How to Make Yourself the Obvious Choice for Employers

We’ve all been there.

You apply for a role that seems made for you. Your skills match. Your experience is solid. You know you can do the job.

Yet… silence.

No call-back. No interview. No offer.

This frustrating reality is all too common, and in my recent guest appearance on the "Find Your Dream Job" Career Podcast with Mac Prichard - Founder & CEO of Mac's List, we dove deep into why this happens, and more importantly, how to change it.

🎙️ The episode, titled “Three Ways to Make Yourself the Obvious Choice,” explores how job seekers - especially mid to senior-level professionals - can stop blending into the background and start standing out as confident, visible, high-impact leaders.

My recent guest appearance on the "Find Your Dream Job"

Here are the key takeaways from our conversation, along with practical tips and personal insights to help you elevate your career today.

1️⃣ Connect: Cultivate Your Network Before You Need It

Most job seekers wait until they need something before reaching out. But visibility and opportunity don’t come from last-minute LinkedIn messages.

They come from authentic, ongoing relationships.

I encourage clients to:

🔷Build a diverse network: not just senior leaders, but peers and cross-functional colleagues.

🔷Be curious, not transactional. Ask people about their journey, their challenges, their wins.

🔷Focus on creating value for others first. When you give freely, people remember.

Build a diverse network | Be curious, not transactional | Focus on creating value for others first

As I shared with Mac, I’ve seen countless careers accelerated because someone was top of mind when a role came up - not because they were the most qualified on paper, but because they were trusted.

💡 One conversation can change your life. Never underestimate the power of a coffee chat or a thoughtful comment on someone’s post.

2️⃣ Captivate: Own the Room with Executive Presence

It’s not just what you say: It’s how you show up.

Executive presence isn’t reserved for C-suite leaders. It’s about how others feel when you enter the room, and whether you leave them with confidence in your capability.

It’s not just what you say: It’s how you show up.

During the episode, we discussed:

🔷Why non-verbal communication (posture, eye contact, tone) makes up 93% of how people perceive you.

🔷How to slow your speech, use intentional pauses, and speak with certainty to create impact.

🔷The importance of congruency- when your body language, tone and message align.

These are all part of what I teach in my Leadership Launchpad Program, which helps you move from being overlooked to unforgettable.

💬 You’re being evaluated within 7 seconds of walking into the room - before you’ve even said a word.

💡So, how are you showing up?

3️⃣ Confidence: Build the Inner Belief That Fuels Outer Results

Here’s the truth: if you don’t believe in your own value, why would anyone else?

Mindset isn’t a “nice to have” - it’s 80% of your success. I shared with Mac how your internal dialogue affects your external communication. Self-doubt shows up in subtle ways: hedging language, shrinking body posture, rushed answers.

Mindset isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s 80% of your success!

That’s why I always say:

💎“You don’t need to fake it till you make it. You need to feel it: from the inside out.”💎

Start with small shifts:

🔷Practice your 'bold + confident' posture in the mirror.

🔷Catch your self-limiting beliefs and reframe them.

🔷Speak as though your ideas deserve the spotlight.

In my coaching, we focus heavily on mindset optimisation at a deep level - because success isn’t just about DOing more. It’s about BEing more.

Here’s what I want you to remember:

✨A Personal Story: From Playing Small to Standing Tall✨

As I shared in the episode, my own transformation started when I realised that hard work wasn’t enough. I had the experience, the results, the commitment - but I wasn’t visible.

It took courage to step away from finance, dive into sales, and eventually launch my coaching practice. But that leap of faith taught me the power of presence, connection and belief.

Now I help others do the same through programs like The Leadership Launchpad, where we go beyond theory and into transformation.

🎯 Want to Stand Out in Today’s Market?

Here’s what I want you to remember: You are your brand. You own your career.

So if you’re tired of being overlooked, undervalued or stuck on the sidelines, it’s time to:

➡️Connect with intention.

➡️Captivate with presence.

➡️Radiate confidence.

Want to Stand Out in Today’s Market?

Start with one small step. Look in the mirror and adjust your posture. Reach out to one person you admire. Speak up in that next meeting. The ripple effect is real.

🔗 You can listen to the full episode below!

Life Leadership Podcast Episode #182

And if this resonates, I’d love to hear your thoughts.