Why am I getting zero interviews? Need advice on a 2 year gap
I have over 2 years of solid experience as a Backend/Full-Stack Software Engineer before moving to the UK. I worked at a service based company building production microservices for a major bank, and I also have startup experience building voice enabled alexa applications.
Since moving here, I estimate I have applied to over 10,000 jobs. I’ve tried everything writing custom CVs and tailored cover letters, alongside firing off hundreds of Easy Applies. I have also attended countless tech meetups across London. Even though my core stack is Node/MERN, I’ve branched out and gone to events for Rust, Python, Django, JavaScript, and React. Honestly, these meetups feel completely useless for actual job hunting. Apart from getting a free slice of pizza, they have led absolutely nowhere.
A lot of people automatically say "it's because you need sponsorship." But here is the thing: I was on the Youth Mobility Visa for the last 2 years. I had the FULL right to work and didn't need sponsorship, and I still got zero interviews. Now, I only have about 20 days left on my visa and actually do need sponsorship, so I know it's basically over here.
Because I couldn't land a tech role, I now have a 2 year gap on my tech CV. I am 26 and single, but I am essentially the breadwinner for my family back overseas. I have spent the last two years working exhausting survival jobs just to pay my rent in London and send money back home to keep my family afloat. This left me with absolutely zero time, energy, or disposable income to take courses or upskill. In the UK, there is at least a minimum wage so I could survive. But in 20 days I'll go back home, I know I will be completely unemployed I won't even be able to get a survival job. I will have zero money and no resources to upskill.
The constant rejection has taken a massive toll on my mental health. I keep trying to build personal projects, but I end up deleting them because the imposter syndrome hits hard. I keep self doubting and convincing myself that my work isn't good enough and that I am not cut out to be a SWE anymore.
My questions for this community:
- Why am I not getting any interviews even with my proven experience? Is the market just that bad right now, or is my gap an automatic rejection?
- What do I do about my career gap? How do I explain that I spent the last two years doing survival jobs without it ruining my chances? Do I put these non-tech jobs on my CV to explain the time, or leave it blank?
Any advice from people who have been in a similar situation would be appreciated.