How I’m navigating this brutal job hunt, the unspoken grind of being self-taught, and why soft skills and survival experience do matter.
Let me not sugarcoat this:
Applying for jobs sucks.
There’s nothing romantic about it.
No inspiring montage, no quick success story.
Just spreadsheets, cover letters, silence, and if you’re lucky — rejections.
I’ve applied to somewhere between 600 to 800 jobs, maybe more.
It started out with hope. Eventually, it became something more like ritual.
You hit “Apply,” and you pray.
You refresh your inbox. You brace.
I don’t recommend doing what I did.
But I did it anyway. Out of desperation, persistence, and the raw need to move forward.
Where I Come From (and Why It Matters)
Before tech, I worked as an industrial cleaner.
Not glamorous. Not LinkedIn-worthy.
Just long hours, night shifts, physical exhaustion, and problem-solving on the fly.
Work that gets done in the dark while others sleep.
Work where nobody claps, but everything breaks if you don’t show up.
I came into tech through self-teaching and a software bootcamp. I didn’t have the traditional university degree or shiny internships. What I had was grit, curiosity, and a weird, stubborn belief that I could reinvent myself.
But when I started applying for jobs, it became obvious that “reinvention” doesn’t come with instructions.
Not All the Jobs Were Tech — And That’s the Truth
I’ll be honest with you: not every job I applied for was in tech.
Some were tech-adjacent. Others were definitely a stretch.
I looked at admin jobs, customer service roles, office support, even sales assistant gigs — anything where my communication skills, organization, or adaptability could be leveraged.
Because in this modern world, soft skills aren’t “extra” — they’re required.
Knowing how to talk to people, how to handle pressure, how to de-escalate a situation or write a clear message — these are critical.
And while these roles weren’t my dream jobs, they were part of my reality.
I treated them like stepping stones — not dead ends.
The “No Experience” Trap
One of the biggest walls I hit over and over again was that dreaded line:
“We’re looking for someone with 2+ years of professional experience.”
And when you’re self-taught or transitioning from another field, that might as well say:
“You don’t belong here.”
It doesn’t matter how many projects you’ve done, how hard you studied, or how well you write code — the word “professional” hangs like a locked door.
But here’s what I realized:
Experience isn’t just about titles.
It’s about showing up. Surviving chaos. Problem-solving under pressure.
And if I’ve done that in a factory or in cleaning overnights with zero room for error — I’ve done it.
Interview Wake-Up Calls
Recently, I was in a group interview and something clicked.
Everyone went around the room sharing their work history.
Most people had backgrounds in customer service, admin, or “light” computer literacy roles — polished, safe, corporate-adjacent.
And then there was me.
Talking about industrial cleaning, machinery, logistics, and late-night problem-solving.
One other person had a similar background — hospitality, manual labor, and retail.
And it made me think: we’re not behind — we just come from different ecosystems.
The truth is, there’s value in contrast.
I want to build on my roots — not erase them.
I want to be the kind of developer who’s not just good at code, but understands systems, people, and unpredictability.
And yes, that includes the chaos of the real world.
The Mental Toll No One Talks About
Applying for hundreds of jobs doesn’t just wear out your fingers — it messes with your self-worth.
There were days I felt hopeless, like I was throwing my future into a void.
Even when I tried to keep my head up, I couldn’t ignore the whispers:
“You’re not qualified.”
“You’re not good enough.”
“Everyone else has something you don’t.”
But I kept going.
Even when it sucked.
Even when I doubted myself.
Because quitting doesn’t pay the bills either.
Stability First, Career Later
Would I love to be a full-time software developer or game dev? Absolutely.
But right now, stability is the dream.
A steady income. A safe place to focus. A platform to build from.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that sometimes the career you want has to wait, while you fight for the stability you need.
And that’s not failure — that’s survival.
Where I’m At Now
I’m still applying.
Still building.
Still putting myself out there — through blogging, projects, applications, and honest storytelling like this.
But I’m also refining how I speak about myself.
Not just “I want a job,” but here’s what I bring, here’s who I am, and here’s why I’m still here.
I’m learning to treat my journey not like a flaw — but like proof.
So If You’re in the Same Boat…
Whether you’re self-taught, changing industries, or feeling invisible in the job hunt — know this:
- You are not alone.
- You are not worthless because you haven’t “made it.”
- You are still valid. Still talented. Still full of potential.
Keep showing up.
Even if it’s painful.
Even if it feels like you’re talking to a wall.
Because your story — your real story — might be the thing that eventually sets you apart.
📎 Want to read more of my story?
Check out the extended version of this post on Medium:
👉 600+ Applications and Still Standing (Full Version)
Or feel free to reach out, connect, and share your journey with me.
We’re all just trying to figure this out — one job app at a time.