Partner points

I used to think that it was lame for women to know all about what their husbands were into. I thought is smacked of male-dominated relationships. You’re not actually into model trains/ham radios/historical recreations/bonsai, so why are you talking about it, and using the pronoun ‘we’ even though we’re the only two people in the room?

Anyway, I’ve recently realized that being involved in your partner’s interests means more to share and enjoy together. I knew this, of course, but today I was able to use what I’ve learned from Jason’s L33T skills and start-up knowhow when applying for a sweet sweet job (that I won’t be talking about until I know if I’m actually in the running). Then I read an email from a favorite aunt, and allofasudden it hit me that the interest and knowledge she’s gained from being married to a conifer expert has made her an expert too, and it’s a cool, neat thing. Now that I think about it, I know that there’s no way she’d get this into conifers if she didn’t already have an interest. Having a partner super-into it just makes it more likely that you’ll learn more.

So I think there should be some sort of nomenclature for this, a rating of how much you know about architecture, or dancing, or cattle, or programming because you spend your free time with someone who’s interested in it too. Partner points? Personal interest rating?

I’d say I have a healthy knowledge of Internet start-ups just by being with my partner, and I want to be able to convey that in a cover letter without sounding too wifey.

And now maybe I can find a way to get Jason knitting.

(Disclaimer: Jason has knit a potholder, in 2003 I think, but I think giving him some circular needles and letting him knit a hat would be more effective.)

(Disclaimer disclaimer: Jason knit said potholder when we first met, when doing things like knitting and playing Super Mario Sunshine are important to culling a good relationship.)

  1. I was trying to complain to Zack yesterday, telling him that I do things like watch politics now, but that he doesn’t watch my stuff. He retorted that there’s no way he would have watched the last five seasons of “American Idol” if it weren’t for me. So I guess that river flows both ways. 🙂

    And, as a result of our transfusion of interests, I know what a superdelegate is and he knows who Sanjaya is. Yay for knowledge.

  2. Knowledge by association will grant you points in the job search process, I would think, but not nearly as many as knowledge gained by first-hand account.

    If this is a major part of the job, you might mention you have a ‘working knowledge’ of the topic. And I’d say you can go ahead and cite your source. Making it somewhat clear that you have an interest in the topic, and looky here, my guy knows this thing inside and out and can teach me anything I might need to know.

    As with all things ‘job application’, there’s a thin red line and a huge gray area surrounding ‘qualifications’.

    If this topic is just one part of many within the job I don’t think I’d mention anything about it in the cover letter, let it come up in subsequent phone interviews, emails, personal interviews, etc. But that’s just my 2 cents which we know doesn’t mean much.

    Good luck!

  3. I think the fact that Shane loves American Gladiators and that I now know about the Eliminator illustrates your point perfectly.

  4. I now know more than I EVER wanted to about VoIP engineering and telecommunications because not only do Rory and I talk about it, but he also works from home, so if I’m here, I actually witness it happening.

    I suppose Rory has learned something about PHR certification, OFCCP, department of labor regulations and employment law too.

    It’s now a mad-dash to see which one of us actually uses our newly found knowledge first.

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