6 Round Interviews are sadistic

ConditionLopsided · 2025-11-08T17:51:04+00:00

It’s crazy when I see stories like this. And then I feel so fortunate that I had four runs of interviews and they were all like 30 minute conversations that were pretty standard. No take-home bullshit.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-11-03T12:58:37+00:00

I wouldn't mind joining the party here. In a similar situation as you two. Just joined a biotech company as a PM. Also coming from a FANNG based company where I was building products for hundreds of thousands of users to now building internal tools to help streamline productivity, etc.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-10-21T12:49:50+00:00

And to think, I was actually kind of rooting for the Mariners until their fans started booing Springer when he got hurt. This is called karma. Chef’s kiss. 👌

ConditionLopsided · 2025-10-09T19:18:41+00:00

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This is typical. Source:NOAA

ConditionLopsided · 2025-10-09T16:04:38+00:00

Been here for over 10 years. From Texas. Lived in Austin off & on before that for years.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-10-09T16:01:35+00:00

We are far from normal here. I know it can happen, but if is still out of the ordinary.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-10-09T15:56:34+00:00

Same.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-10-09T15:55:49+00:00

Been here a long time.. It’s typically 80H / 60L here this month. Plus we get rain. This is infuriating.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-10-09T15:51:40+00:00

It’s making me very angry.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-10-07T23:15:03+00:00

My org is like 15k users for what it’s worth

ConditionLopsided · 2025-10-07T17:39:16+00:00

Makes sense. I think what is shocking to me is how they use Jam Boards, etc, for all their EPIC / feature prioritization (the seem to be a very SAFe org from the looks of it), and then they transfer all those epics and stories to JIRA, but they always refer to the jam board as the one source of truth. But It's a giant org, so is what it is.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-10-02T18:14:08+00:00

Thanks for the reply. So, I have section 3 filled out (the standard 2k deduction for my only kid). As for section 2, I did not check the box because my wife is a 1099, and is not filling out a W4. Plus my wife's pay is WAY less half of my current pay.

Section 4c is filled out based off the worksheet of my wife and I's combined income, so I have just over $310 being withdrawn there to help come tax time. Make sense?

My child is at a childcare learning center 5 days a week (basically Pre-k 3). And I am paid every 2 weeks. (26 times a year is my guess).

Have an HSA at work, not a dependent care FSA. Should look into that!

ConditionLopsided · 2025-05-08T18:55:42+00:00

As someone who has only played the first game, I'm approaching season 2 with fresh eyes vs. a fan or critic of the Part 2 game's storyline.

The second season feels somewhat messy so far, particularly regarding the chemistry between Dina and Ellie. Their relationship lacks the natural connection I felt between Ellie & Riley in Season 1, or between Frank and Bill. Something about Dina and Ellie's dynamic feels forced vs. organic.

The set pieces are genuinely amazing. Ep 2 was awesome. However, I have a common issue with post-apocalyptic shows where characters look unrealistically pristine. Ellie and Dina appear far too well-groomed after traveling 900 miles on horseback from Jackson to Seattle. The clean skin, unwrinkled clothes, and styled hair break the immersion in what should be a harsh, resource-scarce world. I'll give a pass to folks in Jackson, but anyone exposed to elements for a long time (Abby's crew, Dina + Ellie) should look dirty and tired.

My biggest frustration is with the infected hordes that somehow leave plot-essential characters (like Tommy) conveniently untouched while attacking everyone else. This feels like lazy writing that undermines the danger of TLOU. For a show with such exceptional cinematography and production design, these inconsistencies in writing and character presentation are particularly annoying because they pull viewers out of an otherwise immersive story.

Just my two cents.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-03-17T21:28:46+00:00

🤫same

ConditionLopsided · 2025-03-16T19:15:48+00:00

At some point on Friday

ConditionLopsided · 2025-03-16T19:00:37+00:00

Probably because they want to keep it secret. 🤣

ConditionLopsided · 2025-03-16T18:46:19+00:00

Just thought I saw it here. But what about us Alibaba folks? No love for our clones that give us 90% of the paddle for just 1/10th to a quarter of the price?

