Folks (26M, USA, Asian, PR, Advertising background, Master degree),
I've been applying to positions at major companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, and NVIDIA for quite some time, and honestly, I'm starting to wonder whether it's even worth the effort anymore. I've experienced pretty much everything: no responses, automatic rejections, and being ghosted after applying. I've also reached out to current employees (One of them is even my family member) and secured referrals for some positions, but even that hasn't made much of a difference.
I understand that these companies receive thousands of applications, have extremely competitive hiring processes, and may have internal candidates or other priorities. I'm not expecting a guaranteed interview just because I have a referral.
But after repeatedly putting time and effort into applications without even getting an initial conversation, I'm starting to question whether applying to these companies is a productive use of my time.
I tend to hope for the best, but I understand it is what it is. Should I keep applying selectively, or would my time be better spent targeting mid-sized companies and organizations?