So you know what job you want, and you've found an ad for a position that looks perfect. You sit down to write your resume and a cover letter, and twenty minutes later you're wondering... Why on earth would they be interested in me?!?!

Sometimes we find ourselves in a sort of 'writers block' when applying for a job, and it's usually related to a sudden loss of confidence - right when we need it most. Writing your resume or cover letter, and going into an interview can be a confronting process if we don't go in with the right attitude. The attitude to have - and the one you need to put on like a good suit - is that you were 'born for this job!' How do we do that? By recreating your character.

Who exactly is the employer looking for?

Firstly you need to understand who, in the eyes of the employer, the perfect applicant for this job is. Research the role as thoroughly as you can - try to speak to people connected with the job, or with the organisation, and to people who do the same thing elsewhere; research the organisation to understand exactly what they do and what they're about. Most importantly, read and 'take in' every word of that job ad. Remember, the ad has been written to target exactly the right people for the job, and is basically a CV without someone's name at the top - Employers don't want to spend their time telling people they're not suited to the role.

How can you show you are "born for this job"?

Now you completely understand the role and who the employer is looking for, start scanning for similarities between yourself and your new 'role model'. What qualities do you have in common? Are you passionate? A self-starter? A lateral thinker? Anything you share with the person they want to hire needs to be listed in your resume and mentioned in your cover letter. The higher priority it's given in the job ad, the more apparent it should be in your information.

Ideally, you're now looking at a long list of qualities which you have and the employer wants. But perhaps you're coming up a bit short? Chances are you're doing yourself a disservice. Go through everything the employer is looking for and recognise that you DO possess those qualities - even if they haven't been obvious to you until now - and make the decision that they are what you like about yourself; and they are what other people, including ex-employers know you for.

Become the role

This is basically 'method acting' - it's recognising what similarities you share with a character and completely taking on that role. Understand: This is not lying about yourself, you're not claiming to have done things you haven't. You're igniting or boosting qualities you already possess but, in the past, may not immediately have thought of when describing yourself.

Writing resumes and cover letters - and preparing for interviews - can be frustrating and it's often because we're not sure why we'd be good for the job or even what job we would be good for. Once realising what it is you want to be doing, and defining who employers in that field/position want, you can start to be that person. Eventually you become so familiar and comfortable with 'the new you' that it comes through in your cover letter, your resume, and your interview as a complete package. If dressing for success is important, this is the best suit you'll ever put on.