I've been job-hunting for a couple months now, but would like some guidance to improve my applications.

I started job hunting a couple months ago; I'm primarily looking for web design/dev jobs. A week and a half ago I was let go, so now I've really started ramping up my search.

Problem is, I feel like I'm not really getting anywhere in my search. I apply to 2 or 3 jobs a day. I'm applying for remote work positions; I occasionally get to round one or two, but haven't actually made it any further yet. I've got almost 20 years experience; predominantly in the web design field, but I've got real-world experience doing both front-end and back-end development, too, great references, and even a W3 Award (silver, but still, not bad).

I'm continually working to update my skills. For instance, I'm learning React; always wanted to, but never really had the time to really dig into it until I lost my job (for a media company where we'd design web ads and websites for clients, mostly small businesses, low budget).

Here's my process for applying:

1. Hit up countless job boards, and pull up each one I feel I might be qualified for and would be a good fit for me.
2. Re-read the listing in detail. If I don't feel confident in it, I drop it and move on to the next listing. I also double check to make sure I haven't already applied to them (I check 9 job boards daily, so this happens).
3. Hit apply and fill stuff out. Most come from Indeed, but I've found a few through Dribble, Stack Overflow, and others.
   1. When filling out my application, I ALWAYS write a cover letter unique to the application, mentioning specific parts of the listing and how I'm qualified. I also make sure that, if they request I mention unicorns or something in my app, I do it.
   2. I attach my resume, which includes my references, tech skills, soft skills, education, work experience and contact info.
   3. I list out portfolio items, github, codepen, my website, etc. If they don't provide specific fields for this, I list them in my cover letter.
   4. If they ask for a starting salary, I typically go with the lower-end of the industry average.. Because that's quite a bit more than what I made at my last job, even at the low end.
4. Submit, log the app in my bookmarks as sent, and now log it in my state's online job board for unemployment benefits purposes.

Then I wait. If I get a request to do a test, or a follow-up email, I look deeper into the business (typically Glassdoor and Crunchbase) to make sure the company itself is worth my time. This has saved me some real headaches in dealing with places that end up being horrible employers, or are just too risky (I've worked for startups before; even with solid funding, they can be a real headache).

Sometimes I get rejection letters, but most places seem to have REALLY long processes when it comes to filling positions. I've chatted with the places I've made it to round 1 with, and the most common thing said is they have 100+ applicants in just the round 1 part of the process.

Should I just be patient, or is there some other way I can improve my chances? Is remote-work just a pipe-dream for most people? I COULD go freelance again, but I hated it, and the tax/benefit situation is the main pitfall there for me. Not a lot of great local options, but I can't move again (my health sucks), and I just bought my house a year ago.

As a potential giggle, one place had an auto-responder to the job app with a ridiculous test (in my mind).. 40 questions, timed, covering HTML 4.x, CSS 2.x, and Javascript, and didn't allow you to use any reference material. It was for an agency if I remember correctly. I'm sorry, but I haven't written in HTML 4/CSS 2 in forever, trying to remember what is valid and not when you completely switched to HTML 5 and CSS 3 years ago is a challenge (and hell, even with my CSS3 cert, I still utilize references). I've been told I'm quite possibly on the autism spectrum, but I'm no rain man.

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