Birmingham grad’s struggle after applying to over 1.2k jobs and getting only two interviews

A young woman from Birmingham has spoken out about the emotional toll of job hunting after she applied for more than 1,200 positions following graduation – only to receive two interview offers in return.

Deanna Woodhouse-Hawkins, 25, graduated with a degree in computing and IT from the Open University but found it nearly impossible to break into the tech industry.

For 18 months, she submitted applications, tailored her CVs, and completed assessments – yet was met largely with silence.

“It was depressing,” she told the BBC. “You’d think as you apply and tailor your CVs, you’d start hearing something back. But I just heard nothing.”

Deanna, who lives in Quinton, said that even when employers requested assessments, the feedback was nonexistent or disappointingly vague. “If you do hear back, it’s usually just, ‘Oh, you haven’t passed.’ That’s it. Nothing you can improve on, no reason why.”

Deanna Woodhouse-Hawkins, via LinkedIn

Her experience is far from unique, according to employment support organisations, and it reflects a broader challenge faced by thousands of young graduates in the UK—particularly those attempting to enter highly competitive industries without insider connections or practical experience.

The breakthrough finally came when Ms Woodhouse-Hawkins secured a place on a tech-focused skills boot camp supported by The Rigby Foundation and delivered by Generation UK. The 12 week course, running from October 2024 to January 2025, provided intensive training in CV writing, interview preparation, and technical skills not fully covered by her university programme.

“Generation UK really gave me hope that I could actually find a job in tech,” she said. “They didn’t just teach coding—they gave us confidence.”

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Following the boot camp, she landed a role as a Junior Python Developer at Global Telecoms Networks, where she recently completed her three month probation period.

Throughout her job search, Ms Woodhouse-Hawkins battled anxiety and depression, conditions exacerbated by the constant rejections—or lack of any response at all. For months, she was reliant on Universal Credit while facing what she described as “radio silence” from employers.

“It was just literally applying for jobs, not hearing back, getting ghosted,” she said. “You tailor your CV hoping it’ll make a difference, but then you get the same generic message: ‘We’ve moved on with another candidate’ or nothing at all.”

Her situation highlights a deeper issue within the graduate job market, where young people—especially those from non-traditional academic backgrounds—struggle to gain a foothold.

Kelsey Flynn, Head of Impact at Generation UK, said that stories like Ms Woodhouse-Hawkins’ are “far too common” and reflect a growing crisis.

“Unemployment among young people is rising and it’s frightening,” Kelsey said. “Most of the individuals we work with are eager to build careers and are working incredibly hard to do so—but the job market isn’t working for them. They need better access to training, support, and employers willing to give them a first chance.”

Ms Woodhouse-Hawkins now hopes that by sharing her story, others will feel less alone in their struggles—and that employers might reflect on the importance of offering feedback and support to emerging talent.

“I just want people to know that it’s not their fault if they’re being ignored,” she said. “It’s tough out there—but there are people and programmes that can help turn things around.”

Featured image via Canva an LinkedIn