone you come in contact with during the interview process. You'd be surprised how many job seekers ignore this simple but potent rule. Don't discuss politics, religion, sex or money unless the interviewer brings it up first (and even then, keep the conversation fairly neutral).

Bad manners should be the last thing standing between you and the perfect interview. If you follow these 10 simple dating rules in your job interview, they just might tip the balance and convince a prospective employer that you and they would make a good match.

Diana Rubin is a Managing Director in Major, Lindsey & Africa's Washington, D.C., In-House Practice Group who focuses on placing general counsel, senior in-house counsel and compliance officers with corporations and universities. She can be reached at DRubin@mlaglobal.com or 202-292-1843.