Keep trying people. Just landed my first job and no need to buy anything else (except maybe a private pension). There are opportunities but you just have to keep plugging away to get the nod. I did the assessment for a certain Irish based loco and thought I'd done rather well - didn't get it (thankfully, in retrospect.) However, thought I'd made a balls of the assessment for the job I was just offered, so hey ho. You never know what might happen. Just keep harassing/networking with other pilots, it might get you in somewhere!
Like many wise people have said before me - keep your chin up, and don't give up. It WILL happen!