The job market is hugely competitive, with some positions attracting hundreds of job applicants. To secure your dream position, you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd.

This article will show you how to impress a potential employer and beat out other applicants. We’ll take you through everything you need, from writing your resume and job applications to preparing for your job interview and impressing interviewers on the day.

#1. Writing your resume

Before you begin your job search, you should write a resume. While job seekers are understandably keen to get started, it’s essential to have the bones of a solid document ready so that you can send it to recruiters or employers as soon as possible.

Your resume is the first impression you make. Remember, each hiring manager reads a lot of resumes. Some research suggests they only scan each document for five seconds before deciding whether to pass or not. So, do them a favour and make sure it’s clean, professional, and easy to read.

Build your personal brand to stand out from other candidates

Your resume should show potential employers your unique selling points. It could be your education, experience, skill set, accomplishments, or a combination of all four. So think of what makes you stand out from other candidates and emphasise that.

Scrub your social media

Another good idea is to look at your social media accounts. Your potential employer might look at your posts, so ensure everything there is professional. Also, consider making your social accounts private too.

What to include on your resume to impress hiring managers

A well-structured, clear, and easy-to-read resume is vital. Here is the best way to format your resume.

Header: Include a header with your name, address, email, and contact number. Add your LinkedIn or links to your portfolio or GitHub where relevant.

Resume Summary: A resume summary is a short, punchy paragraph that appears just below your contact details. It’s your elevator pitch for why you’re a good candidate for the job. You should tailor it for each application to give yourself a good chance of cutting through the noise.

Work experience: Your work experience is perhaps the most important resume section. It’s a way to show what you’ve done and how you’ve taken responsibility over the years.

The best format is reverse-chronological, i.e., your most recent job first and working backwards. Include your role, the company name and location, plus the dates you worked there. Use short, impactful sentences with active verbs to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments. Where possible, quantify your achievements with hard data.

Skills: Add your hard and soft skills in a bulleted list. Keep them relevant to the positions you are applying for.

Education: Your education section is an excellent place to show your qualifications. If you don’t have much work experience, this section will need to do some heavy lifting. Consider adding relevant coursework.

Optional extra sections: Depending on how full your resume is, you can include certifications and new skills you’ve learned in an additional area. If you’ve had extracurricular studies, published papers, or you’ve completed voluntary work, it can go here.

Quick resume tips

Writing a cover letter is a good idea. Although, some experts suggest it’s not strictly necessary.
While you might be tempted to use exotic formats to stand out from other job candidates, the risk is that your CV might not go through application filtering systems or will not be readable by online tools and systems used by recruiters and potential employers. Keep things subtle and professional.
Try to keep your resume to 1-2 pages. Ensure it’s well laid out and easy to scan.
Use a resume template where possible. If you decide to go it alone, keep text sizes between 10 to 12pt, with headers between 14 to 16pt. You can make your headings a different colour and font, but try to keep things as simple as possible.
Unless instructed, send your resume as a PDF or Word document so that it appears consistently across devices and will look good if it’s printed out.
Unless instructed, don’t use a headshot or photograph of yourself. It’s not a legal requirement in Australia.

#2. Applying for jobs

Read the job advert thoroughly. Take the time to really understand what the employer is looking for. If there are strict requirements, ensure you meet them before sending off an application. Additionally, go over the instructions with a fine toothcomb and draw up a list that you check off before pressing send.

Applicant tracking system (ATS)

Companies frequently use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to sift through applicants. These automated tools use keywords that target things like educational qualifications, skills and experience, and more.

Read the job description and job requirements thoroughly and note down the terms and concepts. When you are tailoring your resume, emphasise areas where you satisfy the job criteria.

#3. Preparing for your interview

Research the company

Researching the company is one of the best ways to stand out from other candidates. Some things you should research are the company culture, mission, and objectives. Read news articles, press releases, social media and blog content. Additionally, look at the company’s annual report.

Having in-depth knowledge about the company can impress the interviewer and influence how you answer questions during the interview.

Prepare for interview questions

You can’t predict the interview questions you’ll be asked on the day. However, you can prepare more generally. Typical interview questions will allow you to demonstrate your knowledge, experience, work style, and the other qualities and skills that make you a great candidate.

Practice answering questions where you:

Dealt with failure and drawbacks
Showed initiative, leadership, and integrity
Demonstrated a growth mindset
Worked well within a team
Dealt with conflict effectively.

STAR method

Using the STAR method is a great way to formulate answers that help stand out from the crowd. It’s a simple formula that is particularly useful for answering behavioural questions, but you can use it across various interview question responses.

Situation: Some background information on the situation (the business, your role, when, etc.)
Task: What task needed to be done (what challenges did you face?)
Action: What action you took (I.e., how you showed leadership, ingenuity, determination, etc.)
Result: What was the result (i.e., revenues, wins, disaster averted, etc.)

Answering questions with the STAR method will help your answer stay focused. A good answer will show interviewers that you are the kind of person they should hire.

#4. Acing your interview

Almost everyone gets a little nervous when they have a job interview. However, if you’ve followed our previous steps and done your homework, you’ll feel more prepared and in control.

Dress suitably

You’d be surprised by how many strong candidates don’t get this right. Even if the job you are applying for has a casual dress code, it’s worth dressing up to show that you’re interested in the opportunity and taking it seriously.

Make sure you look the part, even if you’re doing a remote interview.

Be on time

Being on time for an interview means being 15 minutes early. Don’t leave things to chance and turn up flustered, talking about bad traffic or missed transport connections.

Interview tips to impress the hiring manager

Take your time: Take a moment to think before you talk. It’s OK to pause and gather your thoughts before answering a question. So take a deep breath, and consider the question for a few seconds.

Keep calm and smile: Body language is important. While you will be nervous, ensure you sit up straight, make eye contact, and smile.

Don’t complain about your current or ex-employer: It might be tempting to vent your frustrations about your current or ex-employers, but it looks unprofessional and discourteous.

Stay focused: Keep your answers tight and focused. Concentrate on what you can do for the company and how you can provide value. Be succinct, and concentrate on how your strengths, experience, and ambitions can be an asset to the company.

Don’t be afraid to sell yourself: Humility is a lovely quality. However, you shouldn’t be afraid to talk yourself up during your interview. Strike the right balance, of course; no one likes an egotist.

Prepare some questions of your own: Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer some questions. It shows your potential employees that you have an interest in the job.

Conclusion

Standing out from other job candidates might seem hard. However, if you get the basics right, you’re already on your way.

Tailoring your resume, preparing thoroughly for your interview, and showing the right attitude will give you an automatic advantage over other candidates.

Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for professional, competent team players with the right skills and experience. Every part of your application, from your resume to each interview question you answer, offers ways to stand out and show your value as a candidate.

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