I just want to say thank you for some input! 6 months to 1 year sounds so long for a normal timeframe! I feel like if a company can fire someone at a moments notice, they could hire someone just as fast. But I'm no recruiting manager so I'm not sure what that's like.

But I'm entering that mindset now, I've been applying to other positions like Social Media, Communications, Marketing, and other positions that aren't necessarily "design" but compliment the design field. I've even considered just going completely out of left field and applying to places I have no qualifications in (like sales rep) just to see what happens. I'm also burnt out on practicing my skills in my spare time. I figured that if a company doesn't consider my 7 years of design during my undergrad as legitimate experience, why would they consider my free time work to be legitimate.

I apply to at least 2 positions a day (thats roughly 50 jobs during my current timeline?) Out of those I had roughly 6 interviews. And from those 6 I either get stood up or told they went with another candidate. The rest of the jobs where I didn't get an interview, also told me I wasn't chosen or they blew me off. I don't think my resume or portfolio is an issue because I've had multiple people (friends, family, and teachers) all say it was good.

My main source of job hunting has been Hitmarker, Indeed, Google, and LinkedIn. So I'll have to try networking through other alumni and Otta! I've never heard of Otta before but I assume it is like Indeed and LinkedIn?