How to Stand Out as a Job Candidate

Job hunting can be tough, and standing out is even tougher. I’ve seen plenty of candidates struggle—not because they lack skills, but because they don’t present themselves in the best way. Want to make sure you leave a great impression? Here’s what actually makes a difference.

Few words: structure, dates, accomplishments, skills. Keep a CV clean and easy to scan, make sure the dates are accurate. Show off what you achieved – real numbers and results make a big impact. And don’t forget to list all the languages you speak and your proficiency levels.

Key note: Make sure your CV and LinkedIn profile match. If they don’t, be ready to answer a lot of questions in the interview—or even miss out on the opportunity.

When describing your experience, focus on what actually matters for the job you’re applying for. Highlight the projects and skills that match the job description, and be sure to mention any relevant upskilling you’ve completed that reinforces those abilities. Many candidates struggle with presenting themselves clearly, so take the time to prepare a concise, well‑structured explanation.

This is a big one! Asking questions shows you’re interested and motivated. Ask about the company, the project, the team, the responsibilities—anything that helps you understand the role better. Bonus points if you’ve done your research beforehand and can ask something specific about the company.

Highlight the points why you want to work on this project, and also why you are looking for the job and/or finish your last project. Use the job description and company website to help you prepare a solid answer. Be clear about what excites you about this opportunity and how it aligns with your skills and career goals. The more specific you are, the better!

When sharing your experience—especially in engineering or technical work—make sure to speak from your own perspective. Use "I" when describing what you did. Be clear, specific, and direct about your contributions. Avoid phrases like "we built," "we improved," or "the team developed," unless you're explicitly outlining your role in that process.

The reality is, hiring managers and collaborators want to understand your unique impact. What did you design, implement, debug, refactor, or lead? Vague or overly team-centric language makes it hard to assess your skills, ownership, and problem-solving approach. Be proud of your contributions—own them.

For example:

Instead of saying: "We improved the app performance before launch,"

Say: "I profiled the frontend using Chrome DevTools, identified a bottleneck in our React rendering cycle, and implemented code-splitting to reduce the initial load time by 47%."

That’s the difference between being forgettable and showing that you know what you’re doing.

So next time you describe your work. Don’t just tell people what your team achieved—show them what you made happen.Use "I" when talking about what you did. Be specific about your contributions. We want to know what you actually did, not just what your team achieved.

Failure isn’t a bad thing—it means you took risks and learned something. If you’ve had a challenge that taught you a valuable lesson, share it! It shows growth and adaptability.

Be ready to speak English. If you haven’t used it in a while, practice a bit before the interview. Since we hire globally, we know English isn’t the first language for most people, but it’s often a crucial skill for international work environments.

It’s not just about technical skills and experience—it’s about who you are. Strong communication, confidence, and a positive attitude go a long way. Don’t be afraid to take a second to think before answering. Just be yourself.

Good luck!