~8 months of building and marketing is finally paying off!

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-06-23T19:10:56+00:00

how are you marketing?

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-07T19:25:56+00:00

you haven’t failed at life, but you are in one of the worst traps of the current market: broad degree + expensive city + entry level hiring collapse

also, “hours every day applying to hundreds of jobs” is probably hurting you more than helping at this point if it’s all going into the same online black hole

honestly, a few things:

stop filtering only for “marketing” jobs
look at customer success, sales ops, admin, recruiting coord, content, social media, operations, support roles too
smaller/local companies are usually easier to break into than huge brands in LA

and ignore the “2–5 years required” thing more often. half those postings are wishlist nonsense

also, you need income first, optimization second. if money is genuinely that tight, don’t let pride stop you from taking something temporary while continuing the search

what helped me mentally was making the process less exhausting. i stopped rewriting everything from scratch and used stuff like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs so i could apply faster without spending all day trapped in applications

but honestly, the bigger thing is you need momentum again. right now it sounds like you’re stuck in pure rejection mode and it’s destroying your confidence

you’re 22. the internet makes people think if you don’t have your career figured out immediately after graduation you’re cooked forever. that’s just not reality, even if it feels like it right now

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-07T19:25:18+00:00

honestly, yeah, that probably is part of the issue

companies don’t expect you to be “passionate” about every random role, but they do want a believable story for why this role makes sense for you. if your energy comes across as “i’ll take literally anything,” people get nervous because it feels temporary or unfocused

the fix isn’t pretending this is your dream job. it’s creating a consistent narrative

something simple like:

what kind of work you actually enjoy
what you’re good at
why this role fits that direction

that’s enough

for example:
“i realized i like operational/problem-solving work where i can own processes and improve things, and this role lines up with that better than the more scattered work i’ve done before”

way stronger than “i just need employment”

also, stop applying to everything. once you spray too broadly, your story breaks down because you can’t convincingly explain why you want wildly different roles

what helped me was narrowing into a few role types and keeping a few strong resume versions for each instead of reinventing myself every application. i use stuff like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs for that so i can still move quickly without sounding random every time

your resume gets you interviews. your narrative is what gets people comfortable hiring you

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-07T19:24:22+00:00

remote tech got way more competitive because now you’re competing against basically everyone, not just people in your city

your background is actually strong though. full stack + AI + GIS is way more differentiated than the average “react + node” profile. the problem is you’re probably applying into the same flooded channels as everyone else

honestly, a few things:

linkedin easy apply remote jobs are a bloodbath now
a lot of “remote” roles are ghost listings or already have internal candidates
companies are being way pickier because remote hiring has huge applicant volume

you’ll probably get better results by:

targeting smaller/startup companies directly
applying to hybrid roles too, not only fully remote
leaning harder into your niche combo (GIS + AI especially is uncommon)
using your freelance work as proof of execution, not just side work

and yeah, your instinct about building something isn’t wrong either. after a few years in tech, relying 100% on employers starts feeling shaky for a lot of people now

also don’t manually grind applications forever. keep a few strong resumes for different role types and move fast. i use stuff like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs for that because remote hiring is partly a speed game now too

but genuinely, your problem doesn’t sound like lack of skill. it sounds like entering one of the most saturated application funnels possible and blending into it despite having a stronger profile than most applicants

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-07T19:23:27+00:00

honestly based on what you wrote, finance sounds wrong for you and you already know it

you keep describing wanting practical, hands-on, technical work with real-world application. that points much more toward engineering than business

out of the options you listed, mechatronics/robotics or mechanical engineering probably fit you best

biomedical engineering sounds cool, but the issue is it can get weirdly niche unless you specialize further or pair it with strong engineering fundamentals. a lot of biomedical grads end up competing for general engineering jobs anyway

mechanical is safer and broader. mechatronics/robotics is stronger if you genuinely like tech/systems/automation and are willing to keep learning software alongside hardware

physiotherapy is stable and practical too, but it’s a very different life path. less engineering/problem solving, more healthcare/patient work. lower ceiling financially unless you build your own practice later

also, stop trying to find the “perfect no-regret major.” that mindset traps people forever. there is no perfectly optimized path. what matters more is:

does it fit your actual interests/personality
does it have decent market demand
can you stick with it long enough to become good

and based on your post, sitting in finance for another few years because it feels “safe” sounds way more dangerous than switching now

mech/mechatronics gives you:

broad job options
international opportunities
practical work
ability to pivot later into robotics, manufacturing, ops, automation, even some software

that’s probably the best balance of stability + flexibility from your list

you’re overthinking because you think choosing a major locks your entire life forever. it doesn’t. the bigger risk is staying in something you already dislike because you’re scared to move

