I've been on the job hunt for the past two months, sending out over fifty tailored applications, which has felt like a full-time job in itself. As a young woman entering the full-time job market after some time away, I thought I was well-prepared with my degree, extensive work experience, volunteer work, and internships. I even had my resume professionally edited to ensure it stood out. Despite my efforts, I've only landed four interviews. One company ghosted me after I completed a personality test, while two others had me participate in working interviews, but I never heard back from them despite sending follow-up emails and staying in touch with the recruiters. They seemed positive during our conversations, assuring me they would keep me updated, but that never happened. I live in a high-cost-of-living area where many jobs are advertised as 'hiring,' but I suspect a lot of them aren't legitimate since I often receive auto-rejections. The fourth interview went well, and I was even promised a job, but after reaching out for an update, I found out they chose another candidate. It's been incredibly disheartening to deal with this lack of communication and to feel like I'm putting in so much effort for little return.