I'm currently unemployed after leaving my position as a Software Engineer, where I had 1.8 years of experience. I decided to resign due to overwhelming workload issues and the prospect of being assigned to another long-term project that could last 3-5 years. My notice period was 90 days, but the companies I'm applying to are looking for immediate joiners. My last CTC was 4 LPA, and I had hoped to make a switch for a better salary. However, when I discuss my expected salary of 10 LPA with recruiters, they often respond that they can only offer a 30% hike, which is disheartening. I've seen many people on LinkedIn jumping from 4 or 6 LPA to 20 or 30+ LPA, and it makes me question what I'm doing wrong. I've been actively trying to maintain a strong GitHub and LeetCode profile, but I haven't received any responses. I even interviewed for a position that offered 7 LPA but didn't progress past the first round. I've been applying through every platform I can think of—LinkedIn, Naukri, Wellfound, Weekdays, We Work Remotely—and I've tried reaching out for referrals, but no one seems to reply. I've been sitting at home since January, and it's really taking a toll on me.