"At your own pace" exists only in a handful of very privileged spheres. Maybe part of the USA scene and that's it. Everywhere else is "fall in line or get fired".

You hiring? I got rejected twice from US companies with the explanation that they wanted to have me and the CTO pushed for having me but compliance does not want people from my region.

Replies like yours are wholesome and nice... but they also assume the only problem is in one's head. I am long past this. I just can't find good companies to work with in the last few years is the chief problem now.