Navigating the AI Job Market: A Survival Guide for the Age of Generative AI

This book maps the AI job market as it actually exists in 2026, with a specific focus on the Indian technology context: the GCC ecosystem, the automation of the execution layer, the structural pressures facing experienced professionals, and the strategies that allow a long career in this field to be navigated deliberately rather than reactively. It covers the interview landscape, offer negotiation, the reputation economy, independent and fractional work, and the psychological realities of working in a field that never lets you rest. Written by a Senior Data Scientist in Bengaluru during his own job search, it draws on seventeen years of experience across machine learning, legal AI, and independent research, as well as published data on Indian IT sector dynamics. Appendices include an interview practice bank, career audit worksheet, portfolio checklist, resume optimisation guide, 30-60-90 day plan, mental health resources for Indian tech professionals, and an academic-to-industry translation guide.