That's awful. I'm hiring at the moment and fwiw here's what I think works.
Only apply in the industry and sector you have direct experience in. If I see one more waffly cover letter telling me about their unique skills followed by a completely irrelevant CV I'll scream.
Put what you sell/have product knowledge in the first paragraph along with who you sell to and what systems you know how to use. No one can train right now.
Be prepared to travel to interviews. I have had 2 candidates want to switch to zoom interviews when the problem I am trying to solve involves people being in the office. So that's them out.
Don't be scared to send (brief) emails/letters with a cv to direct competitors - Make sure they go to the right person. If you ring and say to reception I've been selling a competitors product and wanted to send my cv to the right person they have no reason not to give you the right name.
keep it short but say I'm really interested in working with you because you do x. I've been doing y and have experience over the last x number of years with.., (bullet points).
Do not talk about personal qualities eg I'm a tenacious team player. 🙄.
And use linked In which is fantastic! Connect with customers, and friends and anyone near you in business. Put your profile as looking for opportunities. Then contact the people you want to talk to.
When the emails (not linked in ones) are sent out ring the people. It takes guts - I did it a few years ago and they nearly fell off their chairs. It worked.
Stick to what you have exact experience in. No one wants to take inexperienced people right now - chances are they need staff because someone won't work or business has exploded. If he was selling advertising for example then he would need to slot in very easily if it was anything else.
Hope that helps, there are jobs but you need to be an exact fit.