My weekly employment BLOG to keep you focused or throw some pointers and advice wherever you are in your transition or job seeking status.
But first……
Many thanks to June from Relocation Nova Scotia and her enlightening first BLOG post, more to come from Canada in the very near future….
So….
Are you being rejected for your job applications?
Rejection is unfortunately something you may encounter during your search for that new job or if you are going through the transition. It can make you doubt yourself and can knock your self-esteem, but it is possible to use this to your advantage in your job search and by assessing these past unsuccessful applications, make your 
job search more effective, making rejection less likely.
Are you applying too widely across different industries, or applying within a very specific field resulting in missed opportunities elsewhere. Do not let your strategies go stale, apply speculatively and keep your eyes peeled for networking opportunities where you can build your contacts.
Another reason you may be falling at the first hurdle is that you need more experience so consider applying for a work placement or even voluntary work whilst your in that transitional period. Proven experience in a commercial environment is very attractive to an employer coupled with your military experience and highly desirable transferable skills.
Is your Covering Letter job specific?
Any employer wading through applications can spot a generic covering letter from a mile off. It is very easy as an applicant to fire out the same thing over and over again but it's not going to do you any favours. Make sure you refer to points made in the job description, and early on, as generally most recruiters will read the first few lines and skim-read the rest.
Also make sure your covering letter is not too long, 300 words max. You want to give them the most relevant information first so you should mention every attribute you possess that meets the job specification. It really is your chance to summarise what specifically makes you the perfect candidate, so don't start talking about any kind of project or experience that doesn't link directly to what they are looking for.
You are a Professional; does your voicemail and email represent that?
Did you know that so often it is the small things that individuals do or do not do that can put off recruitment managers? A great example of this, which may not be totally obvious is your voicemail message - what does it say about you? Very often this will be the first time they get to gauge your character. Your message should sound like you and you should avoid sounding too casual. Equally, always use a professional email address; Arsenalfan@...com or superdrinker@...co.uk may be suitable for friends, but it may give employers a negative perception of your level of professionalism and commitment to progression.
I hope these tips and advice have been helpful and as always our members own personal advice, knowledge or experience is very much appreciated, so please, let’s hear from you!