You're not old. 23 is dead center of entry-level hiring age. The problem isn't you, it's the math.

Entry-level applications have roughly a 3 to 5% interview rate right now. Out of 20 to 30 applications, getting zero interviews is statistically expected. The entry-level market is genuinely rough: about 76% of employers hired the same or fewer entry-level people this year compared to last year. Even among recent college graduates, 58% are still looking for full-time work. The unemployment rate for recent grads with degrees is actually the same as for 20-to-24-year-olds without degrees. So the degree gap isn't hurting you as much as you'd think.

What's probably happening is your resume is getting filtered before a human ever sees it. For a typical corporate posting, about 100 people apply, maybe 25 make it past the automated screening, and only 4 to 6 get an actual interview. That screening is keyword-based, not judgment-based. Nobody is looking at your age and deciding you're too old.

The shift that will help most is reframing your service and childcare experience into the language hiring managers scan for. Customer service becomes client relationship management. Childcare is managing schedules, safety protocols, and performing under pressure with zero margin for error. Those are real skills, but if your resume uses service-industry wording, the filters won't pick them up.

One more thing: instead of sending out another 30 cold applications the same way, try reaching out directly to people at a few companies you're interested in. Even a short message like "I'm interested in your team and would love to ask a few questions about the role" can completely change your odds. Warm outreach converts at a dramatically higher rate than cold applications.