This so much. I feel envious you expects a job after a month looking. I often see people looking for work for 3+ months.

Also I'd suggest making work for yourself in the meantime. Freelance or a side projects. Being 'employed' in some form, even if self manufactured, is often more attractive for prospective employers.

I didn't intend to sound entitled. I'm just terrified that I won't find something. I haven't been unemployed since starting my career, and you must admit that the usual line we hear is that "We Can't Find Enough Engineers!" and "Become A Programmer And Never Worry About Finding A Job!". From the comments here I see now that it isn't exactly true.

I have tried to look through the online freelance marketplaces, but it seems the quality is awful and the pay worse. I know most quality contractors work through connections, but don't know how to open that conversation. I'm not a particularly good salesperson.

> I have tried to look through the online freelance marketplaces, but it seems the quality is awful and the pay worse.

It's not about the the pay, more the interview conversation this enables that your working on this, or learning about that for a business type thing while you tell them your looking for something more stable than freelancing.

> I'm just terrified that I won't find something.

That's good, serious, keep the terror, keep hungry. But also say honest to yourself, right? If a gig looks hinky pass it by.

Agreed. OP should only start stressing out at 4-5 months.