u/AdQuiet7703

Hi everyone, looking for some honest guidance from people hiring/interviewing in the Data Science/AI space.

Background:

• Currently working as a Data Scientist
• Around 4 years of overall experience
• Worked across different analytics areas earlier in my career
• Always wanted to move deeper into AI/ML, and for the last 2 years I’ve been working on an LLM-based product

But lately, I feel a bit stuck. The product I’m working on doesn’t seem close to shipping, and despite working across multiple areas over the years, I sometimes feel like I know “a little about everything, but not deeply enough about anything.”

I’m thinking of switching jobs for better growth and compensation, but before that I wanted to understand the current expectations in the market.

Would really appreciate guidance on:

1. What are hiring managers looking for in a 4+ YOE Data Scientist today?
2. How are DS/AI/ML interviews currently structured?
   • Coding rounds?
   • ML fundamentals?
   • LLM/system design?
   • Business/problem-solving rounds?
3. Is it normal to feel underprepared even after working in the industry for a few years?
4. What should I focus on learning deeply to become more confident and interview-ready?
5. Any good resources/courses/platforms for preparation?

Would especially love advice from people who recently switched roles or actively interview candidates in this domain. Thanks!