To a company a vacancy is really just another word for problem. Whether the headcount has come about via replacement or expansion, being one person down gives everyone else – particularly the person holding all the company targets – a headache.

You need to solve their problem.

Their solution is, or could be, YOU!

So often I see perfect people miss their dream job. Not because they are not ideally suited to the role. Because they didn?t make a compelling application.

?Any company not moving forward, is, by default, going backwards?

Targets are ever increasing. Corporate pressure is always there. Companies have to be, do and have more. To reach their goals i imperative to find the right people, in an efficient and timely manner.

But, herein lies the challenge. Recruitment is a minefield!

If a company advertise the job themselves, they leave their inbox open to receiving hundreds, or possibly as many as a thousand, applications. Yeugh!

If the company use a recruitment agency they have to trust the recruiters to provide the best shortlist. Even though the agency?s criteria is somewhat different. Will they pick you?

Today I met an amazing lady who was told by a recruiter that taking voluntary redundancy and using that time (and money) to travel and to do charitable work, ruled her out. Permanently. She would never be selected. Yet the lady who sat in front of me was extremely hire-able and her new employer (when she finds them) will have found a true asset in her.

Recruiters fail all the time. Unless you make it easy for them not to.

So how can you prove you're the one? (The solution to their problem)

1. Be Specific ? create a bespoke application ? covering letter and CV ? for this company and that job.

2. Be Measurable ? talk about your achievements including time frames and percentages. Get into the detail about what you did.

3. Be Accurate ? lots of companies utilise background checks once they?ve offered you the job. Make sure the information you've provided is completely accurate.

4. Be Relevant ? supply all the information that makes you the right fit. Leave out most of the other stuff that doesn?t.

5. Be ?The one? – keep it simple. Explain why you match their requirement perfectly and how you will be an asset to this company in that role.

You?ve got eight seconds to grab their attention.

Get smart and you will get that job!