[Lion Den Dan]

...strangers applying for jobs besides them,...

besides should be beside. Humberto needs mastery of English and the rag needs an editor.

[FelixFelicis]

>>besides should be beside. Humberto needs mastery of English and the rag needs an editor.<<

As a professional editor who aced the verbal SAT, I say...

Get off your high friggin’ horse. And capitalize “besides” in your comment. Those of us with “mastery of English” don’t neglect our initial capitals.