aspirant

Adjective

• desiring or striving for recognition or advancement

Noun

• an ambitious and aspiring young person
  • a lofty aspirant
    
  • two executive hopefuls joined the firm
    
  • the audience was full of Madonna wannabes
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  aspiring(a) , wishful , aspirer , hopeful , wannabe , wannabee