What is a small thing that would make someone stand out to a potential employer?

If you've researched the employer and are able to speak to why you want to work for them specifically, that can make you stand out. It's an important step, but not everyone actually takes the time to understand what an employer does and how their work would fit in. For example, I worked for an early literacy nonprofit. We'd ask candidates (including intern candidates) what three arguments they would make to tell someone why they should support the organization. People who had researched us were able to answer well, but others gave generic answers that didn't show they understood our mission. Depending on what job you're applying for, you may not have to speak about the employer's work in too much depth - but you should be prepared to answer a question like, why do you want to work at our company specifically. And if you aren't asked, it's still a good idea to bring this up to show your interest in the employer. Good luck!