I think the post-covid wfh job market has clouded something a bit which is that the tech industry in particular is becoming increasing oversaturated.

There is so many people applying for positions now that companies are resorting to these more and more annoying filtering processes.

My first job in this field 14 years ago was one interview and I got the job the next day. That would be almost impossible today.

I blame it on two things, oversaturation of the "learn to code" meme and the rise and growth of recruitment agencies and their influence on HR practices. They have to justify their own jobs after all - just 10 years ago there wasn't really much of a concept of an HR or IT recruiter as far as I recall - or it was just emerging.

I've said this before but I believe this field is becoming increasingly commodified. Soon you will be either a "white-collar" fang or a blue-collar "independent contractor".