My $0.02:

- try applying for an internship. One of our swe has a PhD in chemical engineering. They pivoted their career but started as an intern.

- are you looking for a job in the US? Are you a US Person (citizen or perm resident)? if so, be sure to explictly state that. Don’t just say authorized for work in US. That could mean OPT and many companies won’t bother with that and won’t bother to investigate. In general US companies are not allowed to require us citizens but they are allowed to require “perminant legal right to work in US”. That means citizen or green card.