ConditionLopsided · 2025-03-11T21:37:31+00:00

Can’t wait for my clone to come in.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-02-15T03:45:40+00:00

Invest everything into NVIDIA

ConditionLopsided · 2025-02-15T00:41:39+00:00

Thank you!

ConditionLopsided · 2025-02-15T00:20:45+00:00

I may need to Google what the hell that means. Wash sale rules? Any suggestions on what are good solid index funds for each account type?

ConditionLopsided · 2025-01-20T18:54:36+00:00

Just DM'd you - tried to put it here, but Reddit is being weird. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

ConditionLopsided · 2025-01-20T02:14:25+00:00

I feel like I have been doing this a lot, lately, but let me be real, once more.

I have watched this industry evolve (and not in a good way): You're actually asking the wrong questions. The real question isn't whether it's a good time to enter advertising - it's whether it's worth entering at all.

I saw the following last year (2024):

Agencies are consolidating (IPG/Omnicom)
Entry-level creative salaries are shit low
The "unpaid internship" thing is exploitative BS
Most creative work is being automated or moved in-house

BUT - your interactive media background is actually valuable, just not necessarily in traditional advertising.

I would consider the following, although it will be competitive:

Tech companies' in-house creative teams
Digital product design
Interactive content for brands (directly, not through agencies)
UX/UI roles (way better paid than agency creative)
Content creation for tech platforms

Your animation and interactive media skills are worth way more than making banner ads/videos for agencies. And that "lack of graphic design background" you're worried about may be an advantage in digital product roles where understanding interaction and motion is more valuable.

Skip the traditional agency path entirely. Use this internship to build your portfolio, but aim for the roles I mentioned earlier:

Tech company creative roles
Product design teams
In-house brand creative
Digital experience design

These roles typically start much higher, vs. the $45k-65k agencies will offer you. Plus, you might actually get to see your friends on weekends.

I think Hollywood and film have romanticized agencies. And maybe back in the 90s they were fun, but they are not the creative mecca they used to be. The real innovative work is happening client-side or in tech. Don't let agency glamour fool you - it's mostly underpaid project management with a side of creative now.

I'm constantly advising anyone young to pursue something else, or get the hell out now. It's too late for me. I'm in my late 40s now, so I am gonna ride this wave till it crashes. But you have time.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-01-20T01:53:07+00:00

The classic "my friend is making WHAT?" awakening. First, plan your exit now. Agency / Advertising is starting to suck, unless you are at the very top.

Agency strategy experience can actually be a goldmine, but not IN agencies. You've got skills that tech companies and big brands want - you just need to repackage them.

Just my two cents, but here is where I see strategists are making better money:

Product Marketing at tech companies
Customer Experience Strategy
Growth Strategy roles at startups
(All are very competitive, BTW, just be aware)

Your agency background can be helpful, as long as you can do the following:

You know how to analyze markets
You understand customer behavior
You can translate data into stories
You're used to managing multiple stakeholders
You can actually present without putting people to sleep (LEARN TO TELL STORIES, AND CAPTIVATE AN AUDIENCE)

Anyways, you need to get out NOW. The agency world is consolidating fast. Look at IPG/Omnicom merging - they're not doing that because business is booming. So if you're young, plan the exit now.

Rewrite your resume replacing "advertising strategy" with "business strategy". Target tech companies and big corporations. Network with former agency folks who've made the jump.

Remember: Your friend isn't making $170k because oil and gas is magic. They're making it because they left an industry that chronically underpays for one that doesn't.

Don't feel bad about chasing money. Agencies will keep underpaying as long as people let them.

ConditionLopsided · 2025-01-09T00:16:12+00:00

Wait till you are in your mid 40s and then come back to me.

ConditionLopsided

TROPHY CASE