I'm posting this because I'm genuinely looking for some outside perspective. I've been trying to break into IT/Cybersecurity for over a year now, and at this point I honestly don't understand what I'm doing wrong.

I graduated with a B.S. in Enterprise Technology Integration in May 2025. Since then, I've submitted 750+ applications across LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and company career sites.

I've gotten roughly 10 interview rounds for 3–4 different IT roles, including a Cyber Threat Intelligence internship, Cybersecurity Analyst position, and IT-related roles at larger companies. I've made it through multiple rounds and in a few cases was told they liked me but ultimately chose someone with more experience.

Most of my interviews came through LinkedIn/Indeed. I've gotten almost nothing from applying directly through company career sites.

I'm not only applying to huge companies or FAANG-type jobs either. I've applied to small/midsize companies, MSPs, healthcare organizations, financial companies, nonprofits, and internal IT departments.

I'm primarily targeting:

• Help Desk / IT Support
• Desktop Support
• IT Support Technician
• IT Analyst
• NOC / Network Technician
• Junior Infrastructure
• SOC Analyst
• Entry-level cybersecurity

I'm completely willing to start at help desk and work my way up. I'm not expecting to graduate and immediately become a cybersecurity engineer.

My background

• B.S. in Enterprise Technology Integration — May 2025
• ~16-month Cybersecurity/IT Administration internship
• CompTIA Security+ — earned November 2025
• CCNA exam scheduled for September 2026
• Windows/Linux experience
• Active Directory/Entra ID
• Networking and hardware/software troubleshooting
• Senior leadership support
• Customer service experience
• Enterprise IT/security home lab

Unfortunately, my internship company didn't have a full-time position available after my internship.

Since I haven't been able to get another IT position, I've continued building my skills through my home lab and studying for the CCNA. I know a home lab isn't professional experience; I'm just trying to demonstrate that I've continued learning instead of letting my skills sit still.

I've also tried networking

I've reached out to recruiters, hiring managers, and employees through LinkedIn.

I've also had referrals/connections through people working in technology at companies such as Cisco, AMD, and ServiceNow. Even with those connections, I haven't been able to turn them into interviews.

I'm not expecting someone to hand me a job because I know somebody. I'm mentioning it because I've tried networking in addition to submitting applications.

What I don't understand

I understand that the entry-level IT market is competitive. I understand that a degree doesn't automatically qualify me for a job, and that certifications don't replace experience.

But I've been applying for over a year.

I have a relevant bachelor's degree, a ~16-month IT/cybersecurity internship, Security+, a CCNA exam coming up, hands-on IT experience, continued technical projects, and hundreds of applications.

And I'm still struggling to get interviews for jobs that are supposed to be entry-level.

At this point, I'm wondering if I'm missing something obvious.

Is my resume the problem?

Am I targeting the wrong jobs?

Is my internship experience weaker than I think it is?

Am I presenting myself incorrectly?

Is the post-graduation gap becoming a problem?

Is there something about my background that's causing recruiters to reject me before an interview?

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

I'm not looking for someone to just tell me "keep applying." I've been doing that for over a year.

I'm attaching my resume below. Please be honest. If you think my resume sucks, my experience isn't competitive, I'm applying to the wrong positions, my certifications aren't helping, my lab isn't valuable, or my application strategy is flawed, I genuinely want to hear it.

I'd rather find out what I'm doing wrong now than send another 500 applications and be in the exact same position six months from now.

What would you change if you were in my position?

Resume

Here is my resume, I removed any personal/company information. I can't add a pdf to this post so I will just paste the resume. (Could the PDF not be passing ATS?)

Note: I have tailored my resume for most of the roles where I think I really have a chance. So if the role is cybersecurity, I will word the resume with language the matches the JD, same with different IT roles. This resume version is focused more on IT.

