I'm somewhat involved in the interview and hiring process at my current company. Based on my experience reviewing applications for entry-level and junior developer positions and conducting some interviews, I've concluded that if I were a new developer today with nothing special to showcase, finding employment in this era would be incredibly difficult. (Of course, it was difficult back then too.)

The competition, application requirements, and qualifications are all extremely intense, while also reflecting a sense of desperation that demonstrates genuine passion. Just hearing the prepared answers in face-to-face interviews makes me think, "I probably couldn't do this" - giving me the feeling that if I were a job seeker in today's market, I'd already be rejected.

Additionally, since the number of positions available is very small compared to the number of applicants, we can't hire everyone who deserves to be accepted and would be great to work with.

I'm not sure how long I'll continue in this field (commercial software development), but whether you're in your 20s or 40s, it seems like this is a time when everyone needs to persevere, keep learning, and move forward without giving up.

Of course, this post reflects the highly subjective perspective of a mid-40s developer at a small business, so it might just be the view of a frog in a well.