You shouldn't have to game the system to get a job either, 300 application should be more than enough but it is not so. If I were desperate for work, it would also mean I have an abundance of time and I would use this time focused on those projects because it is one way I can think of to prove my business value. Focus on the root problem, that is find ways getting hired in the first place. You may not like my way but it is a definitive way