Pretend_Common_9089's journey

I’ve been feeling completely lost in my job search lately. After being off my chosen career path for six years due to COVID, I found myself stuck in a miserable job for almost five years before finally quitting a few months ago. Since then, I’ve been applying for anything and everything, but I haven’t received a single interview in five years. My resume isn’t terrible, but my experience feels scattered, and despite hiring a career coach and using AI for cover letters, I’m still getting nowhere. I’m 35 years old and have never made more than $20/hr. The job market feels apocalyptic, and every application feels like throwing a stone into the ocean. I’m frustrated by the system—having to list salary expectations without knowing the pay range is just cruel. It’s hard not to feel hopeless when I see that if you’re not overqualified, you’re under-qualified, and connections seem to be everything. I hate feeling this way about my future and the world around me. What am I supposed to do? It feels like it’s only getting worse.