Yeah, you might not be applying to the same jobs a random stranger on the Internet is applying to. Fair assumption.

Now that this is out of the way, I do also have a family to feed, and am employed. I've never not had a job since I left school (and before that, too). But the job searching experience is unnecessarily soul-crushing, because some people in the recruitement chain aren't displaying the level of professionalism they expect new hires to show. These people are scum, and I've had more luck recently sidestepping them outright (they were pissed, and I don't care). I landed my current gig because I knew someone that helped me bypass all the bullshit, and talk to the real adults in the room directly.

HR drones are really demanding, and it's fair to be demanding in return. They don't get to treat people like shit and get respect just because some people are desperate.

I'm not telling you what to believe or how to behave. You're entitled to your opinion.