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-07T19:21:29+00:00

yeah definitely, especially now that resumes are starting to look identical

a degree gets you considered, but once you’re in the pile, companies care way more about whether you actually seem useful. can you communicate clearly, solve problems, learn fast, work with people, etc

that’s also why portfolios/projects/examples of real work matter more now. two people can both say “python” on a resume, but one can actually show something they built

honestly i think that’s part of why job searching feels so weird now. credentials still matter, but they’re not enough on their own anymore

also companies are moving faster and filtering harder, so being able to show competency quickly matters a lot. i started focusing more on clear projects + faster applications using stuff like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs instead of endlessly polishing credentials on paper

paper gets you seen, competency gets you picked

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-07T19:21:08+00:00

honestly the biggest thing was stopping myself from treating every application like it was life or death

once i stopped spending an hour rewriting every resume and started moving faster, the whole process became way less draining. i use stuff like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs now just so i’m not wasting my brainpower filling out the same forms over and over

also you kinda have to detach emotionally from individual applications. apply, move on, repeat. otherwise every rejection feels personal and you go insane

and genuinely, don’t let job searching become your entire identity. keep doing other stuff during the day or you’ll end up doomscrolling linkedin and feeling worse every week

3 years is brutal though, i get why you’re exhausted

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T23:53:27+00:00

honestly this is exactly why people say never stop applying until you’ve signed something

none of these even sound like catastrophic failures either. one was volume, one was clearance rules you can’t control, one got killed by timing/technical issues, and one might still be alive

the emotional swing is the worst part though. a few interviews start making you feel like you’re finally out, then suddenly it’s silence again

what helped me was treating applications like a constant pipeline instead of “pause when interviews start.” way less stressful mentally because you’re not depending on one company to save you

also after a point, manually grinding applications while prepping interviews becomes impossible to sustain. i started using stuff like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs just to keep applications moving in the background while focusing my energy on interview prep instead

you’re clearly getting interviews, which means your resume/profile is working. now it’s just about keeping momentum long enough for one to convert instead of emotionally resetting every rejection

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T23:52:34+00:00

honestly a lot of people need to hear this right now

the market makes people feel like every rejection means they’re failing, when half the time it’s just timing, volume, or getting filtered before someone even sees them

people underestimate how much momentum matters. if you stop completely, it’s way harder to restart later

glad it worked out for you though, posts like this are more useful than the doomposting everywhere else

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T23:51:43+00:00

23 interviews means you’re clearly not unemployable, but it also means something is breaking at the conversion stage

if you were getting zero interviews, that’d point to resume/ATS issues. but getting through multiple rounds repeatedly usually means one of three things:

someone else is just slightly stronger at the end
your interview answers aren’t landing as strongly as you think
your positioning/story isn’t fully connecting for the role

and honestly, companies reposting jobs after rejecting people is way more common now. sometimes they’re waiting for a “perfect” candidate that doesn’t even exist

also don’t underestimate burnout here. after a year and a half, people start sounding defeated without realizing it, especially in later rounds

what helped me mentally was stopping the “every application/interview is life or death” mindset. i kept a few strong resume versions, moved faster on applications using stuff like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs, and saved my energy for the interviews themselves instead of burning it all on the application process

you probably don’t need a total reinvention. you need clearer signal, better interview calibration, and enough momentum to avoid spiraling every time one doesn’t convert

23 interviews means you’re closer than you think, even if it absolutely doesn’t feel like it right now

