I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in biology 3 years ago and have been trying to find work in a medical lab ever since, but every place I applied wants me to be a certified MLT before hire. In order to get certified a person needs 6 months experience in a medical lab alongside their degree. Every job posting I’ve applied to indicates they’re willing to hire if the candidate can get certification completed within a year, but their application review programs automatically deny the application if you aren’t already certified. It’s so frustrating spending so many hours, weeks, and months job searching only to receive an automatic reply email 5-10 minutes after submitting an application and resume rejecting the application because I’m not already certified. I was even able to contact the HR department of one of the local hospitals who said they require MLT certification before hire, but put that they’re willing to accept you if you get it in a year in their job posting so that they can reach out to you for other opportunities in the hospital that aren’t necessarily related to what you applied for. How does someone even get certified if no one will take you on in order for you to get certified in the first place. I miss being able to go in with my resume and talk to the people hiring for the position. I’m overqualified for the lab I’m in now, but not qualified for the lab I’m trying to get into. I feel like I’m stuck in job hunting hell.