5 Ways to Separate Yourself from Other Candidates

Logan Daniels • July 26, 2021

When scrolling through LinkedIn, it can be daunting to see that 75 or more people have already applied for a single position. You've done your research and the company seems like a great place to work at. The position is exactly the kind of role you've been searching for, and you match all the qualifications for that position.

But how do you differentiate yourself from all the other candidates who meet the job requirements? Separating yourself from the pack is essential to landing the job you want, and here are a few tips to do just that.

5 Ways to Stand Out from the Competition

1. Learn More About the Company

Before you send in your resume, research the role and the company you are applying to. Get a basic understanding of the organization and its history. Learn about the values and principles they uphold. How do they communicate with their customers? How about their employees?

Knowing this information will help you better understand the company you want to be a part of. At the same time, it would guide you during the different steps of the hiring process.

For example, updating your resume would be easier since you can keep only the skills and experiences that are relevant to the position and to the company. You can curate your resume so that every single bullet point you have adds to your credibility and expertise.

Having information about your targeted company can also prepare you for scheduled interviews. More background knowledge will allow you to tailor-fit the answers you plan to give. You can also ask more detailed questions at the end of the interview which could definitely set you apart from the rest.

Researching the person you will be speaking with is also a great idea. It doesn’t take a detective to do a quick Google search or look up a LinkedIn profile. Browse their work history and try to find some personal connection to the person. People tend to hire people they think they will get along with.

2. Build a Personal Brand

To promote yourself effectively, you need something to showcase your skills, talents, personality, and goals - you need to have a personal brand.

Personal branding is a marketing strategy used by professionals to distinguish themselves from other people in their field. A well-made brand that creates a pleasing image can definitely attract different opportunities and potential employers.

According to a 2022 Harris Poll, 70 percent of recruiters in the United States mentioned that a candidate's reputation would greatly influence their chances of being hired.¹

How exactly do you create and use a personal brand to your advantage? You can follow these steps:

Identify your value - What makes you different from the rest of the candidates? What are your strengths? What can you bring to the table? By answering these questions, you would be able to understand your value as a professional.
Choose a target audience - Once you know your value, you need to find out how you will sell it based on the companies or employers you want to attract. Learn about the skillsets that are most appreciated by the organizations you're eyeing.
Present your personal branding during the hiring process - According to Gallup, there is very little chance of two candidates sharing the exact same strengths.² To stand out, you have to showcase your personal brand by telling your story clearly. Unpack your journey, list your strengths, and sell yourself based on your worth and value propositions.

3. Leverage Your Social Media

Even before interview schedules, you can already show your personal brand through your online presence. You have the chance to use your social media accounts to stand out from the competition.

Linking to your social media can give recruiters a better idea of who you are. There, they can see your interests, hobbies, and personal life. Depending on the job, recruiters like to review these accounts to ensure that potential employees will not be a liability for their company.

Before applying, take some time and look over all your platforms. If there is anything you would not want your potential boss to see, think about deleting or archiving it. A single picture of yourself in an awkward situation could cost you that dream job, so really reflect if it is worth keeping.

You can also use social media platforms to make you a more desirable candidate.

4. Use Connections Made Through Networking

"Networking" focuses on the action of making connections and building long-lasting relationships in your chosen field.

Based on research findings mentioned in Forbes, 80 percent of employees who were given job offers in 2021 were chosen because of their networking skills. Through their ability to create relationships, they were able to increase their chances of getting hired.³

An employee who has connections is more attractive since they can use them as resources for projects or events. Most likely, they are also more experienced and easier to work with.

To expand your network and make your job search an easier feat, you can do the following:

Attend industry events - Aside from improving your credentials, participating in conferences, seminars, and workshops also provides you with excellent opportunities to meet other professionals and experts in your field. Who knows, you may even run into an employee of the company you're eyeing to join.
Join professional organizations - These types of associations often create industry-specific networking opportunities that you can take advantage of. The more active you are, the better your chances of growing as a professional.

5. Provide Passion

Maybe the simplest step of them all is to become genuinely interested in what the company does. It may be cliché but “if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life” stands true amongst the test of time.

Recruiters review resumes and hold interviews daily. Showing interest in the company’s market, the role you will play, or the growth potential will shine through in your interview.

Being passionate not only allows you to perfectly fit into the role you are applying for, but you'll be able to bring new ideas to the table. It's more expensive to hire a new employee than to keep an existing one. Passionate people tend to stick around in a company longer because they love their job.

A great way to find a job you will enjoy is to translate your hobbies and passions into a career. Many companies work with a wide variety of clientele, so being an expert in a specific field due to pure passion will give you plenty to talk about in an interview.

HIGHLIGHT YOUR BEST QUALIFICATIONS AND LAND YOUR DREAM JOB

Do you still need help breaking away from the pack? Allied OneSource has a team of expert recruiters who can help you stand out in an interview. Learn how to market yourself and all your skillsets. Get in touch with us today to learn how.

References:

1 LinkedIn News. "How To Build Your Personal Brand as a Job Seeker." LinkedIn, 16 June 2022, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-build-your-personal-brand-job-seeker-get-hired-by-linkedin-news/

2 Asplund, Jim. "How Your Strengths Set You Apart." Gallup, 5 Nov 2021, https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/356810/strengths-set-apart.aspx

3 Hajjiri, Wasim. "How To Land A Job Through Networking" Forbes, 12 Aug 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2021/08/12/how-to-land-a-job-through-networking/?sh=2aaccc7337a5

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