How does one applicant stand out in a sea of many?

QUESTION: @P_onzo asked the following... I was wondering if you could offer some insight as to how to 'stand out' amongst the other applicants being that our resumes and cover letters are submitted electronically. It all seems a little formulaic, and there have been many times when I whole-heartedly know I'd be an excellent candidate but feel a little frustrated that I'm sitting behind a computer and can't SHOW the person I'm qualified. The obvious line of logic led me to visit a company in person, but I was told by an HR representative that that was more off-putting than ambitious. If you could offer any advice, I'd be interested in your perspective.

CANDID RESPONSE: Thanks for your great question @P_onzo! The HR rep you consulted with was right... It is never appropriate to go to the location of a prospective employer of interest. That is a sure way to get on the X list.

Job searching is never an easy process. There is no special formula, unfortunately. Along my career journey, I've been rejected on numerous occasions and have been overlooked for jobs that I felt were an ideal fit for my skill set. But, I came to a point where I realized that if I didn't land the gig, it was the employer's loss. I accepted that if I did all I could to earn it, and it didn't work out... No matter how much I wanted it (or how qualified I may have been) - it wasn't the right opportunity for me. Hard to stomach that truth, but that's the bottom line.

Now, there are several things that you can do to "stand out" and to better prepare yourself for the next opportunity...

1) If you are passionate about a company, don't give up on it just because you received a no or because you didn't hear back following a resume submission. Don't fret, and don't over analyze what you could have done differently if you actually landed a job interview. Instead, jot down a few notes regarding the experience (what you learned, company pros and cons, and where you fit in). After all, you might not have gotten the first job you applied for, or second, but the third attempt at that company might be a slam dunk.

2) Establish as many contacts as possible in the industry of interest and at your companies of interest. With advances in social media, there is no excuse not to get connected with key players, particularly via LinkedIn. Additionally, I always advise people to never walk away from an interview situation empty handed. You should always leave with the contact info of each person you met during the process. Once that initial introduction is made (even if only an online connection was made), it is then more than appropriate to establish a healthy communication pattern. By "healthy" I mean, don't stalk, send gifts, call a gazillion times (ummm, recruiters have caller ID folks), or continue to inquire about the same doggone job that you didn't get. Instead, email periodically to generally check in and to let them know that you are still interested in the organization, and reference any growth you've experienced that may align nicely with any newly posted positions. Rule of thumb, it is still always advantageous to have an internal connection. Recruiters truly value referrals.

3) Don't just look at the "responsibilities" on a job description/posting and conclude that you'd be ideal for the job because you could do the tasks that are outlined. This is a common mistake that people make. Instead, focus more on the "qualifications/requirements" listed. This is the true marker as to whether or not you should even apply. If you don't closely mirror what is listed (e.g. The role requires 5+ years of experience and you barely have one year of experience OR it requires proficiency in a specific platform/system that you can't even spell) then chances are, despite your zeal and enthusiasm, you are likely NOT a good fit from a recruiter's perspective.

THE CANDID TRUTH: I wish I could pinpoint one BIG BANG answer that would guarantee that you'd land the gig. But, unfortunately, I am just like you, in that, we all fall - at times we all fail - but we are all capable of getting back up and never giving up! So, the best advice I can offer (besides the above pointers) is to never stop trying when you stumble or face disappointment along your journey. Get back up and try again until you eventually hear a yes. I'm a big Jay Z fan, and there is a song on his Blueprint III album featuring Swizzbeatz entitled "On to the Next One". It has become the theme song that replays in my mind when one door of interest closes. And guess what, before I know it, a new door always seems to open. Never stop knockin'.