How To Be a Compelling Candidate

Have a flawless résumé and application. Your best bet for being a compelling candidate is to have a strong application. Make sure your cover letter and résumé look professional, and fill out your job application neatly. Target your résumé to the job you're applying for. (Your high school burger-flipping job isn't that important for your accounting job application). Include qualifications and experience that specifically match the needs of your potential employer. And highlight the training and credentials you have that make you an ideal candidate. You don't need to include all of your jobs in your résumé. Instead, just include ones that contribute to your candidacy.

Your cover letter should also be personalized for the company you're applying to. Address it to the appropriate person in management or human resources, and discuss why you have a particular interest in working for that company. Showcase your qualifications that match the needs of the company so that your cover letter makes you a compelling candidate for the job. Generic cover letters just won't cut it if you're looking to be a strong candidate for a new job.

When you're preparing your résumé package, be sure to use high-quality paper to submit your application package, and follow up with employers afterwards to introduce yourself and inquire about the receipt of your résumé. Your initiative might just get you noticed.

Do some networking. You can also be a compelling candidate by talking to the right people. When you're at social gatherings, mingle with supervisors who may have job openings in the near future. Let your friends, family and current colleagues know that you're interested in advancing your career, and have them spread the word with you. Make use of your connections to get people talking about why you would make a great candidate for an upcoming position.

Remain professional. Before an employer hires the best candidate, he often conducts his own searches about the candidate. If you have a social networking site like Facebook, keep it professional enough so that you'd be comfortable with your potential boss reading it. Don't post embarrassing photos or unprofessional comments. These could throw your candidacy out the window if your employer sees them. Search your own name on the internet to give yourself an idea of what a potential employer might come across when he does the same. And work to make your name strictly positive and professional on the internet.

Apply right away. As soon as a job opening becomes available that you think you might be a candidate for, apply right away. Don't let a potentially great job slip away because you were slow to apply. Many employers only consider the first few applications they receive when looking for compelling candidates. So make sure your application is on top of that pile by getting your application package in early.

Ace the interview. Make sure that you go into the interview well-prepared. Do your research about the company, and be prepared to answer questions about what you know about the company. Go over what skills you want to mention to your employer, and think of answers to common interview questions (about your strengths, conflicts, and career aspirations). If you can give a great answer to every interview question, you'll be a very compelling candidate to any employer.