u/RevolutionLate7820

I'm honestly starting to feel discouraged.

I've spent the last couple of years learning the MERN stack, React, Next.js, Node.js, Express, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Docker, Git, and building full-stack projects. I have a portfolio, deployed applications, GitHub repositories, and I've been consistently improving my skills.

Despite that, I've applied to hundreds of internships and entry-level jobs. Most applications get no response, some are instant rejections, and interviews are extremely rare.

It feels like every job posting has thousands of applicants within hours. Many "entry-level" roles still expect 2–3 years of experience, and the competition is overwhelming.

I'm not expecting a six-figure salary—I just want an opportunity to prove myself and gain real industry experience.

For those who managed to land a full-stack developer job recently:

What made the biggest difference?

Did networking help more than applying online?

Should I focus on open source, freelancing, or learning another niche like AI, DevOps, or cloud?

Is this just the current market, or am I missing something?

I'd really appreciate honest advice from anyone who's been through this.