> I applied for 20 jobs so far. Already got 4 rejections.

No offense intended, but I want to just say, "Toughen up, Cupcake." Jobs aren't won by applications, connections are key. Always have been, always will be. If you want to choose to be depressed... there's not much anyone can do. If you want to improve your situation, I hope you do realize that you do have the power to do so.

Life isn't a race, comparing yourself to other people... it's just dumb. You have no way of knowing where they started, or where they really are. You don't know who is saying, "Man, tevlon sure has a lot more knowledge about Bioinformatics than I do... all I have is a wife and a car..." A bit of an exaggeration but you get my point? So relax, you made these choices, and you had your reasons.

Measure yourself against the goals you set for yourself.

Steps to fixing application process:

1) Get a friend you trust in the industry to review your resume and cover letter, and work to grow your network.

2) Forget about applying to jobs on websites -- or if you do, understand that it doesn't have a high success rate... go to events, meet people, leverage existing connections for leads on jobs. You'll feel better if you're out mingling. hits.

Steps to fixing the depression:

0) You don't fix depression. You fend it off for as long as you can. It's a choice to not allow yourself to do things that put you back on the path to depression.

1) See a shrink. Make sure they can talk to you about shitty behavior patterns that spiral you into oblivion, and what you can do to avoid those. Do not, under any circumstances, bitch to your friends about your personal problems. That's not what friends are for, that's what you pay a shrink for.

2) See a coach. An advisor, someone who has what you want and can mentor you. It takes a while to find a good one.

3) Avoid alcohol, marijuana... really all mood-altering substances... until you're in a better place. And then, make sure to use them only in moderation.

4) You can't let these little speed bumps in life make you want to end it. You have to be mentally tough to get ahead. Ways to get mentally stronger... A) Get a routine that involves getting up early and working out. If you are prone to depression and you aren't out breaking a sweat by 6 AM every day... you're putting yourself at risk. B) Acknowledge your small victories, at any point the outcome could have been worse and you did something to ensure it was what it was... celebrate what you did vs. what it could have been. If you need help with this, get a dog. C) Be OK with failure and rejection. Don't look at it as, "Oh I fucked up..." Start writing a journal, keep track of what you learned from each loss, chalk it up as a learning experience, and move on. Nobody bats 1000, even the greats were lucky to get hits 1/3 of the time.

EDIT: You said you were in Germany, so I don't know if you get the baseball references, but I'm going to double down on them. Babe Ruth, widely regarded as the best player ever, played in the majors for 22 seasons. He lived to be 53, so more than half of his life he wasn't playing at all. He had 8,399 at-bats, or opportunities to hit the ball, and he got 2,873 hits -- or 34%. Meaning at least 60% of the time when he went to hit the ball, he didn't accomplish that goal. Best player ever. Something to keep in mind. Everyone fails, it's how we pick ourselves up and try again that matters.

Good luck!