To get to what employers really want in a job applicant, you have first got to get their attention. Even in today's booming job market, there are still many applicants looking for better employment. It is common for hundreds of resumes to pass across the desk of an employer while they select only a handful to interview. Therefore, you still have to go the extra mile to make an impression. So what are the top things you can do to get to the interview?

Successful job seekers understand that the job market has changed over the last several years and that they must change to survive in it. Using old, outdated search methods like mass mailing resumes will get you nowhere fast. You must take positive and proactive control over your job search instead of waiting for the phone to ring and someone to offer you a job. Therefore, positive attitude, a willingness to ask for help and advice, and strong motivation become integral to the success of a job seeker. This means knowing your own strengths, planning your job search strategy, and establishing specific goals. Smart job seekers also go the extra mile to learn about the companies they are interested in so that when they receive the telephone interview or in-person interview, they can sell themselves to the company. Finally, successful job seekers are persistent. They have taken the Colonel Sanders approach and know that sometimes you have to make 500 contacts before someone is interested in what you are selling.

"Focus" is what it is about. You cannot give an employer what he or she really wants unless you have "focused" on what the company does, what its products and services are, and what its missions and goals are. If you know what the company's challenges are and how you can meet them, then you have won half the battle toward winning the job. To focus, you must target yourself and your skills (just like in target marketing) at the company you are interested in working for. Each step must be targeted toward how you meet the company needs from the initial phone call, resume and cover letter to the interview.

Here is a list of questions that most employers ask themselves regarding job applicants:

1. Is the applicant hard working and willing to get the job done, even when difficult?

2. Does he/she learn quickly, solve problems, and finish projects?

3. Is he/she a good team player as well as an independent thinker?

4. Does the applicant have the ability to initiate new ideas and be resourceful?

5. Is he/she flexible and able to handle multiple responsibilities and deadlines?

6. Will she/he produce quality, error-free work?

7. Can he/she interact effectively with our customers and meet their needs?

8. Is she/he enthusiastic and interested in the company's goals, products and services? Will the company be a top priority for him/her?

9. Does he/she look, talk, and act in a way that would fit the culture of our organization?

10. Can we rely on this applicant for attendance, punctuality, integrity, and confidentiality?

Once you know what employers are looking for you can begin to position yourself correctly. Be willing to do your homework on the company and yourself. Demonstrating that you have what a company is looking for takes time and planning. You want to make the hiring manager feel understood by focusing on the company and the job rather than just reiterating your qualifications. You must demonstrate that you are the one who can meet their needs by asking questions regarding the company's ideas, knowledge, and goals. Finally, you must not be afraid to ask what happens next. You don't want to leave the interview without finding out whether you are going on to the next step. Hesitance to commit on the employer's side should be probed. Why leave an interview before taking a chance to determine your weakness and correct it? Done with tact and sincerity, you have nothing to lose. Don't ask, and you could lose the job. In the words of Sir Winston Churchill, "Never, never, never never give up."

So how can you find out what a company is looking for? Research! There are many ways to do this:

1. Make friends with secretaries, assistants, and human resource staff.

2. Don't be afraid to ask for advice.

3. Schedule information interviews with peers within the organization.

4. Check out the company's website or annual report.

5. Spend some time in the reference section of the library. There are many resources available for researching companies.

6. Contact the Chamber of Commerce.

7. Shop the competition to determine more about the company's marketplace. Shop the company (or have a buddy do so). It is not uncommon for companies to receive calls asking for information about their services and products from potential clients.

8. Read information on the company. Locate articles through newspaper reader's desks and library microfiche.

You owe it to yourself and all those potential employers to take the time to position yourself as a knowledgeable and qualified applicant. If you do so, in this current booming job market you should find yourself able to pick the job of your choice.