>a hello text every few months, a cup of coffee every few years

sounds like hell to me

OP was saying the only way to get hired is through work connections

of course if the process doesn't involve networking then we don't have a problem, we agree on that

> I have work connections.

> It isn't hard.

you're not an introvert then

What if you weren't in the industry for several years or more? New grads are completely walled off from the industry because very few employers are willing to give them a shot anymore, even at minimum wage and no other demands from this most desperate worker segment. The few connections I scraped together weren't helpful because barely anyone is hiring juniors anymore. Having one of the resumes on top of someone's pile is only helpful if they ever get to using it. If you're at the lower end of the market, you have to be very exceptional or very lucky. Otherwise, you're done for.