Stopped mass-applying to 40 jobs a week. Went to 5 tailored ones. Got more interviews.

For two months I was spraying my resume at every posting I could find. Easy Apply, next, Easy Apply, next. Maybe 150 applications, three rejections, mostly silence.

Switched to sending five a week where I actually read the posting, tweaked my bullets to match, and tried to find one person there to message. Felt painfully slow. But in three weeks off that new approach I got two phone screens and a referral.

Volume felt productive but it was mostly noise. Not saying this works for everyone, but if you're deep in the black hole, maybe trade quantity for aim.