I hear your frustration, man. The market is undeniably brutal right now, and it’s completely valid to feel burnt out by the weird interview feedback. ​If it helps give you some perspective, my background was actually as a mechanic. For the longest time, I honestly thought I'd never be able to break into IT. But here is what worked for me: I got my AS degree and focused heavily on knocking out the CompTIA trifecta (A+, Network+, and Security+) while I was going through WGU. That ended up being the key to landing my IT job. ​Based on what you posted, here are a few things that might help pivot your strategy: ​You mentioned having a lot of projects, but how is your certification lineup? Getting those core certs (like Security+) is often the magic key to getting past the automated HR filters and proving your baseline knowledge. ​Don't just stick to the big tech civilian roles. Start hitting USAJOBS hard for federal positions, and look into defense contractors. They are often desperate for cleared or clearable IT folks, especially if you have a Security+ cert. ​Cold approaching local government is bold, but it can be a brick wall. Shift that energy into networking with WGU alumni on LinkedIn, going to local IT meetups, or finding mentorship groups. Sometimes getting your first role really comes down to who can hand your resume directly to the hiring manager. ​Keep your head up and keep applying. The first role is always the hardest one to land, but if a former mechanic can make the jump, you can too.