First dates are like a job interview for who wants to see you naked

March 24, 2026 — 7:00pm

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

Save this article for later

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.

Whenever I encounter anything remotely difficult in life, my dad tends to have the same advice: “Don’t worry about it, just do it.” While he would love to be credited for that bit of wisdom, I believe he’s just ripping off the Nike brand slogan.

That mentality, however, is helpful when it comes to many things in life, including first dates.

Until this year, I had not been on a first date in years. I was in a relationship, and the thought of sitting in front of a stranger and wondering if she wants to see me naked was completely foreign.

And yet, I am back on the apps and I am back on first dates.

People typically dread first dates, and I understand why. They are terrifying. They seem less like you’re testing the waters, and more like performance reviews. We’ve filled in the application form, and now we’re turning up to be assessed and evaluated like in a job interview: What if you aren’t as attractive in person as you are on........

© The Age