Your target list might not match your background.
You've heard of Citadel and Jane Street - but not the dozens of other quant shops, banks, and asset managers who are hiring for your experience level. You don't know if your profile aligns with the roles you want, how much of your experience is relevant, or the different types of risk or traders - and how they emphasize different skillsets.
 

Recruiters stay silent, but everyone else will tell you their opinion.
You apply and hear nothing back, or don't see many opportunities right now. You wonder how much of this is normal or how you're supposed to improve...

Meanwhile, industry contacts, career services, other students, and alumni all give you different advice. One says take a line off your resume, the next person says to keep it. No one reads a resume the same way.
 

There's no clear path to build the right profile.
Which projects should you build? Who should you network with, and how? Do you need a cover letter? And how do you get a human to see your application instead of a filter? It's hard to keep up when you're also working or in school full-time.