I.T. - Software & Programming

I am a long time Mainframe Adabas/Natural Programmer/Analyst who spent too much career time with this really very good product (1985-2014). I also worked and working with Visual Studio (more VB and less C# but not at work) and SQL Server (at work, 2003-2014). I am doing home projects with all these Microsoft Products: SQL (BI, SSIS, ETL), VB, Excel, Access.

One of these projects: my job search tracking. Between May and November 2016, I've submitted 750 job applications and had 35 interviews. As of today, zero job offers.

There is a link to my blog: http://www.michaelealfes.com/blog/my-job-search-status-detailed-report-as-prepared-for-eeoc with attached detail report of my job search and its zero results. http://www.michaelealfes.com/uploads/4/7/6/2/47624087/michael_alfes_-_job_application_log_20161106.pdf

Hi, I have been trying to make a career change into the I.T. field, Programming/Software Development specifically, and I have put in applications and my resume in to numerous companies and internet job sites (Monster, GlassDoor, Indeed, Startwire, etc..) and I have gone through all the major recruiting agencies like Robert Half, CyberCoders, TekSystems, Mitchell Consulting, Nigel Frank, etc., and I have applied at most of the big name player companies who have had openings posted that I qualify for like Leidos, Boeing, McDonnell-Douglas, etc., as well as many smaller niche software companies with zero luck. When I rarely do get a call from a recruiter or HR person, as soon as I tell them that I don't have any professional work experience and that I am straight out of school with only personal projects and school projects for a portfolio, their whole tone changes instantly and then they practically hang up on me in a professional and polite manner. But then I never hear from them again. None of them ever offer to give me any skills testing or even look at my portfolio. Several companies even came to our school and told us to come and apply, which I did, but to no avail. So my question is, how do these companies ever expect anyone to GET experience if they won't hire any 'newbies' to start off so that we can build up some experience? And another question, why do I keep seeing the same ads and postings for the same word-for-word positions/jobs, month after month and yet never hear from anyone about setting up an interview or something at least? I've had recruiters tell me that they just run those postings on an ongoing basis to draw people in even when they don'y have openings. I haven't even gotten an interview in over a year and I've applied to at least 2-300 positions in that amount of time. Many of the so-called 'Entry Level' jobs even want you to have 3 years experience or so. What gives? Do these people really want to hire people or are they just scammers? Please help.