By Dana Washburn and Mike Whittington

You must meet a lot of great candidates. What's the best way for me to stand out as a candidate?

When the job market slows, job searching becomes much more competitive. Rather than it being a candidate’s market, there are fewer jobs available and more candidates so suppliers can afford to be picky.

It's more important than ever to make sure that you stand out from the crowd and show the hiring manager and recruiter that you are a candidate who definitely should be considered.

What can you do to get noticed?

Have a great resume – not just a good one. Taking time to edit or revise your resume to  match the qualifications for the type of job you want shows hiring managers that you have the credentials for the job. Remember: That resume is the first thing that represents you to a recruiter or hiring manager. Many candidates say, “If you get me the interview, I will get the job.” But if the resume isn’t great, you won’t get that opportunity to interview. Our job is to find the best possible candidate for the supplier, and the more time you put into making a great resume the better your chances of being selected for an interview. We want to brag on your background – not defend it!

Be realistic about opportunities. Suppliers are hiring based on their needs and your previous experience. If they are hiring a National Account Manager, more than likely their first look will be at candidates with a successful track record selling. Also suppliers can afford to be selective – many require experience in specific categories or experience with a specific sku count or dollar volume. Sometimes you could be considered overqualified for positions, so being passed may not be a negative. If your background matches the job description closely, you will have a great opportunity to stand out. Remember: It isn’t always an issue of whether you can or can’t do the job. Instead, ask yourself, “Have I presented myself to show that I can do the job better than other candidates?”

Build your professional brand and image. Sometimes companies Google candidates even before they schedule an interview. You want to make sure everything they find when they search and everything related to you on the professional and networking sites is presentable. Be buttoned up! A professional image can play a big part in impressing a hiring manager or recruiter. Dress for success and show the recruiter how you would represent the firm if you were selected for an interview. If a candidate comes to our office and is not neat and professional, we hesitate to present that person even if the resume is strong. Suppliers want their employees professional and that can be the deciding factor between you and your competition. Have interview clothes ready (dry cleaned, shoes polished, etc.) so you're ready to interview professionally at a moment's notice. That way, your first impression will be positive and that's the impression you want to make on everyone you meet when you're job searching.

Do your homework. Know everything you can about the company (products, competitors, stock prices, key employees, etc.). Hiring managers and recruiters need to know you are prepared and will go the extra mile compared to other candidates. Have you researched the supplier’s website? Gone on a store visit? When you go on an interview do you bring examples of your work? Do you have notes, pictures, etc. to show that you’ve done your homework? Many candidates have a personal portfolio which shows some of their successes. It is a great place to have information on previous projects, letters of recommendation and examples of your work which might be important to a future employer.

Say “Thank You.” We are always amazed to hear from suppliers that they didn’t receive a follow up thank you email or personal note. This can be a deal breaker for positions at all levels. If you send that note immediately after the interview, are you the one who stands out? Or if you are the one who doesn’t send a thank you note, do you also stand out? Take the time to get the business cards of anyone you meet and always thank them for their time. It says a lot about your professionalism.