On a recent night out with a single friend who is working on her second master's degree -- but who has no date for Saturday night -- a guy asked if she was seeing anyone.

"Single with a master's," she replied.

What kind of response is that? Was she trying to impress him? Would she be dating if only she didn't care so much about her education?

Unfortunately, the problem is that my friend is a victim of resume dating. Like an employer with a job to fill, she has a wish list of requirements for her prospective employee, or mate. And since she is looking for a job as well, she is quick to rattle off her accomplishments to convince applicants that she is the one for them.

As my friends and I -- like many women of our generation -- focus on our careers and higher education, it makes sense to expect more from our dating prospects. It makes sense, but it's limiting.

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When my friend Donna met a new prospect, she wanted to dismiss him for two "important" reasons: he had not yet finished college and had never lived outside his home state.

But after he dropped $200 on a fancy dinner, and made her laugh and shiver when he kissed her, he started to grow on her. He wasn't as educated as she was, but he certainly was successful in his own right and definitely attractive.

Even though he didn't have the Ph.D. or law degree she was hoping for, he met the requirements of treating her like a lady, including the special "technical skills" that often get overlooked at the bottom of the resume.

I blame dating-by-resume partly on online dating, a system that categorizes people by their vital statistics.

Each online profile looks like an application, explaining who a person is, what he does, what annoying habits he may or may not have, how he feels about religion and -- most importantly -- what he is looking for: the objective.

As I peruse the listings, it looks like anything is possible. Do I want a tall guy? Then I won't even consider Tommy from Baltimore. Someone who likes kids? "Hello" to Steve from D.C.

I have many friends who go on more than one online date a week, often struggling to get to date No. 2 and feeling pretty psyched when No. 3 happens.

The problem with dating with a perfect resume in mind is that it can keep people from giving a guy with great potential a chance. Online dating only exacerbates the issue because when bachelor No. 45692 doesn't immediately fit the bill, there are many others to take his place.

I know we all must suffer through several Mr. Wrongs to even near Mr. Right, but it's short-sighted to dismiss a guy because he doesn't meet the wish list.

When I met my fiance, I tried to write him off.

"I like him but he has a tattoo, rides a motorcycle and wears jean shorts."

He had many other great attributes but some minuses that didn't fit the job of being my boyfriend, or at least so I thought. He also doesn't have a master's degree like I do, but funny how that really doesn't affect how much I love him.

I worry that many women forget that it's the really important attributes of a guy that makes him qualified to date, not the degrees he does or doesn't have. He can treat her the way she deserves, make her a top priority, respect her and make her squirm even if he doesn't make six figures or didn't graduate from an Ivy League school.

As a habit, I always check out job sites for the latest openings. While I never seem to completely fit the job requirements, that doesn't mean I wouldn't be the best candidate.

And even though the jobs don't exactly meet my expectations, I still apply thinking that maybe there is more to them than I can tell from a bullet-point description. There is no perfect job, I'm convinced, just like there is no perfect boyfriend.

Women should keep on getting those degrees, just don't overlook the great guys who don't have them.

Laura Lewis is an adventurous 20-something who knows how to make the most of being single. Her column appears every other Thursday.