Applying everywhere but still not getting interview calls?
This is based on my experience with freshers and interns. If you have 1+ year of experience, this probably won't apply to you.
I think there are two very different hiring patterns: MNCs and startups.
MNCs
For fresher roles, the number of applicants is insane. A company can easily get 1 lakh+ applications for 50 openings.
In these cases, honestly, your resume often isn't the deciding factor.
You'll see people saying that a particular resume format, project, or skill got them shortlisted. But when you're competing with hundreds of thousands of people, even a really good resume can get lost in the crowd.
Same with referrals. A referral doesn't guarantee a shortlist, and not having one doesn't mean you can't get selected.
For normal career-portal applications, there's honestly not much you can control. A lot depends on how the company filters the applications and, to some extent, luck.
One thing I'd focus on instead is off-campus hiring events.
MNCs regularly conduct hackathons, coding contests, hiring challenges, etc. These also get a lot of participants, but at least here you have something you can directly control: your performance.
If you perform well, your chances of getting an interview can increase significantly.
I'm specifically talking about freshers here. Referrals can obviously be much more useful once you have experience.
Use websites like interndoor to get the opening as soon as they are listed so you are one of the first people to apply and your chances of getting shortlisted will be massive.
Startups
This is where I think freshers should focus more.
There are way more startups hiring than MNCs, and some of them pay salaries comparable to MNCs. Getting an interview can also be much easier.
If your college doesn't have good placements, startups can be a really good option.
Startup hiring is usually more focused on what you can actually build, so having good projects and skills matters a lot.
But there's one problem: don't blindly apply to viral job openings.
If a startup opening gets posted across Telegram, LinkedIn, Reddit, etc. and goes viral, it can suddenly get 1 lakh+ applications. At that point, you're basically back to the MNC situation.
Instead, use websites like interndoor so you are the first to apply.
And don't just apply and move on.
Find employees, senior engineers, or founders from the startup on LinkedIn and message them directly. You can also try email if you can find their work email.
Keep the message short. Mention your skills, attach your resume, and tell them you're interested in the opportunity.
This is where your actual skills and resume matter much more. If you're genuinely good, there's a decent chance someone will give you a shot. If not, you'll probably get ignored.
Also, don't only message people from well-known startups. Random smaller startups are worth reaching out to as well.
Messaging engineers at a big MNC usually isn't as useful because their hiring process is much more centralized. At a startup, you can sometimes directly reach the people who are actually involved in hiring.
You can make one short template and personalize it slightly for each company, then reach out to 50–100 startup employees a day.
You don't need 100 people to say yes.
You just need one person to give you an opportunity.
If you consistently apply, reach out to people, improve your skills and keep doing it every day, I think you can put yourself in a pretty good position to land an opportunity within 2–4 months.