You have sent out 200 applications. You have customized your resume, written cover letters, done the research, practiced your answers, and still — nothing. Or maybe a few first-round interviews that went nowhere.
Here's the thing I need you to hear: if your job search isn't working, it might not be you. It might be the system.
The entry-level job market is genuinely broken. Roles are being replaced by AI. Internships that used to lead to full-time jobs no longer do. Companies post jobs they aren't actively filling. Entry-level candidates are expected to have two years of experience for jobs that are supposedly for new grads.
The “you need experience to get experience” loop is real. It's documented. It's not a personal failing.
Your job isn't to beat a broken system by sheer force of will. It's to navigate the system as it exists — while also being honest about what needs to change.
- Network smarter.
- Target companies that are actually hiring.
- Build skills that make you impossible to ignore.
- Tell your story in a way that shows what you can do, not just what the job description says you should have done.
But also: be kind to yourself while you do it.
If your job search isn't working, it might not be you. It might be the system.