Elite Introductions - Media Room

My Career – Sydney Morning Herald
September 30-October 1 2006

My Career
Trudy Gilbert
Dating Consultan

Gilbert, 32, is a dating consultant at Elite Introductions International

What is a dating consultant?

A lot of single people don’t have time to meet people, aren’t interested in going to bars of nightclubs or don’t have social networks they can fall back on.  I help connect people.  I often tell my members to think of me as a well connected friend who can introduce them to a number of eligible, successful singles.

What kind of qualities do you need?

You need to be able to make people feel comfortable, so they open up to you.  It can be very awkward for people to come in for an interview and have a complete stranger ask them very personal questions about what they are looking for in a partner.  You need to be a good listener, accepting of others and, of course, non-judgemental.  Having a degree in Psychology also helps.

What is the best thing about your job?

Getting an email or a phone call from two people I have introduced who really hit it off and have started dating.  I genuinely care about my members and I get a lot ofsatisfaction in being able to bring two people together.

Have you had any clients you haven’t been able to match?

On a couple of occasions I have had difficulty fulfilling a client’s long list of criteria.  When this happens, I tell them it may take a little longer to find a match or I encourage them to be a little bit more open-minded.

Elite Introductions targets “successful, like-minded professionals”.  How do you tell someone they are not your type?

This has happened on occasion.  I have had calls from kitchen hands, university students and sales assistants.  I don’t apologise for setting standards for my members – we are an exclusive agency.

Interview: Valerie Kho