CommunityDidn't get placed on campus. What I changed — and where I am now.
Campus placement ended in March. No offer. I'm writing this in August with an offer in hand so I can tell you what actually changed.
What I was doing wrong
Sending the same generic resume to every job posting. No follow-up. Applying to roles where I had no relevant projects or skills and hoping it would work out. Essentially gambling, not job searching.
What I changed
Resume: Rebuilt it around two projects with specific outcomes. Removed everything vague. Got it reviewed by someone with hiring experience (used LinkedIn to find a friendly recruiter).
Application strategy: Stopped applying to random postings and started targeting specific companies. For each application, I spent 15 minutes making sure my cover note referenced something specific about the role.
Interview prep: This was the biggest gap. I was answering all my interview questions in my head. When I actually started practicing out loud with MockMate AI, I realised my answers were far less clear than I thought. Fixed that over 3 weeks of daily practice.
LinkedIn outreach: Messaged 25 people in roles I was targeting — just asking for 15 minutes to understand their career path, not asking for jobs. 8 replied. 3 ended up recommending me or forwarding my resume internally.
It took 5 months. Not 5 months of easy, steady progress — 5 months of rejection, adjustment, and trying again. If you're in that situation now, you are not behind. You are on a different path that most people have to take.