> than my second best offer three n half years ago

3.5 years ago was peak ZIRP hiring craziness.

It wasn't a normal reference point.

Yeah, I don't know if I'd call myself competent (I'm late intermediate/early senior. So the worst of the curve here). But there's a difference between "interviews have gotten a lot harder now" and "I can't even get a response back". It's far, far more in the latter.

My resume isn't bad on paper either. It's not FAANG coded, but it's decent experience.