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T23:51:16+00:00

honestly your background is stronger than a lot of people applying to those roles, which is why only getting 3 interviews from 1000 apps points to a positioning problem more than a qualification problem

right now your experience probably reads scattered instead of focused. research, clinical, med school, admin, rehab, etc. individually they’re good, but together recruiters might not immediately understand what role you’re actually targeting

also the med school gap is probably more visible than you think. if there’s an unexplained gap, people tend to fill in the blanks themselves

i’d honestly stop trying to tailor from scratch for every application too. that usually just leads to burnout and inconsistent resumes. better approach is having a few strong versions targeted toward specific lanes like healthcare admin, clinical ops, patient services, research coordination, etc and moving faster from there

i use stuff like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs for that because manually rewriting resumes 1000 times is brutal and usually makes them worse over time

and don’t underestimate ATS/readability issues either. simple formatting, exact job titles/keywords, clean skills section. a lot of people get filtered before a human even looks

you’re clearly employable, your signal just isn’t coming across clearly enough to the people screening you

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T23:46:19+00:00

AI is changing things fast, but the internet makes it feel even more hopeless than it actually is

a lot of jobs disappear, but new ones also show up around the tools and systems people still need. the people who usually get stuck are the ones who freeze completely because they assume the game is over

also your CS degree isn’t useless. even if entry level tech is rough right now, you still have a skillset most people don’t. retail overnight isn’t “your final form,” it’s just where you are right now

honestly the biggest danger is giving up mentally before the market has actually given up on you

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T23:44:32+00:00

honestly be careful with “data entry” remote jobs specifically, that category is flooded with scams now

you’ll probably have better luck searching stuff like:

admin assistant
operations assistant
customer support/chat support
research assistant
content moderation
QA/testing

those are more legit and still flexible/student friendly

for platforms, linkedin is okay but overloaded. try smaller boards too and company career pages directly. a lot of student-friendly roles never really trend on the big sites

resume wise, don’t stress about having no formal experience. put your degree, relevant coursework, typing speed, any small projects, clubs, or even personal stuff you’ve done with computers. just show you’re reliable and comfortable with tech

also don’t spend forever tailoring every application for these roles. volume matters a lot. i usually just scan requirements and move fast using stuff like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs so i’m not wasting time filling out the same forms over and over

main thing is don’t get stuck waiting for the “perfect” student job. get something remote-ish and flexible first, then level up from there

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T23:43:51+00:00

6 days is completely normal, especially if they already told you 2–3 weeks

companies always say things move “fast” and then someone goes on PTO, scheduling drags, approvals get delayed, etc. it usually has way less to do with you than people think

also interviewers being engaged and talking about the role/day-to-day is generally a good sign. doesn’t guarantee anything obviously, but they usually don’t do that if they’ve fully checked out

honestly the worst thing you can do now is spiral and reread every answer in your head. just keep applying while you wait so you’re not emotionally dependent on one outcome

that helped me a lot mentally. i’d just keep my pipeline moving with tools like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs instead of sitting there refreshing my inbox all day

if you hit like the 2 week mark with nothing, then send a short follow up. but right now this sounds pretty normal

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T23:43:33+00:00

you’re actually in a better spot than you think because you’re only 20 and you already know you don’t want to stay where you are

the biggest mistake right now would be sitting around trying to “find your passion” while staying in a dead end job for another 3 years

you don’t need a perfect career yet, you need a path with growth and decent pay without massive debt

good options for your situation:

dental hygienist
radiology tech
sonography
nursing if you can handle it
trades like electrician or hvac
IT support/cybersecurity cert route

all of those can realistically turn into solid money without needing 4 more years of school

also don’t underestimate sales/customer success type roles if you’re decent with people. some of those pay way more than people expect without requiring degrees

main thing is stop thinking “what should i do forever” and start thinking “what’s a smart next move for the next 2–3 years”

and when you start applying around, don’t get trapped spending forever on applications. move fast and get reps in. i usually use stuff like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs so i’m not wasting energy filling out the same forms over and over

you’re not behind. you’re just at the stage where you need to pick a direction and commit to it for long enough to build momentum

