I Have a Master’s Degree and Applied to 1,000 Jobs, but I Still Can’t Find Work

Nicolette Alexandra Brito-Cruz, a first-generation student with a master’s degree in international affairs, has applied to more than 1,000 jobs without securing full-time employment. Despite following a traditional path of academic achievement and global experience, Brito-Cruz reports a job market characterized by disappearing listings and a lack of transparency in the hiring process.

Brito-Cruz’s educational background includes studies in journalism and media, as well as a master’s degree from the inaugural cohort at John Cabot University in Rome. Her academic focus centered on representation, human rights, and global justice. To build a competitive professional profile, she attended United Nations conferences in Azerbaijan and Italy and contributed to research regarding the gig economy.

Her efforts to enter the workforce spanned multiple countries and sectors. She applied for roles within the United States and Rome, targeting positions in communications, research, and media. This included applications to humanitarian organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and UN agencies.

The Application Process and Market Friction

The volume of applications was matched by significant effort in tailoring materials. Brito-Cruz spent hours writing cover letters, researching the missions of organizations, and leveraging professional connections. Despite these efforts, the results were minimal: out of over 1,000 applications, she received 15 interviews. Only two of those progressed to a second round, and fewer than five of the roles she interviewed for were actually filled.

A primary source of frustration for Brito-Cruz has been the behavior of employers. She observed that many job postings would disappear only to reappear weeks or months later, leading her to question if the positions were real. She described the experience as competing for the possibility of a job rather than competing for an actual vacancy.

This lack of feedback has created a cycle of uncertainty. While standard rejections can often be attributed to a lack of experience or a poor interview fit, Brito-Cruz notes that the absence of any outcome—where positions remain open indefinitely or companies stop communicating after multiple steps—leads to questioning the value of the degree and the choices made during her education.

Shift Toward Freelancing and Creative Direction

Faced with a stagnant traditional job market, Brito-Cruz shifted her focus toward independent work. Drawing on four years of experience in creative marketing and publicity gained during her undergraduate years, she began freelancing as a marketing professional and creative director.

Her current freelance work involves several core functions:

• Designing marketing campaigns and building cohesive brand identities.
• Creating visual content and editorial visuals.
• Developing social media strategies and email marketing.
• Managing photoshoots.

While she acknowledges that freelancing does not provide the stability or the full-time role she desires, it has allowed her to exercise her skills without needing external permission to create work.

Redefining Professional Goals

The instability of her employment situation has forced a reconsideration of her long-term career objectives. Brito-Cruz stated that she previously chased stability as defined by a steady paycheck and a clear job title, but she is now focusing on the type of work she actually wants to perform.

Her goal is to work as a creative director specializing in storytelling for BIPOC communities, with an emphasis on accuracy and care to avoid stereotypes or reducing cultures to trends. She noted that she had previously postponed this ambition in favor of seeking more stable employment.

Brito-Cruz continues to apply for jobs while maintaining her freelance business, describing the current professional system as unpredictable and difficult to navigate.