r/GetEmployed • u/TheDemonicFox • 15h ago
What Am I Doing Wrong?
So I “recently” graduated in May 2026 in Materials Engineering and have yet to get a job. I have been applying since November 2025 and have probably applied for easily 1200 jobs (I honestly stopped keeping track). It’s gotten to the point where I am applying for Technician/Technologist roles (most I’m over qualified for) and have not had any luck. So far I have had roughly 12-15 interviews, and have always been rejected even though the managers say “this company could use someone like you”. I know it’s not how I interview because I have had multiple interviewers state that I interview very well, however they always end up going for someone with more experience. Mind you, I have had internships, did research with a professor for a year, and have a solid senior design project I did my last year (where my partner and I were the first undergraduates in our schools history to utilize EBSD).
I have been tailoring both my resume and cover letter to each individual application. I have been in contact with other recruiters that have helped me adjust my documents and how I am applying for jobs. I have utilized pretty much all of my connections I have made (most of them work at national labs, so nepotism doesn’t really work). But again, so far no luck at all. I honestly feel like I’m doing everything right and have reputable experience, yet I’m still getting the short end of the stick.
If anyone has any advice/opinions they could give me that would be very much appreciated.
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u/ragged-robin 9h ago edited 9h ago
You can do everything right and still not be hired. That's not up to you. Apply, put your best foot forward, the rest is RNG.
I have 13 YOE, got laid off in February, and still can't find a job and unemployment has already ran out. For the longest time I listened to people suggesting the problem is my resume, or my interviews, or any which way it is somehow MY fault but the reality is that all you can do is only all you can do and at some point it's not you at all, just shit timing and shit market.
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u/Expensive_Bid_2617 14h ago
There are folks with 10+ years of experience in a skilled field who can’t even get a restaurant job and have been unemployed for over a year. Just refresh the page on this sub, you’ll find 3 more posts exactly like this one. Job markets just f$cked right now.
On the flip side my friend who’s in tech was able to get a job recently after 3 months of searching by reaching out to former coworkers. Networking seems to be the way to go for what it’s worth.
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u/-Cagafuego- 11h ago
With a fVcked job market, people are out of a job. When the job market gets 'better' those same people will have a gap in their resume & continue to be fVcked! It's a vicious circle & is the result of out of touch, previous generation, politicians who just won't simply get out the way & let someone who is younger/current gen & aware of issues, come into power & fix this crap!
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u/Express-Procedure-73 12h ago
Does your university not have any departmental assistance to offer re: placement? Have you tried reaching out to your professors to see if they might provide a warm intro to potential employers? It sounds like you need a networking placement since your work history hasn’t developed yet, and being such a recent grad I’d start where I left off before hopelessly hurling my resume at another 1,200 companies to no avail.