Most of the top candidates for a position will meet all the time requirements and have demonstrated great success in their field. The defining difference in an outstanding employee is their attitude or passion.

People remember stories over bullet points. Your goal should be to develop a set of anecdotes you can use in networking and interviewing situations that clearly demonstrate your skills, accomplishments, and passion for your work. Using stories may also help you feel more comfortable talking about yourself.

A resume is designed with one purpose in mind, to generate enough interest in you to get you an interview. 95% of your competition will be eliminated on paper.

If you would like to stay gainfully employed while seeking out new opportunities, do not put your work email on your resume. You should always provide personal emails and telephone numbers for your contact information.

Using dynamic verbs can make your resume stand out. Begin each of your descriptive lines with a power verb. Make sure to keep the tenses consistent using past verbs for past experiences and present verbs for current ones.

It is important to remember to always stay professional during an interview. Even if the interviewer creates an easy going and relaxed atmosphere, it is vital to remain on your best professional behavior throughout the entire interview.

You want to demonstrate to employers that you have a genuine interest in their organization or company. Always visit the company's website and become familiar with their mission and programs. Research the industry; understand trends and what sets this organization apart from the competition.

Identifying your transferable skills and communicating them to potential employers will greatly increase your success during a job search.

At the end of your interview, ask the hiring manager if you are lacking in the skills required for the position. This question gives you the opportunity to address any deficits, perceived or real, while at the interview. Go in with a 30-60-90 day plan for the position. It shows that you have done your homework and are invested in the position.

Consider crafting, original, genuine thank you notes the moment you get back to a computer, following the interview. The speed with which you send the notes, and the quality, will make an impact.

Eighty percent of all companies are using ATS (applicant tracking system that scans and digitizes). So when submitting your resume online, make sure to use solid keywords and a Word document format, not a PDF.

Have your CV and the JD in front of you as a point of reference. Do your research on the company. Know the therapeutic areas that they work in: marketed and pipeline products. Research recent news articles. Prior to the call, review your CV and compare it to the requirements of the job description. Highlight the skills on your CV that align with the position and be able to address your skills/strengths/experiences in a concise way. Always be honest.

Poor body language can be a distraction. Effective forms of body language: smiling, eye contact, solid posture, active listening, and nodding. Detrimental forms of body language: slouching, looking off in the distance, playing with a pen, fidgeting in a chair, brushing back hair, touching the face, chewing gum, and mumbling.

It is important to remember that a position is open because the company has a business need that needs to be met. Please be considerate and realistic when negotiating a start date. Yes, I think it is important to take some time off between career moves. The ideal scenario is to give your employer 2 weeks' notice and then take 1 week for yourself.

If you are seeking employment, update your LinkedIn profile with your personal e-mail and cell phone number. The most appropriate place to add this information is at the end of your profile. This ensures that recruiters can contact you directly and not go through your place of employment.

If you are privately searching for new career opportunities, remember to turn off your LinkedIn 'Notify Your Network' when you edit your profile. If you are connected to your boss and/or colleagues, they may get suspicious about your frequent changes.

Over 80% of companies use social media to recruit and many people are disqualified based on information found online. It is a good idea to periodically review your online presence and think twice about the pictures and information you are posting. For a different perspective, ask a friend to do a search as well.

As a candidate, keep all lines of communication open with your recruiter and the hiring manager. Be honest and open about your career goals. Be realistic about your salary expectations and know exactly what you are looking for to make a career move.

When searching for your next position, read the job description carefully and apply for those positions that only align with your skill set. As recruiters, we have applicants who apply to positions posted on our website that don't come close to what the client is seeking. Time is precious so it is best that you apply for positions that match your skill set.

Do not speak negatively of a past employer or former colleague. Make sure you shed light on what you gained from past employers or colleagues during the interview process. Always turn a negative into a positive.