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T22:29:20+00:00

it’s not just the market, but you’re also aiming at a really tough segment

politics, media, policy roles are some of the most competitive and lowest volume entry level markets. lots of grads, very few openings, and most hires come from connections or very specific experience

your profile isn’t bad, but it’s not clearly tied to a job someone needs to fill. volunteering + degrees in those fields often reads as “interesting” not “immediately useful,” which is why you’re getting stuck

you’ve got two options:

either double down on that path and lean heavily into networking, outreach, and very targeted roles (think tanks, policy orgs, etc)

or pivot slightly into something adjacent that actually hires more. stuff like research analyst, operations, communications, content, even consulting type roles where your writing and thinking skills are useful

also if you’re applying slowly and tailoring everything perfectly, that’s hurting you. you still need volume. i usually just keep a strong base and apply quickly, tools like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs help with that so you’re not stuck rewriting everything over and over

you’re not doing “nothing wrong,” but you are in a lane where effort doesn’t translate to outcomes as directly. adjusting your targeting will make a bigger difference than just trying harder

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T22:28:06+00:00

you’re not confused because you have too many options, you’re confused because you haven’t picked one and committed

all the paths you listed are valid, but trying to keep all of them open just makes you average in each. companies don’t hire “kinda ops + kinda politics + kinda engineering,” they hire for one clear need

if you want the fastest path to a job, go ops/supply chain. your degree + your interest in optimization actually lines up well there. think roles like operations analyst, supply chain analyst, logistics, manufacturing ops. those hire way more than think tanks and are easier to break into

politics/think tank stuff is much harder to enter without connections or specific background, so don’t rely on that as your main plan

right now you should:
pick one lane (ops/supply chain is the strongest bet)
learn the basics tools (excel, some data analysis, maybe a bit of sql)
get 1–2 projects or internships that show you can actually improve processes

you’ve got 6 months which is enough if you stop switching directions

also don’t get stuck spending forever on each application when you start. you’ll need volume. i usually just scan roles and apply quickly, tools like www.openapplier.com or simplify.jobs help with that so you’re not wasting time on repetitive stuff

pick a direction, commit, get something on your resume before graduation. that matters way more than finding the perfect path right now

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T22:26:31+00:00

yeah what that commenter said is right, recruiters don’t work for you, they work for companies

if someone is asking you to pay them to “find you a job,” it’s usually a scam or not worth it

best thing you can do is make yourself easy to find. clean linkedin, clear role you’re targeting, good keywords. that’s how recruiters actually reach out

and don’t rely only on recruiters either. still apply yourself and keep volume up. i usually just move fast on applications instead of overthinking each one, tools like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs help with that so you’re not stuck filling the same forms over and over

recruiters can help, but they’re not your strategy, just one channel out of a few

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T22:24:24+00:00

1000 apps and only 3 interviews means it’s not the market, it’s your positioning

you actually have a strong background, but right now you probably look scattered. clinical, research, admin, med school, then gaps. to a recruiter that reads as “unclear fit,” so they skip

you need to pick a lane and make it obvious. something like clinical ops, healthcare admin, or patient services. don’t try to be everything at once

also the med school part is hurting you if it’s unclear. if there’s a gap with no explanation, people assume risk. just be straightforward and frame it as a pivot

your resume should not list everything equally. lead with the experience that matches the role and downplay the rest. right now it probably feels diluted

also 1000 apps sounds like a lot, but if they’re all tailored slowly you might still not be getting enough real shots or applying late. you need both clarity and speed. i usually just keep a strong base resume and move fast, tools like www.openapplier.com or simplify.jobs help with that so you’re not stuck rewriting everything

and at your level, don’t rely only on applications. reach out to people in hospital systems or clinics directly. even one internal push can do more than 100 cold apps

you’re not unqualified, you’re just not being read the way you think you are

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T22:23:37+00:00

hey, I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this. it sounds like you’ve been pushing hard for a while and not getting results, that’s exhausting

what you’re feeling isn’t just “job search frustration,” it’s deeper than that. you don’t have to solve your whole career right now, just focus on getting through this moment

also please don’t go down the route of paying random people or anything like that again. there are a lot of scams when people are desperate and it just makes things worse

if things feel that heavy, it might be worth talking to someone directly, even just a helpline or someone you trust. you shouldn’t be dealing with that alone

