I've been on a frustrating job search since I was let go from my seasonal retail position at the beginning of 2023. Finding a new job, especially at the entry level, has turned into a long and exhausting process. I've applied to numerous retail jobs, but I either never hear back or receive rejection letters shortly after applying. My situation worsened when I started attending community college. I was hoping to find a work-study job, but many of the positions were left vacant without any notice, leaving me in the dark. Now that I've completed my studies, I'm even more frustrated trying to navigate the job market on my own. I tried using LinkedIn, but I found their platform overwhelming and unhelpful, so I switched to Indeed. However, my experience there has been just as discouraging. I’m specifically looking for jobs related to photography, which is what I studied in graphic arts and digital photography, but most of the listings are for unrelated fields like health care, fast food, or trades. Living in Memphis, Tennessee, which is dominated by medical districts and warehouses, makes this search even more challenging. The job options are limited, and I feel stuck in a city that doesn't cater to my career aspirations. I did find a couple of leads, but one was closed before I could apply, and another rejected me after a phone interview. Indeed's platform doesn't help either; it’s hard to find jobs that are actively hiring or that respond quickly to applications. I often find listings that are outside of Memphis, which adds to the frustration. It feels like the job market has become overly strict and competitive, making it incredibly difficult for someone like me to get a foot in the door for a job I actually want. Each day brings more annoyance and disappointment.