It's a known fact that you can get a sense of someone within the first seven minutes of meeting.

You'll know by his handshake, his mannerisms, his choice of TV shows whether you want to see him again. That's the basis of speed-dating, where singles interview dating applicants and make their picks after less than 10 minutes of conversation.

The concept makes sense in theory, especially for stressed-out professionals on the prowl who don't have time to waste at nightclubs because they've got a class to attend, a marathon to train for, and about three loads of dirty laundry sitting in a pile in their bathrooms.

But seven minutes? Is that really enough time? Sometimes that's all you get in a job interview. And in that time, your prospective employer has to gauge whether you'll contribute to the company's bottom line.

With job interviews, however, you're not just banking on your personality, appearance and choice in footwear. The employer can factor in your resume and previous job experience. He can call former employers and co-workers to get a feeling for the kind of worker you'd be. He can even request your college transcripts.

Not so in dating, even of the speed variety.

Sure, it would be great to ask for resumes and have prospective mates fill out dating applications, complete with background checks, health screenings and confidential interviews with exgirlfriends. You could ask the hard questions. Do you want kids? Have you ever cheated on your girlfriend? Has anyone issued a TRO against you? and make an educated decision.

So easy and so not-going-to-happen.

Imagine someone walking up to you in a club and whipping out a dating application. It sorta kills the fun.

Instead, we resort to traditional forms of meeting people Going to networking events, taking cooking classes, hanging out at the gym where you have to earn those seven minutes of conversation first.

And it all ends up coming back around to that X-factor: first impressions.

You know how it works: You walk into a setting a bar, a dinner party, a beach cleanup and it's all about what you're wearing, how you're moving, what you're saying, what you're drinking. Every little thing counts.

I've been approached because I ordered a Diet Coke at the bar, and he found that intriguing. A guy walked up to my girlfriend because he liked her skirt. (No joke.) And one of my friends was laughing so hard at our table, two guys walked up just to see what was so funny. It happens.

So you think, Why should I put so much effort into this? People should like me for the person I am on the inside.

You're right. But would you wear sweatpants to a job interview? Highly unlikely, unless you're career suicidal. So why be love suicidal? Why not make the effort?