If I have an above average resume, how do I convince the interviewer that I am a top notch candidate?

Question

I have very good GPA, done some extra curricular activities and held some positions, although not a president or a vice president. Did some volunteer activity and leadership courses also. I will be competing with many candidates with better resumes during the interview (you are talking about presidents, chairmen, athletes, student council leaders, etc). How do I stand out?

I am actually interviewing for a job. Sorry for not telling earlier.

Answer 1

Show energy and enthusiasm for the idea of going to their school. I've interviewed a lot of top students applying for full scholarships, and am always shocked by how many of them act as if they are bored by the whole process. Schools want students who want to be there. Show passion for something you have done in the past - I remember one person who opened up when she got an opportunity to talk about her love for anime. It had nothing to do with her major or her extracurriculars, but we suddenly got a real feel for who she was as a person. At schools like mine, another thing which plays well is the potential student who motivates other students to get involved. You don't need to be in charge to do that. I also personally like to see students who are willing to go outside their comfort zones and try something they will not necessarily excel at - the English major who took on a robotics project to see if she could do it, the engineer who edited the school paper, etc. Another academic factor has to do with the degree to which you have learned because you love learning, rather than because it was assigned. If you are asked about your favorite book and why it is your favorite, don't just trot out The Catcher in the Rye which you were obviously assigned to read in junior English and give the standard answers, or talk about Harry Potter or the latest must-read best-seller. Find something unique and interesting. The same, by the way, may happen with regard to films - you can be asked what your favorite film is and why, and you don't want to say the latest film because it was funny, but really have thought through either the content or the style of the film.

Answer 2

You need to let them know that with proper training and a presented opportunity, that you can and will do the job. Confidnence says a lot about a candidate (just don't be cocky). Enthuasim about doing the job and doing it well will let the employer know you have a willingness to learn and succeed.