Promising applicant (7)
I believe the answer is:
hopeful
This clue is a double definition.
'promising' is the first definition.
('hopeful' can be a synonym of 'promising')
'applicant' is the second definition.
(hopeful is a kind of applicant)
(Other definitions for hopeful that I've seen before include "Promising success" , "One wishing to succeed" , "Optimistic, expectant" , "Prospect" , "Wannabe" .)