ArchonOfSpartans's journey

I've been unemployed since late last year and have submitted around 1,000 applications for IT and cybersecurity roles, but I've only managed to secure about 20–30 interviews. Most of these interviews have been for government positions, which is puzzling because I’ve also applied for private-sector roles, including Tier 1/2 help desk and cybersecurity positions where I feel overqualified. Despite my efforts, I’m struggling to get callbacks from private-sector employers. I’ve had two job offers fall through for reasons unrelated to my interviews, and I’m currently in the later stages for another position, but it seems there are still more steps before an offer is made. My background is heavily focused on government IT and cybersecurity, and I suspect that this, along with my employment gap since late last year, might be affecting my chances. When interviewers ask about the gap, I explain that I left my last position for health and personal reasons, but I keep it brief since the full story is complicated. I’m trying to figure out if my resume, the types of jobs I'm targeting, or how I present my experience is causing the lack of interest from private-sector companies. I know my interviewing skills could use improvement, but I’m also concerned about whether my resume is cluttered or if my government-heavy background is a red flag. I’m reaching out to see if anyone in the IT hiring space can offer insights on what might be holding me back.