Entry Level Data Engineer (1.7 Yrs Exp) : Need Honest Advice
Hi everyone,
I’m a 2025 graduate. I rage quit my job 2 months ago without another offer. Since then, I’ve applied to almost 400 roles, mainly for Entry-Level Data Engineer (0 - 2 years), but I haven’t received any solid response yet.
I have 1.7 years of total experience (including internships). Skills: Python, SQL, PySpark, Airflow, AWS, GCP, data pipelines, scraping & automation.
I also know AI basics and have built small RAG and MCP projects.
What I’ve tried:
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ATS-friendly resume
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Applying within 1 hour of posting
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Cold emailing recruiters
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Reaching out on LinkedIn
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Keeping LinkedIn and Naukri fully updated
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Applying through multiple job platforms
Also applying to similar roles like Data Analyst, SDE, and Backend
Still no real progress.
I’m just looking for some practical advice.
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What actually worked for you?
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Is there something I might be missing?
If you know someone I should reach out to (specific roles, titles, or communities), please let me know.
Any honest guidance would really help.
TL;DR: 2025 graduate with 1.7 yrs experience, 400 applications in 2 months for Data Engineer + similar roles, no offer yet. Need real advice.
Posted Feb 28, 2026, 1:03 PM UTC