AI_TARDIGRADE's journey

I recently experienced some challenges in my job search as a senior professional in India. After taking a personal break of about four months, I kept myself engaged with advisory work and exploring AI projects instead of jumping straight into a full-time role. However, I've noticed a concerning trend in the hiring process after having multiple positive discussions with companies. In three different cases—one with a large tech operating system company, another with a bootstrapped startup, and the last with a Series B funded firm—the processes went completely silent after we reached later-stage discussions. The only significant change in these instances was my request for about 15 days of relocation time before starting, even though it was within the same state or interstate. What’s frustrating is that I received no rejection or feedback; I was just ghosted. It seems like the current job market heavily favors candidates who can join immediately, those who are already employed, and those who present zero operational friction. Post-COVID, the hiring landscape feels much less transparent than it used to be, and I'm curious if others are experiencing similar issues with short breaks or relocation timelines.