I was laid off in March 2024 and have been on the job hunt ever since. I've submitted hundreds of applications for Software Engineering, DevOps, and Cloud Technology roles, but the response has been disheartening. Most of the interviews I've managed to get have been brief, lasting only 4 to 5 minutes, and they rarely lead anywhere meaningful. I have nearly 3 years of experience in fintech, working with technologies like Java, XML, Spring Boot, Kubernetes, Azure, and Groovy. My full-stack experience includes JavaScript, Node.js, MongoDB, and Express. To stay sharp, I've been using AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT, and I've even deployed a React application on Netlify and full-stack apps on Heroku while contributing to open source projects. Back in 2021, I was frequently approached by recruiters, and interviews were abundant. However, the job market has changed dramatically since then, and I know I’m not the only one facing this challenge. I’ve been networking actively, attending local tech events, and posting on LinkedIn. I'm also considering opportunities in other states, including North Carolina and Texas. I'm reaching out to the community for advice. What strategies or platforms are working for you in the 2026 tech job market? Any recommendations for roles to explore or connections that could help would be greatly appreciated.