system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
How to avoid "wasting" a year if I don't get in any of the Ph.D. programmes I applied for?

I am in the process of applying to four programmes, one in Italy, one in Norway and two in the UK, and patiently waiting for May's intake to go bug another couple of institutions.  

In the while, I am trying to get a driving license, begging for the occasional part-time gig (the job market in my country is awful) and planning to do "half a Master" in order to gain a more specific Advanced Diploma related to my field.

This is perfectly fine for a year, but I have to admit that my relative's "when are you gonna get a real job" mantra is happily feeding into my "what if nobody wants me" paranoia that yes, is happily sticking around, no matter how many reassurances I throw myself and the others.

So, what if I just end up with a pile of rejections? How to better my chances for the next round? 

I keep considering that second master, partly because I want to gain a better specialization (my Anthropology Mphil could be seen as a bit generic) and partly because, well... I just really like to study. 

I am open to advice :)

Edit: Grammar stuff. Seems like I can't use touchscreens.
gpt
I'd also apply for research assistant positions. They advance your chances of getting in to a PhD programme, and would make you better prepared for that programme when you do get in.

To find these, you can either email people you're interested in working with and see if they are looking for research assistants, or can go to your local universities' websites and looking for RA posts.

It's not a *real job* maybe in the sense that your family would like (i.e. high-paying), but it might be enough to ease their minds?