Fellow Jobseekers Unite!

[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.

[Betonov]

Lie if you have to. Small lies, the kind that make you look better than the rest but you can cover once you get the job.

[Armistead]

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

[Wolferz]

Sounds to me like you've dotted all the I's and crossed all the T's.

It could be a matter of too much experience and the prospective employer may feel like you'll be unhappy with the pay or they might be looking for a less experienced candidate to be molded into what they're seeking.
When it comes to a resume, I always use the KISS method...
Keep It Simple Stupid.

Or you can try this...
If you are unable to dazzle them with your brilliance,then baffle them with bull scat.

[Jimbuna]

Selling oneself can often be one of the most daunting of tasks but looking at your OP I would say there is nothing outstanding missing but I hardly consider myself qualified seeing as how I've only had three or four employment interviews during my working life.

I wish you the very best of luck in your efforts

[Betonov]

I never had a job interview in my life.

When I worked in a florist shop and pizzeria it was a short term help for a friend.
I got my job in Seaway as one of the students working for an employment agency which was paid per student workhour, so the more of us they employed the more money they made. I managed to prove myself so I wasn't thrown out with the rest of the rabble.

[August]

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

I know of one employer who deliberately blows off a job seekers first contact to see if the person will try again. That's his judge of character and perseverance.

I know another employer who has hired people just on their demonstrated persistence. During the 2008 economic slump when nobody was being hired I had a graduate call a particular company once a week for almost 6 months. They were so impressed by his persistence they eventually created a job for him. He's still there years later.

You may need to go through a temp thing to get a foot in the door.
I did that a few times before I went self-employed and ended up being hired full time as a full employee.

It bites, Yes. As the pay is always below what you'd get being hired outright.

Around here? You only get in through temp agencies.


You may also want to look at doing consulting or free-lance work.
It's worked for me in many cases in the past where I would not do the temp thing.

I've been self-employed since 1994 now and it's probably the hardest and best thing I've ever done.

[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.