[_zephyr]

Hello! I can see you're discouraged. Have you had a chance to sit down in person and talk with a fellow programmer friend or colleague about your experiences and what you can do to change your situation?

I am less pessimistic about the job outlook. As both a developer and a hiring manager, I do not think the need for junior developers goes away with AI. Managers aren't magically all just writing code by whispering into the AI and having it produce their product.

A few questions/thoughts; please keep in mind I do not know the ins and outs of your situation:

- You've indicated you're sending out endless applications. As a hiring manager, one thing that particularly stands out is when the applicant shows me that they are interested in my company's specific job posting - so quality over quantity may be key. Are you including a cover letter that shows you've looked up the company a bit and are able to make a convincing argument you'd be a good fit for the job? It might seem old-school but the number of applications I see with a well-sharpened one page resume and convincing cover letter are less than 5%.

- Have you sat down and reviewed your resume with a hiring manager to help sharpen it up?

- If you are getting as far as rounds of interviews but are consistently getting rejected, it may be worth it to double check your references. Perhaps one of them feels differently about your performance than you'd expect, and is burning all of your interview hopefuls. (I encountered this on the job just this past week.)

- Have you sought and received helpful feedback from job applications where you did not succeed? Ideally this sort of feedback can help keep you from painfully repeating things.

- Are you willing to work onsite rather than remotely? Are you willing to relocate someplace less glamorous? If so, I think this may open a few new doors, and may provide opportunities to build experience.

- Regarding starting your own business. You've mentioned that you do not have a burning passion to be programming all the time. If you are considering starting your own e.g. consultancy, I'd like to note that - successful or not - one thing I've seen as a strong common factor in all entrepreneurs is that they have a strong passion or dedication to their mission and often their craft.

- Switching career paths. I do not know your situation, skills, or true expertise - but your post sounds as though you are deeply discouraged. I'd recommend seeking counsel from family or friends who know you well - they may not know software development well, but they may be able to provide perspective.

Can you tell us a bit further about your experiences and specifics on things that have worked or not?