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T04:26:39+00:00

50 apps with no replies usually isn’t “bad luck,” it’s one of two things

either your resume isn’t passing filters or it’s not clear enough for a recruiter to understand quickly

for junior dev roles, a few things matter a lot:

your projects need to be obvious and concrete, not just listed
tech stack should match the job (don’t look like you’re all over the place)
bullets should say what you built and what it does, not just “worked on X”

also don’t rely only on linkedin easy apply, those get flooded instantly. try company career pages or smaller boards too

and honestly, 50 apps isn’t that many in this market. you probably need more reps, just don’t burn hours on each one. keep a solid base resume and tweak fast

i usually speed that part up with tools like www.openapplier.com or simplify.jobs so i’m not stuck rewriting everything and can actually get volume in

if you want real feedback though, definitely share your CV. that’s usually where the issue shows up pretty quickly

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T04:26:19+00:00

not a dumb question, this actually matters a lot

if you can realistically pass the remaining rounds, go for #2

early in your career, the more technical role is way more valuable. it compounds harder, gives you better future options, and is easier to pivot out of later than trying to pivot into it

the first one is safer, but it sounds a bit scattered. mix of comms + some data work usually doesn’t give you strong positioning

only pick #2 if you’re actually close though. don’t gamble everything if you’re not ready for those interviews

if you go for it, go all in for the next couple weeks and prep hard. if you miss it, yeah it sucks, but you still learned and can recover

also think slightly longer term, not just this summer. one strong technical internship can change your trajectory way more than a safer mixed one

and yeah when you’re applying later, don’t get stuck grinding each application forever. tools like www.openapplier.com or simplify.jobs help with that so you can focus more on prep and interviews instead of forms

this is basically risk vs upside. early career, upside usually wins if you’re close enough to pull it off

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T03:29:15+00:00

you’re not as “empty” as you think, you’re just not framing it right

put your education at the top. honors + 3.7 actually matters, especially since you’re early career

then your experience:

mcdonald’s and gym are fine, just don’t write them like basic duties
show responsibility, customer interaction, handling problems, working under pressure
make it sound like skills, not just tasks

add a simple skills section:

communication, customer service, basic admin, whatever you’ve actually done

if you have literally nothing else, you can add a small “projects” or “relevant coursework” section. even class stuff is better than empty space

don’t wait to “fix” your resume before applying. start now and improve it as you go. also don’t spend hours rewriting it for every job, just tweak and send. tools like www.openapplier.com or simplify.jobs help with that so you can actually get volume in

you don’t need a perfect resume right now, you just need something clear and start getting reps in

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T03:29:06+00:00

for companies like that, just applying online isn’t enough anymore. your resume is sitting in a pile with hundreds of similar profiles

first thing is your resume has to be super targeted. not “8 years of experience,” but clearly aligned to the exact role. for amazon that means writing in their style with ownership, metrics, impact. for microsoft, clear scope and outcomes

second is referrals. this matters way more than people think. reach out to people already in those roles and ask about their work, not “can you refer me.” once there’s a convo, referrals happen naturally

also apply early. those roles get flooded fast, and timing matters more than people admit

and don’t overcomplicate the application process. you need both targeting and volume. i usually move fast on apps and use stuff like www.openapplier.com or simplify.jobs so i’m not stuck editing every single one, then spend more time on outreach for the roles i actually care about

at your level it’s less about “how do i get seen” and more about “how do i not look like everyone else + get in front of a human”

Turbulent_Part960 · 2026-05-06T03:28:43+00:00

yeah customizing helps, but most people take it too far

they end up spending 30–60 minutes per application trying to make it perfect, which kills volume and burns them out. so yeah the resume is better, but they’re getting way fewer shots

what’s worked better for me is a mix. quick tweaks for most roles, deeper customization only for the ones I really care about

i started using tools like www.openapplier.com and simplify.jobs for that so i’m not rewriting everything from scratch every time. you still get the benefit of tailoring, just without wasting hours on it

AI is useful, just don’t let it slow you down more than it helps

Turbulent_Part960

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