The job search is really getting me down as a fresher

I finished my CS degree in 2024 from IIT Gandhinagar, but I still haven’t found a job. It’s clear why so many graduates go for master’s programs right after - maybe they know something I don’t.

I’ve been working hard to find data science and machine learning jobs, but it’s been tough. I’m unemployed right now, stuck sending out applications, getting no replies, or being turned down because I don’t have enough experience. I’ve been checking LinkedIn and Instahyre a lot, looking for entry-level jobs that want 0-1 years of experience, but I hardly get any responses.

To stay in the game, I’ve taken some online courses and made several projects, always trying to create something new to show. But it feels like companies only want people with experience, not fresh graduates like me. I remember people saying during the recession that jobs would come back soon, but now it’s clear those opportunities are mostly for people who already have work experience, not newbies.

The stress is the hardest part. Every day, I feel less confident, especially with advice or comments from family or friends that hurt, even if they don’t mean to. Seeing classmates who got internships or campus jobs move forward while I can’t even get an interview makes me wonder if I did something wrong.

I keep applying, updating my resume with new skills and words I’ve learned, and working on projects I found online or improved myself, hoping something will catch someone’s eye. But so far, nothing has happened. I’m trying to stay hopeful, but it’s tiring.

Did I make a mistake not going for MS? Have I wasted an entire year?