Had 3 interviews through contacts that bounced back. Failed two interviews, one technical, one cultural. Third one never really got off the ground; talked to a recruiter and then nothing ever really got arranged. Not even a call.

One got a job at a place I previously worked at and had no interest in returning to. He's on a different team though so I can't say his experience will mirror mine.

One was asking around about any open roles days before he got laid off himself.

Asked a few others and no positions are really open as of now.

Funnily enough me and another colleague applied to the same job and he got it. Right before they invoked a hiring freeze.

And those are just referrals. The nightmares from jobs I just found myself get even better. I'm just tired. This market suuuuuuucks.

I work in games so I was pre-programmed far in advance to expect shakey times. Just not times where I'm ghosted for over a year with no sign of anything opening up (quite the contrary, still plenty of gaming layoffs!).