Stuck in a Catch 22

Hey y’all. Saw a similar post from a couple years back and wanted to put my story out there to help anyone else in a similar situation. Forgive me and please remove if this doesn’t belong in this subreddit. Just wanted to post my current struggles with job market.

I’ve been trying to leave retail and find an entry level marketing role. According to some recent entry level marketing job postings, I’ve still gotta learn a laundry list of things before I can even qualify for entry level. I feel so far behind entry level roles that it’s becoming disheartening. Don’t want to return to retail and have been applying to Assistant and Coordinator-focused roles.

Can’t apply to internships because I’ve already graduated. Can’t get into entry level roles because I have no formal XP.

My Background -Graduated University 5 years ago with BS in Business Administration (International Business and Marketing double concentration) -Worked FT, School FT and lead Marketing Club -Want to pursue a career in Social/Content Marketing (ideally Video Game / Tech industry) -No experience in Marketing outside of school -No XP=Rejected from Entry Level

Fast Forward 2022 -Gained some Marketing XP during previous retail roles (Lots of trial and error) but still no formal training -Still getting rejected from entry level -Only hits coming back are “fake” agencies with no work portfolios or cold calling -Left retail. Currently searching for more marketing centralized roles -Started creating my own content -Building up personal brand via Twitch -Working on different CERTS(Completed Analytics, Inbound Marketing, Digital Marketing Garage) but having trouble applying what I learned -(WIP Hubspot Content Marketing, Email) -Learning Adobe Creative Suite via YT

Biggest thing I’m feeling right now is the clock. Just turned 30 and feel like I’m running out of time to gain entry level marketing XP.

Feeling stuck and not sure what to do to get myself out of this situation.

Any tips? Any other software/free certs you could recommend? I’m gonna keep grinding out certs and apply them to my personal brand to build portfolio. TYIA and for you time.

TL;DR I don’t qualify for internships or entry level jobs. Only hits are fake agencies and Cold calling. Worried about the closing window to gain entry level XP. Plz help? TYIA!