Both applicants and candidates are persons aspiring either to receive something, or, as in our case, to fill a certain position. Since the two terms are related to each other in the context of employment, we look at the meanings of these words in an employment setting.
In employment, an applicant is a person who wishes to get a job, usually by submitting a job application. Please note that application can aim at admission to other institutions, too, such as a university, for example. The company will then decide if they wish to employ such person.
A candiate is a person either seeking upon his/her own initiative or being considered by other to be elected to fill a position. The term candidate is most often, though not exclusively, used in an election setting, where the person has been pre-selected to stand for an election for filling an office.
In summary, the difference between an applicant is that an applicant usually files an application to fill a position, while a candidate is expected to be selected or elected to fill a position.
