1. It is hard to explain not being able to land a job for 36 months for a Python backend developer, even if you are below average as you said, or too focused on a niche industry. Unless you have very high standards and if you are willing to work for a not-too-fancy company for industry average or slightly below salary, you should have found one.
One thing comes to mind is this has nothing to do with your skills, but you are just unable to sell yourself. Unfortunately this is another skill you will need. I would contact some friends who are experienced with recruiting people (doesn't have to be in the software industry, but it helps) and ask them to do a mock interview with you to give you some feedback.
2. Technically speaking, Python is one of the better backgrounds you can have:
- I assume that you already know how to use git. If not, learn it too.
- I would simply watch a few online courses on how to implement REST APIs with Python (start with Django REST Framework) as that's what many Python backend jobs expect.
- Make sure that you know how to interact with containers (at least Docker).
- Kubernetes is nice but it is not unusual not to have any experience with it, so I wouldn't spend much time on it. Also not everyone uses it.
3. You should always apply to jobs, and not wait 6 months before you apply to the next one. It's a numbers game, so don't get discouraged. Also remember that the company may not even actually have an open position when they post a job ad. Sometimes it's done just to meet some potential candidates for future positions.
"It is hard to explain not being able to land a job for 36 months for a Python backend developer"
Assuming the python ecosystem is not that much different from ruby/rails, C/unix, etc, no it's not. Especially for anyone even slightly unusual, ie anyone not in their 20, maybe 30s at a stretch, with a CS degree, living in a western nation, a continuous employment record, etc, etc.
1. It is hard to explain not being able to land a job for 36 months for a Python backend developer, even if you are below average as you said, or too focused on a niche industry. Unless you have very high standards and if you are willing to work for a not-too-fancy company for industry average or slightly below salary, you should have found one.
One thing comes to mind is this has nothing to do with your skills, but you are just unable to sell yourself. Unfortunately this is another skill you will need. I would contact some friends who are experienced with recruiting people (doesn't have to be in the software industry, but it helps) and ask them to do a mock interview with you to give you some feedback.
2. Technically speaking, Python is one of the better backgrounds you can have:
3. You should always apply to jobs, and not wait 6 months before you apply to the next one. It's a numbers game, so don't get discouraged. Also remember that the company may not even actually have an open position when they post a job ad. Sometimes it's done just to meet some potential candidates for future positions.