Today I will be interviewing for a new job. The company is a start-up which makes me a little nervous, but it sounds like an interesting project. I'll be interviewing them at least as much as they're interviewing me. That's how it should be, right?

My whole outlook on this job search thing differs vastly from the way it used to be. I used to get all excited and worked up about interviews. Now I just don't care. Of course I hope they hire me, but it won't break my heart if they don't. It might even be a relief. The last job for which I interviewed was not at all interesting. It seemed boring, and the guy who interviewed me came across as an annoying twerp. I was glad that they passed on me.

This one might be different. I hope so. We'll see. I know what I want:

• to be challenged, engaging my mind every day
• to produce work that makes me proud
• to like the people with whom I work (very important since you spend so much time with them)

Everything else -- schedule, pay, benefits, location -- is negotiable up to a point.

Interviews are like blind dates: You hope this is "the one" but you're not betting the farm on it.

Wish me luck!