NAME

ADDRESS • PHONE • EMAIL • LINKEDIN_URL

SUMMARY

IT professional and Enterprise Technology Integration graduate with hands-on experience supporting Windows/Linux systems, hardware, software, users, and enterprise networks. Experienced troubleshooting workstation, operating system, application, and network connectivity issues, supporting Microsoft 365 and identity systems, and assisting users with technical issues. CompTIA Security+ certified and currently preparing for the Cisco CCNA.

EDUCATION

B.S. Enterprise Technology Integration – May 2025

State University | Major GPA: 3.5 | Dean's List: SP/FA 2024, SP 2025

CERTIFICATIONS

CompTIA Security+ | CompTIA – November 2025

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) | In Progress – Exam Scheduled September 2026

TECHNICAL SKILLS

IT & Technical Support: Windows 10/11, Windows Server, macOS, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Office, Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, Hardware & Software Troubleshooting, PC Setup & Configuration, User Support, Technical Documentation

Networking: TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, Wi-Fi, VLANs, LAN/WAN, Routing & Switching, VPN Fundamentals, Network Troubleshooting, Ubiquiti, Wireshark

Systems & Administration: VMware, VirtualBox, PowerShell, Python, Bash, SFTP/SSH

Security: Wazuh SIEM, Windows Event Logs, Security Event Monitoring, Firewall Administration, IAM, RBAC, SSO, MFA, Nmap

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Cybersecurity & IT Administration Intern – LOGISTICS COMPANY May 2024 – August 2025

• Supported Windows/Linux systems and enterprise IT infrastructure, troubleshooting hardware, software, operating system, and network connectivity issues for distributed teams.
• Supported Microsoft Entra ID application onboarding, access provisioning, SSO configuration, and identity documentation for enterprise applications.
• Audited external applications and access configurations within Microsoft Entra ID to support secure application access and identity management.
• Provided hands-on technical support to users and senior leadership, including setting up monitors and configuring Mac-to-monitor display solutions.
• Deployed and configured redundant Ubiquiti UDM-Pro firewalls, supporting enterprise network security, connectivity, and resiliency.
• Automated secure data backup and transfer processes using SFTP/SSH, supporting data integrity and system recovery requirements.

Code Instructor – CODING EDUCATION CENTER May 2023 – May 2024

• Provided face-to-face technical support and troubleshooting assistance to users with varying levels of technical experience, diagnosing software and computer-related issues and guiding users through solutions.
• Explained technical concepts clearly to nontechnical users while maintaining a patient, professional, and customer-focused approach.
• Built strong relationships with students and parents through clear communication, problem solving, and responsive customer service.

Shift Supervisor – RESTAURANT January 2022 – May 2025

• Supervised restaurant operations in a high-volume environment, prioritizing operational issues, resolving customer concerns, training employees, and maintaining service quality during peak periods.
• Coordinated multiple operational priorities under tight deadlines while communicating effectively with employees, managers, and customers.

PROJECT EXPERIENCE

Independent Enterprise IT Infrastructure and Security Lab – Self-Directed April 2026 – Present | GITHUB LINK HERE

• Built and administered a simulated enterprise environment using Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and Group Policy.
• Configured Windows and Linux virtual machines in VMware and performed system, software, network, and user-access troubleshooting.
• Used PowerShell and Python to automate administrative tasks and system reporting.
• Deployed Wazuh SIEM to monitor Windows endpoints, analyze security events, and investigate simulated attacks using Windows Event Logs and MITRE ATT&CK techniques.
• Used Metasploit and Nmap to simulate attacks and analyze Wazuh alerts and Windows security events to identify malicious activity and document findings.
• Configured and tested enterprise networking services including DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP, and VLANs in a virtualized environment

IT Networking Infrastructure Lab – Team Lead January – May 2024

• Deployed and administered Windows and Linux virtual machines using VMware to simulate an enterprise infrastructure environment.
• Configured Windows Server services including Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and Group Policy.
• Analyzed network traffic using Wireshark to diagnose network communication and connectivity issues.