How can you tell if he's a keeper?

You've gone on a date with a new guy, and he seemed perfect...handsome, charming, and fun. But you've encountered this before, gotten excited at where the relationship could go, and then became disappointed because the guys turned out to be...well...less than great.

You may ask yourself, where were the warning signals, and how can I know better to spot them the next time around?

Here are a few questions you may want to ask him on your next date, to see where the relationship might be headed:

• What does he like doing outside of work? This is an informative question, because if he spends most of his waking hours working and nothing else, he will probably not have much time to devote to you and your relationship. Ask yourself if you can live with coming in second to a busy work life. If however he has interests that he pursues outside of work, ask yourself if they are compatible with things you enjoy as well, like snowboarding or playing video games. This way, you can share your passions. A man who enjoys life is very sexy.

• Is he close with friends and family? A man who is close with his family has probably endured some rough times along the way, but has learned how to work through them and is more likely to be an effective communicator. If he has few friends and keeps family at arm's length, he may do the same with you as his girlfriend.

• What does he do when he's alone? Some people have a hard time being alone, and always seem surrounded by their network of friends. Are you fine with group dates more often than not? On the flip side, if he doesn't have many friends, that's not an ideal situation either. Does he easily offend people, or is he overbearing? There may be more to the story than he is willing to admit.

• Do you feel engaged when you talk to him? Some guys are mesmorizing, and we find ourselves listening more than contributing to the conversation. This is fine at first, but at some point there has to be a balance. Does he ask you questions and seem equally engaged and enthusiastic? Or do his eyes wander off when you start talking? This might be an indication that he is more self-centered than you realize.