[Feuer Frei!]

Originally Posted by Vince82

Not only write down why you are qualified. But also write down why you want to work for that particular company, basically why you enthusiastic about it. Write down some things that show that you understand what that company is all about.

Good tip. Thanks for that. Will keep that in mind. Although, having said that, that question comes up in the interview stage as well...

Originally Posted by Armistead

Can you move back to a bigger city? Some areas are simply depressed or don't have many jobs per the percent applying.

Not an option at this stage as my primary goal is to assist my parents in bettering their quality of life. Mum's dementia, my father's back problems, it all adds up.
If i were to pack up and move away, i would feel i betrayed them, even though they would never hold it against me.
It seems my mum hasn't got too much to go before the aged care facility calls her in.

Originally Posted by August

Have you tried recontacting the companies you have already applied to?

Absolutely. I follow up job applications, with ensuring that i don't overstep the fine line of giving off the impression i am pestering the employer, which can blow up in your face.
In fact i did just that, not recently but a few years back when i was inbetween jobs.
I had applied for a position by distance, and checked back on the process of the application, and was told a decision would be made to short-list for interviews by the following week.
I let the due date pass by a few days and rang to follow up. I was fortunate to get the HR Manager on the phone and he advised me that they are still making a decision. This is after 3 weeks, when they placed the ad.
No word of a lie, and i had my email client open whilst talking on the phone to him, within 2 mins. of that phone call ending, i received an email from him, saying that i had been unsuccessful at this time!
Now if that isn't suspicious then i don't know what is.
Point of the matter is, some people do NOT like applicants to check on the process of the application!
I was outraged that i was rewarded with a blunt rebuttal by being keen and following up on the app., i know that when i recruited that i rewarded the job seeker with an interview or at least a positive remark when they followed up, not just sent off an application and sat back waiting for them to ring them.

As for selling oneself to be considered top of the heap in the application process, there is only so much you can do with cover letters, selection criteria addressing and resume editing.
The issue i'm having is that i can't even seem to get that interview where i can dazzle them with my presentation, both from a verbal and physical sense.
That's dire, to say the least.

Thanks for the advice so far.