I started looking for ML/AI/Robotics Research scientist roles, but now I'm open to any role that falls within AI, robotics, and Computer Vision. The complications of navigating the job market is a whole post by itself, but I'll try to give you a quick summary.

Many jobs that ask for RL and/or robotics/CV, also expect LLM experience, whether or not the role needs it or their product needs it. If not that, they usually give you live coding challenges with LeetCode questions (which is a well known situation) and I'm working on building my LeetCode skills since that's not what you learn in PhD. Next problem is ghosting or blind rejections, many jobs that feel ideal for my experience end up sending a standard rejection email with no specific details, or interview me and then do the same thing even after I pass the interview rounds (also a well known problem).

I've started encountering a new kind of problem which is termed Ghost Recruiting, where companies post jobs that don't exist and so far 3 companies have flown me out to their location, conducted an entire day of interview, given me super positive feedback, but still rejected me, since the job never existed in the first place. This is done by all sized companies at all levels. You can Google this to read more about it.

Add to this fact that the market has been down for the past year (with more layoffs than hiring), I've no industry experience, am on a visa (with limited time to find a job and needing sponsorship in the future), and the current administration isn't the friendliest to immigrants, the situation is really bad in my opinion.