Picture this: you’re a hiring manager sifting through piles and piles of resumes and cover letters. You narrow it down to two candidates, who both have the same qualifications, degrees, and stellar recommendations. While you notice candidate one has an impeccable application, your eye is suddenly drawn to a slight typo on candidate two’s submission. Without anything else to factor in, you decide candidate one is the better choice, all because of a slight mistake.

It’s important to recognize that a first impression may be the only chance you have at getting noticed by a hiring manager or employer. After all, they don’t have much to go off of other than what candidates give them.

So, when you’re strapped for ideas on how to really impress a hiring manager, try to rely on your first impression.

Here’s how:

Be the brand, online and off

When you meet someone or present yourself for the first time, you’ll leave a certain view or image in the person’s mind. Whether that impression is positive is in your hands, not theirs. So, it’s important to be the brand you want to come off as, particularly if you’re a job seeker.

For example, if you preach a love for finance, yet don’t post anything remotely relatable on your online platforms, you’re not doing your best to leave a good first impression (employers will be Googling you, after all). Conversely, if you go to a networking event and meet a hiring manager you’ve been in correspondence with, it’s best to be the brand that you’ve essentially become in their mind. Don’t play down your brand. It has to encapsulate you, online and off, in order to gain a positive first impression, which could be the key to gaining what you want.

Beat the ATS

First impressions don’t always happen with humans. They happen with Applicant Tracking Systems (or ATS) as well. ATS technology allows employers to scan applications and resumes in order to find the right fit.

So, how can you leave a good first impression? Simple: follow the rules and cater your application to the job description. Many ATS work by looking for key points because it theoretically brings the best candidates to the forefront. By sprinkling your application with job description keywords (contextualized, of course) and following all directions to the T, you give the ATS a good first impression, increasing your chances at getting noticed by an actual human.

Check yourself

It happens to all of us. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in application after application, that we misspell words, forget to include important documents, and don’t complete an application all the way. However, in order to create a positive first impression, it’s important to check yourself, then check yourself again. If you’re worried about your resume or application, get a mentor or seasoned colleague to look over your materials as well. By doing so, you ensure that you portray a good image the first time, which may be your only shot.

What do you think? How else can candidates give a good first impression?

Mary Marino is the founder of EmploymentPipeline.com, a job search resource that inspires job seekers to become their own recruiter. EmploymentPipeline.com has launched its “Occupation Pipeline” widget, a unique tool which enables users to perform broader career searches by sourcing occupations and employers, rather than job titles. Connect with Mary and EmploymentPipeline.com on Twitter and Facebook.