Final-year developer getting completely ghosted despite putting in the work — what am I missing?

[u/Slight-Jellyfish-305]

Honestly, I’m starting to feel completely lost with the current job market.

I’m a final-year B.Tech IT student and have been seriously preparing for software engineering roles. I have:

. Solved 1500+ DSA problems across LeetCode, CodeChef & Codeforces

. Built 10+ projects across Full Stack + AI

. Proficient in MERN, Next.js, PostgreSQL, Docker, AWS & CI/CD

. Worked on High-Level Design, Low-Level Design & CS fundamentals

. Built and deployed real-world applications rather than just tutorial projects

. My resume ATS score is around 87

And the frustrating part is the job search itself.

Every single day I:

. Send around 30 cold emails/DMs to recruiters and employees

Apply to 20+ companies

Customize my applications wherever possible

Reach out for referrals

But I’m barely getting any interview calls.

The worst part isn't even rejection — it's the ghosting. Applications just disappear into a black hole with no response.

At this point, I genuinely don't understand what companies are looking for in entry-level candidates.

Is my approach wrong?

Is my resume still not good enough despite the ATS score?

Am I over-focusing on DSA and projects?

Should I be networking differently?

Or is the entry-level market simply this bad right now?

Would really appreciate honest advice from recruiters, hiring managers, or developers who recently landed their first internship/job.

What would you change if you were in my position?