Struggling to get UX Designer calls – is the market down or something else?

I’ve been actively applying for Senior UX Designer roles in Hyderabad and across India, but I’m hardly getting any genuine interview calls. Most of the responses I receive are either no replies or obvious scam/spam calls.

It feels like hiring for UX roles has slowed down significantly, especially for mid-level profiles. Not sure if it’s due to market conditions, high competition, or companies freezing hiring.

Is anyone else facing the same issue in UX/UI hiring right now? Would love to understand:

• Is the UX job market currently down in India? • Are companies preferring referrals over direct applications? • What’s actually working for getting real interview calls?

Any insights or advice would really help.