ArcaMax

My choices are: I can do nothing.

I can block him so he can’t see my profile.

Or I could send him a “smile” or message through the app or email, acknowledging the match and indicating interest in a date, while magically and simultaneously protecting future professional contact and not embarrassing myself.

I think I’d rather take a chance on love than a new job, but I feel so awkward and so far out of my comfort zone.

Maybe he has the exact same dilemma as I have regarding professional vs. personal contact.

What do you think?

– Woman On the Fence

Dear On the Fence: This is a great question, and as this plays out we either have the first scene for a galloping workplace rom-com, a fantastic story to tell at your wedding, or a neutral but nice near-miss. I don’t really see a huge downside for you.

In my opinion, the fact that – pre-pandemic – this man chose to meet you in-person after coordinating interviews (which did not lead to employment), indicates some interest on his part.

Now that Cupid’s algorithm has matched you, you could respond with a short note: “Hi. I remember meeting you for coffee back in the ‘before times,’ and thank you again for meeting me that day. I eventually got a job at Cybertech and have been mainly working remotely lately. Your interviewing coaching did help! Are you still at TechBubble? I suppose it was bound to happen to someone at some point but honestly, I have never been matched online with someone I’d met IRL. Awkward, for sure – but funny, too.”

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