A Man Without a Job is a Deal Breaker Now (Apparently)

When it comes to dating, we all have deal breakers – you know, those things that we will just flat-out not tolerate from a potential gentleman caller.

So what are your deal breakers then ladies? For me, personally, it’s rudeness and someone who smokes. Not that I have anything against smokers – I’m just asthmatic, so being around them generally doesn’t do me any favours in the lung department.

I’d probably choke every time he was within five feet of me and constantly choking whenever your boyfriend leans in for a kiss, isn’t really conductive for a long-term relationship.

The reason why we’re talking about deal breakers is because a recent survey, carried out by a dating website (It’s Just Lunch) found that 75 per cent of women surveyed listed ‘unemployment’ as their biggest turn off.

Basically if a man isn’t packing a decent career, we’re just not interested. Given the fact that we’re still up-to-our-asses in a recession, this does not bode well for any poor fellas out there who are currently struggling to find work.

The good news, dear men, is that when the figures are broken down at least 43 per cent of the original 75 per cent will go out with you if you don’t have a job – providing you get off your backside and find one in the not-too-distant future.

According to the website Jezebel, these figures seem to indicate that from a female perspective, the reason why women want a man who has a job is because it shows that he has initiative and some direction in his life.

“Not having a job will definitely make it harder for men to date someone they don’t already know,” said Irene LaCota, a spokeswoman for It’s Just Lunch.

Speaking to Jezebel she said: “This is a rare area, compared to other topics we’ve done surveys on, where women’s old-fashioned beliefs about sex roles seem to apply.”

In stark contrast, 46 per cent of the men surveyed by It’s Just Lunch said that they had no problem dating a woman who was unemployed. Huzzah for us!

So ladies, what do you think? Would you be put off if a man told you he was unemployed? How important is career for you when it comes to dating?