How to Standout from 3,000 Other Job Applicants

As one of the top five of Fortune’s Top 100 Best Companies to Work for in 2010, Google sees thousands of résumés every day. In fact, in 2008 The NewYork Times reported that Google received more than 20,000 résumés each week – that’s an average of two résumés every minute. While most companies don’t see anything like two to three thousand résumés every day, let alone in a year, in today’s economy there’s still numerous applicants for every open job no matter where you apply. So how do you get the job when you’re up against such tough competition? 

What Google Looks for in Candidates
Entrepreneur Magazine recently interviewed Google’s staffing manager, Todd Carlisle, on what he looks for in an employee when hiring for Google’s highly coveted jobs, and one of the qualities Carlisle mentions is ambition. “An Ivy League alum with a high GPA is great, but even better is the person who was the first in the family to go to college and did well while working an extra job,” Carlisle said.

It’s probably not a surprise to you that employers are looking for qualities like determination and self-motivation in potential employees. With smaller workforces and heavy workloads, businesses need employees with the drive to help solve problems and boost productivity.

For unemployed job seekers, it’s difficult to stay motivated and driven when finding work has become a full-time job in its own right. For employees who are looking to job hop because of stress, employee engagement issues, or job security concerns at work, it’s tempting to play it safe and lay low in their current position. But, to get the job and stand out from the crowd, determination and aspiration are exactly what you need whether you’re unemployed or just job hopping.

Preparing for Your Next Interview
Before your next interview, come up with several examples that demonstrate your ambition, whether it’s when you took initiative to make a process more efficient at work or when you went to night school while you working full-time to build a better future for you and your family.

Above all, as you continue your job search, remember to stay motivated. Don’t settle. Keep learning. Keep dreaming. Keep growing and doing. The skills you acquire and develop today will help get you the job of your dreams tomorrow.

Comments

[Sara Kmiecik]

Great post - I had no idea that Google receives that many emails a week!

[Lara]

I love your site. Thank-you for all your great tips and information! Keep it up.

[Michael]

I don't know why it said that a person who is first in their family to go to college is an attractive trait.

[Kat]

Great post! I am exactly the second candidate that is described here; first graduate in my family, worked at least one job while doing my studies. However, I graduated in 2009 and have only found retail and restaurant positions. How do you say that even though I don't have the experience (that everyone wants), I will succeed in this role?

[Liz]

I am the job hopper….I was in the medical field before I moved to Redding and have been unsuccessful at finding a job in the medical field here. I work from home now and am getting burnt out. I want to find something I can call a career and I can learn and have the potential to move up. It is hard to stay motivated when you know you have the skills and ambition but you get no calls for interviews.

[Lindsay]

I love this blog! Always new and insightful information.

[Scott]

It is amazing that there are that many people looking for work these days. You stated that google gets thousands of resumes on a daily basis. How many does an average employer get?
With the majority of them requiring a resume in leu of an in person interview, how can an applicant find out if his resume was even considered?
I have been send out e-mails for nearly 5 years. Once in a while I receive a letter by mail telling me that the position has been given to another party. I have no way to know what address the resume was sent to since any indirect name can be used by an employer to hide his identity.

[Angelo Anthony Byrd]

I was glad to have stumbled upon bright inquiring minds;Sara, Liz, and Lindsay's comments alone gave me the boost I needed to stay encouraged and focused. Thanx....

[Hintonkp16]

inspirational..

..determination and self-motivation,
aspiration

[Kim McCowan]

great advise....staying motivted is the hard part I wish someone would address the how....How does one stay motivated when faced with the eternal lows of waiting for the next call and next appointment that's my dillema....Question? do you recommend tailoring your resume for every job description? Thanks for the info and supportive comments as well as inspiration to never give up..FYI don't settle is easy to say when your bills are being paid harder to apply when counting dollars that are really cents!!!!

[Rob]

Google does get a lot of emails!
Staying motivated is one of the big keys. Unless we are diligent the door won't open. We just don't know which interview will be 'the' interview, so we press on knowing we are forging our destiny.